Reddit reviews Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era

As an American, I am shocked by this America I have never known or seen (even though I have traveled all over).

My parents, and my friends' parents, all reacted like the Dutch parents in the article. Mothers took their daughters to get contraceptives, condoms were given, talks were given, books were given. Nearly everyone I grew up with (in America) had books like this. It says it's for women, but boys' parents bought it for them so they would understand girls and their bodies better.

We also grew up listening to Free to Be You and Me ... "the basic concept was to encourage post-1960s gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one's identity."

Go for it!

I liked the comment in the other thread about pairing it with "Our bodies, ourselves" and just leave a note, "Use it or not, your choice. You can always tell me anything you need to" or something along those lines.

If your wife thinks your daughter would like to pick one out for herself, send her to Babeland with a credit card and a limit. They have awesome quality, lots of lelo, and are extremely female friendly and pro healthy sexuality.

As for all those people saying she wont learn to use her hands, bull. I could never get off with my hands until I had been using a vibrator for years. And I get off during sex just fine. A vibrator won't stunt her 'growth' and the idea smacks of 'needing to earn her way' bullshit.

I've heard good things about this book.

Our Bodies, Ourselves 2013 is an awesome reference for her to have that will be helpful throughout puberty and afterwards. I still have my copy and check it out often.

This looks pretty good, too, and it fits her age range.

Just an idea, have you thought about wrapping the books in wrapping paper? That way it's more of a celebration than a somber occasion. Remember that if you don't want her to feel embarrassment, shame, or guilt, you should demonstrate the opposite. Read the books you got her before she does, so you two can talk about it.

I also highly recommend showing her how to use something like this app so she can easily predict her start date and symptoms for herself. There are little happy-face cartoons and it'll empower her to know how to take care of herself.

I was recently asking about good sex books in another post. Here were some of the good ones I found:

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-New-Era/dp/0743256115/

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Getting-6th-Paul-Joannides/dp/1885535333/

http://www.amazon.com/Sexually-Shy-Inhibited-Womans-Guide/dp/0984057463/

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Sex-You-Want-Inhibitions/dp/159233301X/

http://www.amazon.com/Because-Feels-Good-Pleasure-Satisfaction/dp/160529876X/

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Amazing-Third/dp/1592573274/

http://www.amazon.com/She-Comes-First-Thinking-Pleasuring/dp/0060538260/

I recommend getting this book for your sister, she can look up anything she ever needs to know, lots of good common sense advice, and scientific explanations for everything.

[Our Bodies Ourselves] (http://www.amazon.com/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-New-Era/dp/0743256115)

The feminism boards, or indeed any of the discussions on mumsnet.com are always good and down to earth.

A classic of the women's heath genera is Our Bodies Ourselves https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-New-Era/dp/0743256115

I suggest getting her the book Our Bodies, Ourselves. I gave my copy to my younger sister for one of her birthdays :)

If someone hasn't recommended this book already, let me suggest Our Bodies, Ourselves. It's a hugely helpful resource for tons of women's issues and is one book every woman should have.

For the bride: [Our Bodies, Ourselves](http://www.amazon.com/Our-Bodies-Ourselves-New-Era/dp/0743256115]

Maybe the next time you all are at a family gathering slip her a copy of something like our bodies ourselves. I know I'm stereotyping, but I feel most abstinence only education tells you that everything is a horrible incurable STD and doesn't give much information on the health and well being of your body. There are plenty of things that bodies do that are perfectly fine, but are concerning when you have a lack of knowledge.

I like The Guide to Getting it On and also Our Bodies, Ourselves, if you're looking for books.

I'm gonna take a guess and say Our Bodies, Ourselves. If this wasn't it, this book is the one that my mom got me. I don't think it was just heterocentric, as I remember some lesbian input as well, but it was a good book. My mom and I didn't/don't have that great of a discourse about sex, but this book magically appeared on my bookshelf when I got around puberty. It helped.

Not comprehensive, but women have Our Bodies, Ourselves. It's a great start.

And I always found the Mayo Health Clinic Family Health Book interesting as a kid, but it looks out of date now.

I imagine there are other reference books out there like these.