| Our Bodies, Ourselves
A nonprofit, public interest, women’s
health education, advocacy, and consulting organization.
Executive Director is
Judy Norsigian.
About the Organization
Our Bodies Ourselves (OBOS), also known as the Boston Women’s Health
Book Collective (BWHBC), is a nonprofit, public interest women’s health
education, advocacy, and consulting organization. Beginning in 1970 with the
publication of the first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, OBOS has inspired the
women’s health movement by:
Producing books that makes accurate health and medical information accessible
to a broad audience by weaving women’s stories into a framework of practical,
clearly written text;
Identifying and collaborating with exemplary individuals and organizations
that provide services, generate research and policy analysis, and organize for
social change;
Inspiring and empowering women to become engaged in the political aspects of
sustaining good health for themselves and their communities. This often requires
being an informed lay person, seeking information from non-commercial sources,
and working with others as part of a larger group or organization.
About the Executive Director
Judy Norsigian, Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves, is a
co-author of Our Bodies, Ourselves (8th edition, May 2005). Judy speaks and
writes frequently on a wide range of women's health concerns, including abortion
and contraception, sexually transmissible infections, genetics and reproductive
technologies, body image, tobacco and women, women and health care reform, and
midwifery advocacy. She has appeared on numerous national television and radio
programs, including OPRAH, DONAHUE, the TODAY SHOW, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, and
NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw. She served on the Board of the National
Women's Health Network for 14 years and currently serves as a board member for
Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research.
Judy is a founder and longtime board member of Community Works, which raises
funds for Boston area social change organizations through payroll deduction
charitable giving programs. Her personal recognitions include: the Public
Service Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Association (1989); Doctor of
Humane Letters, Honoris Causa, from Worcester State College (1994); Radcliffe
College Alumnae Association Annual Recognition Award (1995); induction into the
Boston YWCA's Academy of Women Achievers (1996); the 2002 Massachusetts Health
Council Award; and selection as one of the “21 Leaders for the 21st Century”
awardees chosen by WomensEnews in 2003. She was given an honorary doctorate from
Boston University in May 2007 and was the commencement speaker for the Boston
University School of Public Health on the same day.
Speaking Topics
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Body image, fad dieting and cosmetic surgery
- Women and health care reform
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Women's health and the media
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Pregnancy, birth, and maternity care policies
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