Janine O'Leary Cobb
Encyclopedia
Janine O'Leary Cobb is a women's health activist and educator, and the author of one of the first popular books on menopause
intended for a mainstream audience, Understanding Menopause (first published in 1988, now in its 6th edition, published 2005). Cobb is recognized widely as a pioneer in the women's health
movement in North America
and has won critical recognition for her work in the field.
In 1984 she founded the popular health newsletter, A Friend Indeed, dedicated to highlighting the increasing medicalization of menopause, and to breaking the taboo of silence that still hung over many important women's health issues, such as menstruation
, menopause and breast cancer
. The publication continued to be released bi-monthly under the stewardship of other editors until 2006.
Cobb was previously a professor with Vanier College
, Montreal and is currently a Board member with Breast Cancer Action Montreal. She is also a contributor to Our Bodies, Ourselves
, the groundbreaking women's health collective. She lives in Montreal
, Canada
.
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
intended for a mainstream audience, Understanding Menopause (first published in 1988, now in its 6th edition, published 2005). Cobb is recognized widely as a pioneer in the women's health
Women's health
Women's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy. These often relate to structures such as female genitalia and breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, females. Women's health issues include menstruation, contraception, maternal health,...
movement in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and has won critical recognition for her work in the field.
In 1984 she founded the popular health newsletter, A Friend Indeed, dedicated to highlighting the increasing medicalization of menopause, and to breaking the taboo of silence that still hung over many important women's health issues, such as menstruation
Menstruation
Menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in sexually reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. This article focuses on human menstruation.-Overview:...
, menopause and breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. The publication continued to be released bi-monthly under the stewardship of other editors until 2006.
Cobb was previously a professor with Vanier College
Vanier College
Vanier College is an English-language public college located in the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada. It was founded in 1970 as the second English-language public college of Quebec's public college system...
, Montreal and is currently a Board member with Breast Cancer Action Montreal. She is also a contributor to Our Bodies, Ourselves
Our Bodies, Ourselves
Our Bodies, Ourselves is a book about women's health and sexuality produced by the nonprofit organization Our Bodies Ourselves...
, the groundbreaking women's health collective. She lives in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.