Those who work in the area of culture and health are recognizing that direct translation which does not take cultural concepts into account limits the usefulness of health care information. These limitations of direct translation become even more problematic in translating Our Bodies, Ourselves, which delivers women's health information in a sociopolitical context, in the interest of informing and inspiring women to both care for their health and transform their communities. This paper describes what we learned about the sociopolitical and cultural context of women's health information, through the experience of translating and adapting the feminist health text, Our Bodies, Ourselves, for use by Spanish speaking women in both hemispheres. Collaborations with 20 Latin American feminist groups, along with a critical review by a team of Boston based Latinas, re-located the book's health information in the context of the Latin American gender and social justice movements and community based, participatory education methods. We will review shifts in both content and organization which helped make the book culturally appropriate for use by women from Latin America and the Caribbean, wherever we are living in South and North America. The paper will also describe the implications of these shifts, conceptually and methodologically, in understanding gender and sexuality across cultural contexts, and in designing more culturally appropriate, participatory approaches to women's health education. This approach emphasizes the importance of mutuality in relationships, and personal and social justice, as the fundamental contexts for women's health.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the sesion, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Identify 5 ways that Nuestros Cuerpos, Nuestras Vidas differs from Our Bodies, Ourselves to make the health information more culturally appropriate 2. Recognize the importance of participatory methodology in making health education materials more useful to Latinas. 3. Articulate the value of a North/South exchange in sharing strategies for Latina health education and advocacy
Keywords: Latinas, International Public Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Boston Women's Health Book Collective, two books: Our Bodies Ourselves and Nuestros Cuerpos, Nuestras Vidas
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.