Our Bodies, Our Selves- a delayed book review

When I was a student at Newton South High School, I took a course with Ms. Hansberry, an English teacher who taught an elective course focused on a newly published (1970) book Our Bodies, Our Selves. The book has since been revised several times and most recently has been updated to serve as a comprehensive women’s health care guide. The 70s were a time of sexual revolution for women. We had been granted the right to abortion and choice in 1973.

At the time I took this course as an elective to meet my core graduation requirements with an easy “A”. I admit I wasn’t an all-out feminist at the time and really just wanted the credit. I didn’t need to be because the difficult fights for my freedoms were fought by the brave women a generation or so ahead of me. It was eye-opening to learn about the struggles of women’s rights in context of this course but the right to choose was now a given as I was about to enter the age of potential sexual activity.

Reflecting on the granting decision of Roe vs Wade this was a monumental right of equality that needed to be set. Many of my generation and future generations took this decision for granted as our fundamental right. We expected to be equal in all our freedoms. The "Women's Lib Movement" had done the hard work.

Once a constitution right is given, how can it be taken away? The consequences of this past week's Supreme Court decision to uphold Roe vs. Wade will affect the lives and health of millions. All people should have the fundamental right to make their own health decisions. It astonishes me that a fundamental health right can be rescinded. 

Women should not be forced to live in an alpha-male dystopia like The Hand Maid’s Tale. Women should not be considered vehicles that can be impregnated and forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. I do not think abortion should be used as a method of birth control, however I do think that if a women’s body is violated or she has personal reasons or health concerns she should have the right to choose if she wants to carry a pregnancy. This should be a human right in any civilized society.

It is now up to each of us to stand up and fight for our individual freedoms. I went to my first rally yesterday on the Cape. Our voices must be heard.  Many ask where can we do right now? Here is a link from today's NYT with some immediate guidance. 

State elections are more important than ever. Organizations like Vote Save America will share important information at the state level. 

Each vote will count on the local level. If you are not registered to vote it is your obligation to vote if you want change. Please click here to register. Every VOTE will count. I now understand the IMPORTANCE of LOCAL ELECTIONS. 

When I read Our Bodies, Our Selves over 50 years ago, I took the course as one of my less serious “electives” to get an easy “A” but honestly can't remember if I did. Although my ultimate grade is not significant, I now realize it was one of the most monumental classes I took before graduating. I now appreciate Ms. Hansberry and her ability to open the eyes of me and my classmates. This book should be on everyone's summer reading list. 

Wendy is a Realtor and Freelance writer residing on Cape Cod. She enjoys networking and writing to connect her ideas and curiosities with people she meets.   She welcomes your comments. 

I now appreciate the many lectures from my Dad- History Does Repeat Itself

Throughout my life,  I was raised with a very strong sense of ethical values.  My now deceased Dad taught Jewish history and ethics at a synagogue in Newton Massachusetts to 6th grade Sunday School students.  He had an in-depth knowledge of both American and Jewish history and a very strong sense of Judeo-Christian values.  His knowledge of history was mostly self taught and he was very proud to embark both cultural and religious history to both Jewish and Christian students through an acumenacle program with a local church.  As an American he was proud that much of the laws governing our Country were based on the values based on the Ten Commandments.  He always emphasized the importance of history and said it was cyclical.  If people didn't study the past the same mistakes would repeat themselves in the future.

When I was in the 6th grade as awkward as it was I sat in my Dad's class.  As a student I would often appear to zone out to him when I would glance or pass a note to a friend.  He once called me out for not "paying attention" and yelled at me when we got home from class because he thought I wasn't listening.  Perhaps during that one lesson I missed a few words concerning the Pharisees and the Saducees, ancient Jewish sects, but overall I actually was a good student and now realize close to fifty years later that I did absorb much of what he taught.

My parents generation grew up during the hard times of the depression, WWII and McCarthyism as well as the Korean and Vietnam War.   As the country rebuilt itself after these wars,  they experienced a sense of freedom and renewal.  They were proud that they could bring children into a war free world and began to focus on ways to improve the life for citizens within the US.  They were the generation that fought for many of the liberal freedoms and rights many of us share today.  They began fighting for individual freedoms including the Civil Rights Movement and Women's Lib.  They fought hard to ensure that our generation would grow up free from the economic and policy burdens of their generations.

Highly principled both of my parents were actively involved in community and educational programs throughout their middle age and retirement years.  After retiring from teaching at the Temple,  my Dad taught adult education classes in both Newton and later Florida where they retired in 2001.  My Mom was active in B'nai B'rith and Jewish Women International, a large fundraising organization benefitting a Children's Home for orphan children in Israel.  Although they didn't have a lot of money they would always be the first to donate to worthy causes to help people out.  My Mom had a Z'dakah box where she put change every evening and when my Dad passed she bought a special one to put donation money in memory of my Dad.

In addition to teaching,  my Dad was a major collector of historic artifacts and ephemera.  He built a museum quality collection that defined his life.  He was extremely proud of each item and understood the history and original of both his Judaica and Americana Collections.  Each time I would visit him he would have me spend time learning the significance of his latest acquisition.  To him, the collection represented his way of commemorating the past history.  Many items were displayed behind glass cabinets and he had documentation detailing the history and how the item correlated to history.  Some items were commemorative to honor heroes and some were ephemera to not forget the troubled past.  I admit my brain was not able to absorb each of his lessons but their significance was part of who my Dad was and he was able to use his collection as a tool to impart his knowledge.

Sadly many of my parents generation are starting to pass away.  I have lost both of my parents over the past three years.  As I watch the changes going on in the country they had loved and found hard to build for us I am saddened to see the world they built disappear.  Many of the hard fights that defined their generation are being reversed.  There has been a strong move back towards conservatism and many of the current government policies are reversing the progress of the past 50 years.  It is a challenging time and I am hopeful that I am able to carry on my parent's legacy as best I can by continuing to stand up and confront the challenges to the values they fought so hard to embrace.