Remaking the Classics and Showing Some Love for Singles

The classics in books and movies, for everyone from little children to fully grown adults, are getting a remake, and much of the singlism has found its rightful place on the cutting room floor. My main goal in this post is to ask for your suggested revisions for the 40th anniversary edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, but first the kids stuff.

Ordinarily, I would not laud a princess movie, and I haven't seen The Princess and the Frog myself, but from what I've heard it is a step in the right direction. I'm not talking about enticing black kids with the princess fantasy, but the new dimensions in the life of the princess - she wants to own her own business, and works hard at it! Sounds good to me. (If you've actually seen the movie, please add your more informed opinion to the comments section.)

Among the many holiday features, I've been noticing a spate of stories about books that encourage kids (especially girls) to aspire to full and interesting lives, rather than simply looking to define themselves by a partner. In a recent Mommy Tracked email (I'm not a mommy and I don't know how I ended up on the list but oddly, I like it), an "anti-Princess reading list" included this preview: "If you want your kids to grow up believing that girls should dream of more than kissing the prince, check out these books. Each of them features smart, spunky girl protagonists that want to eat bugs, get first place in the science fair and grow up to be a teacher, a doctor, a firefighter, or even a diva." (By the way, their collection includes one of my favorites, The Paper Bag Princess.)

In the UK, the Guardian raved about some feminist storybooks for children, including Princess Smartypants, which the paper called "a riotously subversive read" :

‘Princess Smartypants did not want to get married. She enjoyed being a Ms.' Princess Smartypants keeps giant slugs as pets and challenges her geeky prince suitors to roller-disco marathons. When one of them finally wins her over, she kisses him, intentionally turning him into a toad. ‘When the other princes heard what had happened to Prince Swashbuckle, none of them wanted to marry Smartypants. So she lived happily ever after.'

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Toward the 40th Anniversary Edition

Now onto that adult classic, Our Bodies, Ourselves. If that sounds instantly and intimately familiar, then you are probably about my age (56), give or take a decade. I had nothing to do with any of the previous editions of the book, dating back to that very first printing in 1971, but I was delighted when the editors working on the latest revisions for the 40th anniversary edition asked me, along with many other people, for suggestions.

In turn, I asked the editors if I could invite the readers of my blog to send suggestions, and I got an enthusiastic reply. They don't promise to use all of the suggestions they receive, but they are interested in hearing them.

Revisions are being made to the most recent edition, the 2005 version (the one with the pink cover). If you don't have your own copy, you can use the "Search Inside" feature on Amazon. Take a look, then if you have recommendations, e-mail them to me or post them to the comments section.

Here are some specific questions to consider:

A. Any rewrites?
Are there specific passages that could be updated or rewritten or expanded? Here's an example of something I will recommend: On p. 315, the authors say, "Those of us who choose not to have children are often judged by those around us." (I love their inclusive way of writing; they use "us" and "we" throughout.) I'll suggest that something similar be added about those who choose to stay single.

B. Any new (since 2005) books, websites, organizations to suggest?
In the back of the book, as well as online, there are great resource sections, with lists of relevant books, articles, videos, websites, and organizations. There are 32 chapters, arranged in 8 sections:

1. Taking care of ourselves
2. Relationships and sexuality
3. Sexual health
4. Reproductive choices
5. Childbearing
6. Growing older
7. Medical problems and procedures
8. Knowledge is power

The authors make a serious effort to speak to a wide range of experiences. In Chapter 12 on sexuality, for example, the resources are listed under these topics:

1. Aging and sexuality
2. Bisexuality
3. Disability and sexuality
4. General sexuality
5. Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and intersex nonfiction
6. Relationships
7. Religion, spirituality, and sexuality
8. Teens and sexuality
9. Transgender and transsexual

Sexual Orientation Essential Reads

Zombie Therapies and Homosexuality

10 Myths About the "Gay Agenda"

Take a look at their lists and see if you have any suggestions for additions or deletions.

C. Any personal experiences to share?
The book includes all sorts of interesting first-person quotes and stories. Some are just a sentence, others are much longer. Here's an example, from p. 198: "For me at 73, masturbation is better than a sexual relationship, as most of the time, I'm more interested in nonsexual pursuits. Sustaining a relationship with all the time and thought involved would be a nuisance." Take a look at the many different topics addressed in the book (and any others that should be addressed); if you have experiences of your own you'd be willing to contribute, please describe them.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!