American Women — Health

  • The Politics of nursing / produced by Toni Gray.

    This documentary describes the history of the healing arts in the U.S., especially the women involved. This history of nursing education is described as well as the socialization that went along with it, the struggle to unionize, and strategies for the future. Contains news clips from KPFA, music and is self-contained. There is discussion of…

  • The obsession / Kim Chernin

    Author Kim Chernin talks about the fixation American women have with their bodies, what they eat, and their appearances, and food in literature. Chernin reads excerpts from her book, “The obsession: reflections on the tyranny of slenderness” (New York: Random House, 1981) and answers questions from the audience (audience questions are edited out of this…

  • Minority workers’ health and safety : a panel of experts from Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers (OCAW)

    Doctors from University of California, Los Angeles and Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers (OCAW) discuss the occupational health hazards that are particular to minority workers. The focus of the program was minorities because they have the dirtiest and most stressful jobs, and the lowest life expectancy. There are called-in questions from the audience regarding the…

  • Burn out! / produced by Helene Rosenbluth and Catherine Stifter

    Investigation of the burnout syndrome caused by overwork, over-involvement, and over-participation. Much of the discussion in this program focuses on burnout as it affects women, minorities and those involved in activist struggles. Participants include Dr. Beverly Potter, author of “Beating job burnout”; Judith Meyer, professor at Pacific Oaks College who facilitates workshops on burnout; Pamela…

  • Teach-in on reproductive rights / produced by Clare Spark

    The Los Angeles chapter of the Committee on Abortion Rights and Sterilization Abuse (CARASA) presents a teach-in on reproductive rights in response to the growing conservative backlash against the achievements of the women’s movement, especially initiatives like the anti-abortion Hyde Amendment. Topics covered in the teach-in include the history of reproductive rights, the legal questions…

  • Inner beauty, inner light : Yoga for pregnant women / Frederick LeBoyer interviewed by Barbara Cady

    Barbara Cady interviews Frederick Leboyer on his book and the techniques it explores. “Inner beauty, inner light: yoga for pregnant women” was published by Knopf in 1978. Produced by Janet Dodson.

  • Mammography, X-rays, and more cancer / Irwin Bross ; interviewed by Ida Honorof.

    Ida Honorof interviews Dr. Irwin Bross, Director of the Roswell Park Memorial Institute for Cancer Research, at his home in Eggersville, NY. Bross has been an outspoken critic of “The War on Cancer”, arguing that much of the money for cancer research has been wasted on “scientific boondoggles” such as the cancer vaccine program, and…

  • X-rays : more harm than good? / Priscilla Laws ; interviewed by Lynn Samuels.

    Priscilla Laws, author of “X-rays: More harm than good?” (Rodale Press, 1977) is interviewed by Lynn Samuels. She talks about the overuse (and misuse) of radiation in routine medical and dental procedures and urges people to learn as much as they can about it before consenting to X-ray exposure. She ties this into larger concerns…

  • To have? Or not to have?…a child / Elaine Douglass and Bonnie Bellow.

    Bonnie Bellow and Elaine Douglass discuss the decision to have children or not, including Ms. Douglass’s recent decision to undergo voluntary sterilization. Included is an interview with Dr. Robert Neuwirth, head of gynecological endoscopy at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, who, along with Dr. Melvin Cohen of Chicago pioneered laparoscopic and hysteroscopic sterilization procedures.

  • Women and breast cancer / Rose Kushner ; interviewed by Kathy McAnally.

    Kathy McAnally talks with Rose Kushner, author of Breast Cancer, A Personal History and an Investigative Report (New York: Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich, 1975). Kushner discusses breast cancer as it affects women’s relationships with men, her own personal experience with breast cancer, and the general lack of literature on the subject.