Product Description
How do women living with genital herpes and/or HPV (human papillomavirus) infections see themselves as sexual beings, and what choices do they make about sexual health issues? Adina Nack, a medical sociologist who specializes in sexual health and social psychology, conducted in-depth interviews with 43 women about their identities and sexuality with regard to chronic illness. The result is a fascinating book about an issue that affects millions around the world, but is all too little discussed. "Damaged Goods?" adds to our knowledge of how women are affected by living with chronic STDs and reveals the stages of their sexual self-transformation. From the anxiety of being diagnosed with an STD to issues of blame and shame, Nack - herself diagnosed with a cervical HPV infection - shows why these women, feeling that they are "damaged goods," question future relationships, marriage, and their ability to have healthy children.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 8 reviews)

Insightful Book! by changetheworld (Davis, CA)

5 Stars
May 19, 2009
After reading this book for a class, I was amazed at how insightful and helpful this book is to not only someone living with HPV or HSV, but also to all of those people who they encounter and are possibly affected by it (significant others, doctors, parents, friends, etc.). Adina Nack nails every single feeling and account of women going through this painful experience, and brings it into the light of sympathy, not judgement. The stigma that goes along with this situation is wrong, hurtful and unfair. Nack's efforts to de-stigmatize this problem are impressive and encouraging and her words really have something for everyone to benefit from. The jokes need to stop. The ignorant comments need to stop. The stigma needs to stop. This book is definitely amazing and should be experienced by everyone because everyone is affected in one way or another.

Food for the Heart and Mind by Tania Runyan (Lindenhurst, IL)

5 Stars
February 03, 2009
Reading a book that balances logos and pathos in such a compelling way is a rare pleasure indeed. Dr. Nack's study on STD's integrates scholarship and heart so seamlessly that the research presents itself with a sense of emotional and social urgency: Help women to empower themselves in the face of personal and medical challenges, and remove the stigma associated with STD's by challenging the public's perspectives. Dr. Nack's auto-ethnography regarding her experience with an STD further evidences her deep personal investment in the subject and connects her with the dozens of women who share their stories in interviews. Possessing little knowledge on the subject of STD's, I expected Damaged Goods to be somewhat "over my head." It is indeed expertly-researched and scientifically sound, but without pretense. It is a fresh and revealing read, compelling enough to keep you awake at night turning pages and challenging personal perspectives.

Damaged Goods by Jen93546 (Thousand Oaks, CA)

5 Stars
December 27, 2008
Damaged Goods by Dr. Nack does well with not being a tedious or monotonous research book. Her book comes alive with the interview process that she used, and the book presents hope and morale to those with a STD as well as educating those who do not have one. This book pertains to everyone, male/female STD infected or not. Everyone who reads Damaged Goods will absolutely learn about the stigmatization that women experience as well as the healing process of having a STD as well. After reading it the shame that is incorporated with STDs is lessened, and it embellishes the study on sexual health and sexuality in general. It is a definite read for anyone and everyone.

A Real Page Turner! by A. Hallam (Las Vegas NV USA)

5 Stars
December 15, 2008
Damaged Goods? easily brings to life the reality of STDs in a way that so many other educational books fall short. Even if you are not yourself suffering from an STD, Damaged Goods?, gives you a glimpse into the life of someone living with HPV or HSV and how their life is no more different from mine or anyone else's. The book was a quick and interesting read that presented information in an easy and tangible way for anyone, you don't need a strong academic background to understand that these are the real lives of women everywhere and they need their voices to be heard. I would recommend this to any woman: mother, daughter, or friend.

Good book by LindseyHMSX Doc Student (Philadelphia, PA)

4 Stars
August 11, 2008
I found this book to be very good for normalizing chronic STDs for women and displaying a wide range of coping strategies and reactions to infection. As a doctoral student, I found it helpful to review the data in a much more readable way!

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	The Good News About Bad News: Herpes: Everything You Need to Know by Terri Warren (Author) The number of people living with genital herpes is staggering. Nearly 50 million people in the United States have genital herpes, and there are 500,000 new cases diagnosed each year. There is more need for a book on herpes treatment than ever, yet there is a dearth of useful, updated information for the diagnosed. The Good News About the Bad News: Herpes is a complete guide to living and loving with genital herpes with this core message: a herpes diagnosis is not the end of the world....
	Managing Herpes: Living and Loving With HSV by Charles Ebel and Anna Wald (Author), MD (Author), MPH (Author) An estimated one million Americans are infected each year with genital herpes. Though most are initially unaware of the infection, those diagnosed may face difficult questions about how they acquired herpes and how to manage it. This book provides a balanced perspective on medical and emotional issues including: - Recurrences - Treatment Options - Transmission - Pregnancy - Telling Your Partner
	Dr. Ruth's Guide to Talking About Herpes by Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer (Author), Pierre A. Lehu (Author) For over two decades, Dr. Ruth has been the most recognizable and influential sex expert in the world. Now she tackles how to deal with one of the most common and misunderstood sexually transmitted diseases: herpes. It is estimated that herpes has infected some sixty million people in the United States. By interviewing dozens of people with herpes who have gone through the process of overcoming guilt, shame, and the common misconceptions associated with herpes, Dr. Ruth speaks frankly and...
	What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about HPV and Abnormal Pap Smears by Joel Palefsky (Author), Jody Handley (Author) Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted disease that is known as "the silent killer" because its symptoms are so ambiguous most people don't know that they have it. A proven precursor to cervical and penile cancer, HPV can be deadly if left untreated. With 70 strains of the virus in existence, HPV is widespread and-since condoms don't protect you-it infects over one million people per year in the United States alone. WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT HPV AND ABNORMAL PAP...
	The Truth About Herpes by Stephen L. Sacks (Author)