WASHINGTON—Women in America are no shrinking violets, and yet many American women, and men, are uneducated about women’s bodies and reproductive health. This lack of education has become such a concern that a collective of women’s health professionals have commenced a campaign to educate and update members of Congress on the latest scientific findings about women’s reproductive health.
“An accurate understanding of sex and reproduction, and of how they are linked to women’s overall health, is essential for policymakers, as well as the public,” said Judy Norsigian, executive director and founder of the nonprofit women’s health education, advocacy, and consulting organization, Our Bodies, Ourselves.
Norsigian was speaking Monday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to launch the campaign “Educate Congress.” The plan is to distribute copies of the book “Our Bodies, Ourselves” to every member of Congress over the next 60 days.
The initiative was conceived during a trip to Missouri to deliver the book and other educational materials to the offices of Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The trip followed Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape” and pregnancy, according to Norsigian.
First published in Boston in 1970 as a 193-page booklet, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” is now a tome just under 1,000 pages, published by Simon & Schuster. It covers the latest scientific understanding on how women’s bodies work, sexuality, and reproductive health.
“Congress frequently addresses difficult issues that affect women’s health,” Norsigian said. “By delivering books to all federal lawmakers, we hope to ensure that legislation involving women’s bodies and reproductive health takes account of the best available scientific evidence.”
The ninth edition of the book, published in 2011, includes information on changes in the health care system and sections on safer sex, environmental health risks, and body image.
