The New Ourselves, Growing Older [Paperback]

Paula B. Doress-Worters (Author), Diana Laskin Siegal (Author), Roselaine Perkis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 1994

Following in the ground-breaking tradition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves," Paula B. Doress-Worters and Diana Laskin Siegal address the needs of the growing number of women over the age of forty. This new and revised edition of the bestselling "Ourselves, Growing Older" includes new chapters on menopause and reform of the medical care system as well as extensive updates on housing issues, HIV/AIDS, cosmetic surgery, and breast cancer.

"The New Ourselves, Growing Older" takes a positive, empowering approach to the physical and emotional health and social welt-being of midlife and older women by providing frank and complete information on personal health.

Emphasizing the positive potential of the second half of life, this book focuses on a vast array of topics, including:

* Aging and Well-Being
* Reassessing Our Body Image
* Contraception and Childbearing at Midlife
* Sexuality in the Middle and Later Years
* Menopause: Experiencing Our Change of Life
* Reform of the Medical Care System
* Hypertension, Diabetes, Hysterectomy
* Osteoporosis, Arthritis, Cancer
* Hosing Alternatives, Work and Retirement, Money Matters

Drawing on the experiences of scores of women from every walk of life, "The New Ourselves, Growing Older" not only draws on the work of experts but also listens to the voices of women themselves. The result is a document of unique power -- a guide to health and living that is authoritative, reassuring and sympathetic.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1971 the Boston Women's Health Collective published its first book, Our Bodies, Ourselves , and thus the field of feminist health care was born. Ourselves, Growing Older began as one chapter of that original work; the Collective published the first edition in 1987. The authors here explain the book's evolution: "Most of us in the Collective were in our twenties and thirties when we first met--now we are heading into the second half of life . . . we fought the medicalization of childbirth; now we move to questioning the medicalization of menopause. We challenge the notion that disability comes inevitably with aging." Clearly what hasn't changed for the Collective since 1971 is the recognition that there is an unbreakable connection between the personal and the political when it comes to health care. For a woman, taking control of one's life and one's body is the most basic feminist principle around, and this book encourages readers to move in that direction, breaking down a formidable barrier of the mind--the fear of growing old. The information given is tailored to the needs and questions of baby-boomers as they enter the second half of life, addressing everything from the lack of clinical studies on aging using women as subjects, to becoming a mother-in-law, to HIV and safe sex. Pages are also devoted to managing finances and current proposals for a U.S. national health care system. Health is a political issue, and good aging means staying healthy--and involved. This is a self-help book with a conscience.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Later life is a time of challenge and opportunity for women. Although they have an average life expectancy of almost 80 years, women often face chronic health and financial problems, caregiving responsibilities, and lack of care for themselves as they age. The original Ourselves, Growing Older (LJ 11/1/87) was one of the first books to focus on the health and social concerns of women over the age of 50. The new edition retains much of the original information on relationships, pregnancy and birth control in midlife, housing, and health conditions but includes significant updates reflecting advances in breast cancer research, nutritional guidelines, menopause, and healthcare reform. It also features an extensive resource list of books, articles, and organizations. Enhanced with photos, poems, and quotations, this work emphasizes empowering older women in all aspects of life. Highly recommended for general and women's health collections.
Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; 2nd revised edition (May 26, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671872974
• ISBN-13: 978-0671872977
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #910,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ourselves, growing Older, March 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Ourselves, Growing Older (Paperback)

This is truely the one comprehensive and excellent book for older women's issues - health (mental and physical), lifestyle and planning for retirement years and beyond. It is clearly written and will be very valuable both in money saved and research based advice. It is a reference book for the life of an older woman.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book You Want Your Mom to Have, December 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Ourselves, Growing Older (Paperback)

After all those well-intentioned your-body-is-changing books your mother foisted on you years ago, here's a chance to return the favor. Like the rest of the Our Bodies series, this is a book that you want to have and keep and share.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars what a great accomplishment for women's health, August 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Ourselves, Growing Older (Paperback)

A superb collection of essays on women's health. The information is up to date and plenty of good references are offered for anyone caring to do some deeper research on any of the topics discussed. Every woman over 40 should own this -- if she wants to know how her body works and where to go for help when it's not working right.