The JKM Library Blog

January 2012

While the Super Bowl won’t be happening this year until February 5, we dedicate this month to the game of football and also to sports and sports injuries. January is the month of football playoffs and, I’m sure you’ve heard, football in Pittsburgh is a big deal. The Steelers are still in the running and as this is being written, the big game will be on January 8 against the Denver Broncos. The good news is the Steelers have made it this far, the bad news is that star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is playing on a sprained left ankle. The coaches have no intentions of pulling Roethlisberger out, and while that may seem troubling to some, to others it is all part of the game.
Pittsburgh loves its sports and the camaraderie and divisions that sports bring is a universal human bond. We offer books on the psychology and the
philosophy of sports, both as player and spectator. Some of our books explore sports culture and women’s experiences in sports, throughout history and in the media. While sports hold an important place in our collective lives, it is difficult not to feel ambivalent in the face of sports’ violence and sexism. Passions can erupt over professional athletes’ ever increasing paychecks and often excused bad behavior. Whatever your feelings however, most of can still appreciate the value of sports in society and the importance of physical fitness and celebration of excellence.
On January 8 we will be glued to our screens to see if we can have another shot at the Super Bowl, sprained ankle or not. Go Steelers!!
~Display and blog post by Donna Guerin, Reference Associate

October 2011

In 1969 twelve women in Boston decided to hold a symposium on “women and their bodies”. By 1970 a small booklet was published, and in 1973 it was picked up by a major publisher and renamed Our Bodies, Ourselves. This was the first comprehensive volume to speak frankly about health issues specifically related to women. It was information by women, for women with the intention of educating women and girls about their bodies and
giving them the language to talk openly with their doctors. This October a new edition was published to focus on women’s health, physical, mental, and emotional. Each edition expands on topics that affect women in particular from menstruation to breast cancer to body image. The
2005 edition brought women’s issues into the 21st century with a companion website and discussion board for wider access and sharing. With the advent of the Internet women and girls now have more access to information than ever before, but also have access to more misinformation and hurtful images. Our Bodies, Ourselves has proven to be a trusted source of information and leader in women’s health initiatives nationally and around the
world.
The 40 year anniversary of Our Bodies, Ourselves reminds us of the privilege we have as women, young and old, to be educated about our bodies. At Chatham we are proud to offer many resources on women’s health, women’s rights issues, family and relationships, and gender studies. The JKM Library will put that information in your hands.