Our Bodies, Ourselves for a New Generation: Revising a Feminist Classic

This series of three reports about Our Bodies, Ourselves (forthcoming May 2005) offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of transforming a classic text of second-wave feminism—often called the bible of women's health—to meet the needs and sensibilities of today. The first report explains the challenges encountered by the "tone and voice" editor as she edited for inclusive language, content, and tone, while also considering how race, class, age, ability, sexual orientation, and other concerns affect the text. The second report describes the new chapter on gender identity and sexual orientation, outlining the process and politics with which the author approached its creation. The third report describes the author's efforts to meet an overall goal of the book—to broaden its appeal to a younger audience—and also to restructure the sexual anatomy section and address current "hot topics" such as menstrual suppression.