A Return to ‘Mad Men’: Gender, Media and the Politics of Women’s Health

For Women’s History Month, FGCU will welcome writer and editor Christine Cupaiuolo, who will be discussing and educating the audience on current issues of women’s health. Cupaiuolo is the managing editor of the 2011 edition of the book “Our Bodies, Ourselves” published by Our Bodies Ourselves, a nonprofit organization concerned with women’s health education. 

The writer also covers politics and public policy for the Our Bodies Ourselves blog, and will be speaking about the book and many political scenarios where matters of women’s reproductive and sexual health are affected.

The book, helped to inspire women’s health movements, and is “an absolute necessity when states are cutting back on sex education, and legislators are drafting bills that aim mainly to shame women and limit their access to comprehensive care,” Cupaiuolo said.

“The event is very exciting for our campus community – students, faculty, and staff alike.  The landmark book, “Our Bodies, Ourselves” (originally published in 1971) was one of the first books widely circulated in the U.S. to teach women about aspects related to their sexual and reproductive health,” Dr. Kristine DeWelde, program leader for sociology, gender studies coordinator and one of the organizer of the event, said. 

As the guest speaker, Cupaiuolo will also discuss about health care issues and contraception, which are ways of helping to reduce the risks of unintended pregnancies, therefore avoiding infant and maternal illness, as well as the likelihood of abortion.

“The most perplexing (topic) is politicians' failure to view contraception as a health issue,” said Cupaiuolo.

“The discussion will also provide a historical look at the women who sparked the women’s health movement in the U.S. in the late 1960s,” Dr. De Welde said.

Cupaiuolo will educate students on how women of all ages are responding to political/health issues through social media, organizing to draw attention and build support.

“My talk will look at how Our Bodies Ourselves founders wrote their way into history and how younger women are continuing the movement,” Cupaiuolo said.  

Cupaiuolo will dedicate some of the presentation’s time for questions and answers, conversation with the audience, and to sell her books.

“It is of huge importance for students – particularly our women students – to attend this event, because the book and blog site address issues of concern to all women, irrespective of age, race, sexual orientation, or political leaning,” Dr. De Welde said.

“Many of our women students take for granted that they have access to contraception, or resources for dealing with violence inflicted upon them from dating abuse or sexual assault,” Dr. De Welde said.

This event will be a learning opportunity for both women and men about struggles women have fought through in past decades to get where they are now.

“I am glad to commemorate Women’s History Celebration and encourage students to learn more about women’s struggles in the past as well as about issues that still exist today and do learn how to do something about it,” LilianaQuintana, director of diversity at Student Government and student in charge of the event, said.

Plan Parenthood will be giving out condoms and informational pamphlets.

Food and drink will be provided.

For more information about the speaker, check www.christine2.com. 

For more on the event, see Eagle News.