Barbara Seaman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Seaman
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Seaman in 1980
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| Born | September 11, 1935 |
| Died | February 27, 2008 (aged 72) Manhattan, New York
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| Occupation | Activist, author, journalist |
| Years active | 1950–2008 |
Barbara Seaman (September 11, 1935 – February 27, 2008) was an American writer, activist, and journalist. She was a key founder of the women's health movement, which aimed to give women more control over their medical care.
Contents
Barbara Seaman's Early Life
Barbara Seaman grew up in a family that was interested in politics and social change. Her parents, Henry J. Rosner and Sophie Kimels, met at a meeting for young socialists. When she was four years old, the famous folk singer Pete Seeger even sang at her nursery school!
When Barbara was in high school, she won a writing contest. Her prize was a special dinner with Eleanor Roosevelt, a very important figure in American history.
Barbara became aware of women's health issues at a young age. In 1959, her aunt Sally passed away from a type of cancer at 49. Her aunt's doctor thought a medicine called Premarin might have played a role in her death. This medicine was given to help with symptoms of menopause. This event made Barbara want to learn more about medicines and their effects on women.
Fighting for Women's Health
Barbara Seaman started her career as a journalist focusing on women's health. She wrote articles that put the patient first, instead of just talking about the latest medical trends. She even warned women about the potential dangers of a widely used medication called "the Pill." A main ingredient in this medicine was estrogen, which was also in the medicine her aunt had taken.
Because she wrote so much and her articles were very popular, Barbara became a member of the Society of Magazine Writers. There, she met Betty Friedan, another important leader in the women's rights movement. Betty asked Barbara to report on big events, like the start of the NOW in 1966 and NARAL in 1969. Barbara also became friends with Gloria Steinem and became an editor at Ms. magazine.
Barbara's Activism and Organizations
Besides writing, Barbara Seaman was also a strong organizer. She helped start the New York Women's Forum in 1973. She was also the vice president of the New York City Women's Medical Center in 1971. In 1973, she joined the advisory board of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women.
Barbara played a big part in making sure that a health warning was added to "the Pill." This was the first time a warning label was required for any prescription medicine. Robert Finch, who was in charge of the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare at the time, praised Barbara. He said her book, The Doctors' Case Against the Pill, was a major reason they made the warning stronger. These events also brought together many women who would become important leaders in the health movement.
In 1975, Barbara Seaman helped create the National Women's Health Network. She founded it with Alice Wolfson, Belita Cowan, Mary Howell (a doctor), and Phyllis Chesler (a psychologist).
Also in 1975, Barbara gave a speech at Harvard Medical School called "Four Demands." She asked for more women to be allowed to train as doctors specializing in women's health. At that time, very few women were in these programs. She also demanded that women should have a say in how money for research on female reproduction was spent.
Helping Other Writers
Barbara Seaman loved to support other writers who focused on women's health. In a newspaper article in The New York Times in 1972, she wrote that it was hard for women to get honest health information if they didn't want their doctors to do all the worrying for them. Barbara then praised and introduced new self-help books for women, like Our Bodies, Ourselves.
Later in her life, she also helped write important articles about other activists who passed away, like Dr. Mary Howell and Lorraine Rothman.
Facing Challenges and Writing Biographies
In the 1980s, Barbara faced a challenge. A U.S. Representative named Carolyn Maloney said that pharmaceutical companies (companies that make medicines) stopped advertising in magazines that published Barbara's stories. This was because Barbara kept asking tough questions about the safety of their products.
During this time, Barbara used the break from magazine writing to write biographies. She published Lovely Me, a book about the life of Jacqueline Susann, a famous author. This book was even made into a TV movie called Scandalous Me, starring Michele Lee.
Barbara Seaman's Final Years
Barbara Seaman lived in New York City, close to her three children, four grandchildren, two sisters, and two nephews.
She continued to write articles and speak up for women's safety in medical treatment until the end of her life. On February 27, 2008, Barbara Seaman passed away from lung cancer.
In 2000, The New York Times published an article by Barbara called "The Pill and I: 40 Years On, the Relationship Remains Wary."
She also worked with Laura Eldridge on two books: The No Nonsense Guide to Menopause (published in 2008) and Voices of the Women's Health Movement (published in 2012).
In 2009, a special 40th-anniversary edition of her important book, The Doctors' Case Against the Pill, was published.
Education and Achievements
Barbara Seaman was a very educated person:
- She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from Oberlin College in 1956.
- Oberlin College also gave her an honorary degree in 1978.
- She received a special certificate in science writing from Columbia University School of Journalism in 1968.
Barbara Seaman's Writings
Barbara wrote for many different magazines and newspapers:
- She often wrote for The New York Times and The Washington Post.
- She was a columnist or editor at Ms. magazine, Omni, Ladies' Home Journal, and Hadassah.
- She also wrote for Bride's and Family Circle.
She wrote several important books:
- The Doctor's Case Against the Pill (1969)
- Free and Female (1972)
- Women and the Crisis in Sex Hormones (1977) (with Gideon Seaman, M.D.)
- Lovely Me: The Life of Jacqueline Susann (1987)
- The Greatest Experiment ever Performed on Women: Exploding the Estrogen Myth (2003)
- For Women Only: Your Guide to Health Empowerment (2000) with Gary Null
Barbara also contributed to many other books, including:
- Career and Motherhood (1979)
- Rooms with No View (1974)
- Women and Men (1975)
- Seizing our Bodies (1978)
- Voices of the Women's Health Movement, Volumes 1 & 2 (2012)
She also helped with plays and documentaries:
- I am a Woman (1972)
- Taking Our Bodies Back (1974)
- The American Experience Presents the Pill (2003)
Honors and Recognition
In 2000, the United States Postal Service honored Barbara Seaman. She was named an honoree for the 1970s Women's Rights Movement stamp. She also won the Matrix Award in Books in 1978.
Images for kids
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Seaman in 1980
