Even today, understanding women’s health is an uphill battle. While we’ve made progress as a society, topics like menstruation, menopause, and other issues remain in the shadows, leading to misinformation and a lack of proper care.
The result? Women have to navigate their health with uncertainty while trying to nurture their careers and personal lives. Empowering ourselves with the correct information is a crucial first step toward dismantling systemic biases.
Looking for informative women’s health books to boost your self-advocacy? Here are a few of our selections.
By Anita Diamant
Menstruation is natural, yet our education about it continues to fall by the wayside. The less people know about their bodily functions, the less they’re able to identify their health concerns. A lack of discussion around reproductive health is dangerous—it endangers people’s lives, creating unsafe spaces that breed fear and shame.
Anita Diamant’s Period. End of a Sentence. compiles numerous interviews from parents, educators, activists, and medical experts. Their collective goal? Reframe the period narrative and bring more of our issues to light. Whereas it used to be a topic that menstruating people hid—from stuffing crinkly pads into pockets to enduring abdominal pain without complaint—Diamant’s storytelling allows everyone to reflect: why have we been told to keep our pain under wraps? Who does our silence benefit, and why must we work to undo such a pervasive culture?
By Mary Claire Haver, MD
Much like menstruation, menopause is another ‘M’ word that we don’t hear often despite half the global population experiencing it in their lifetime. Hormonal changes disrupt our physical and mental health, increasing painful symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings—and significantly increases exposure to more lifelong severe ailments. The impact of menopause is far-reaching, and needs to be a top priority in our conversations about women’s health.
The New Menopause is a trusty, science-backed guide for navigating relevant health challenges. As a passionate health advocate, Mary Claire Haver discusses how to adopt treatments and preventive measures that streamline our transition into midlife more comfortably. Knowledge is power, and the more we know about menopause, the more we demystify yet another normal stage of life.
By Elinor Cleghorn
Fueled by her difficult health journey, Elinor Cleghorn tackles health biases with vulnerability and fervor. Having been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, she investigates history and realizes the severity of medical biases and their consequences on women. Her discoveries reveal an uncomfortable reality: the world of medicine, having always prioritized men, has failed us.
In more ways than one, women are treated as second-class citizens yet still expected to uphold significant responsibilities. By exposing medical biases and presenting possible solutions, Cleghorn proves that we don’t have to continue living this way—more than ever, we must collectively commit to creating a future where all bodies and minds are valued.
At CCWomen, a community platform for women and allies, we don’t just read books on women’s health—we think of ways to take action. We’re committed to creating a business world where women can build fulfilling careers while prioritizing wellness.
Whether advocating for inclusive health benefits or engaging in dialogue, we strive to continuously illuminate issues that matter to us all.
Want to join the conversation? Tap into our network today!