Autoimmunity and the Good Girls
- Judith D Collins
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
How Permission to Put Ourselves First Has the Power to Keep Us Well
By: Sara Hirsh Bordo
Narrator: Sara Hirsh Bordo
ISBN: 9780063450660
Publisher: HarperOne
Publication Date: 06/02/2026
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars % (ARC)
“Sara’s an architect of change.”
—Maria Shriver
Foreword by Richard Carmona MD, MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States
The inspirational, deeply researched wellness journey by the award-winning filmmaker, activist, and founder of Women Rising, shining a light on how too many girls are trained to self-silence and serve others—and how we can heal.
For generations, women have been told to be “good”—to put others first, to silence their own voices, to neglect their own needs. But a new groundswell of evidence reveals the cost: when our lives are compromised, so are our immune systems.
Raised in a big Texas-Lebanese family as the eldest and only daughter, Sara Hirsh Bordo grew up caring for everyone else’s needs at the expense of her own. Later, as an acclaimed director lifting up other women’s stories, she watched her own body collapse under the weight of autoimmune disease and cancer. Only when she finally reclaimed sovereignty over her own voice, did she heal.
Determined to understand this link, Sara funded the first quantitative research at the intersection of female empowerment and autoimmunity. The results were groundbreaking: women raised in caretaker roles—especially eldest daughters—are disproportionately likely to develop autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s, lupus, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more. This study, endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, garnered national media attention and has been shared across 20 countries.
In these pages, you will find:
How compromised girlhood identities create compromised immune systems in womanhood—and how to rewrite your story.
Impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on autoimmunity and poor health.
Stunning findings from her research, such as more than 6 in 10 women with autoimmune diseases were raised as the oldest or only daughter in their families
What radically changes in health when authenticity, environment, and self-permission finally align.
Inner girlhood work, including re-mothering through modern and mystical feminine archetypes.
How to unlearn your primary role as a caregiver and practical guides for evolving from “good” to “real” at any age.
Weaving together memoir, exclusive expert interviews, evidence-based findings, and women’s personal stories, Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is a rousing testament to the missing modality in women’s health— sovereign self-permission to speak up, to transform, and heal.
My Review
A revolutionary, eye-opening biographical medical exposé masterclass!
"A groundbreaking data-driven study showing how chronic caregiving and self-silencing physically shatter a woman's immune system."
In AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE GOOD GIRLS, fifteen-time award-winning filmmaker and activist Sara Hirsh Bordo departs from her usual cinematic documentary portraits to deliver a deeply atmospheric, evidence-based health and memoir mystery.
The story hinges on an acclaimed female director tracking down an invisible biological link between societal identity conditioning and terminal physical collapse.
Eldest daughter caretaker vs. a self-sabotaging immune system.
Elevator Pitch
An award-winning filmmaker facing a dual diagnosis of autoimmune disease and cancer funds the world's first quantitative research connecting female empowerment to chronic illness, uncovering a shocking pattern of how childhood caregiving roles compromise adult physical survival.
Setting
The modern landscape of competitive media production mixed with the sterile, high-stakes environments of medical research labs. The ultimate setting is the internal matrix of the female body itself, transitioning from a Texas-Lebanese household defined by traditional family service to the global stage of international medical recognition.
Vibe
Empowering, validating, and revolutionary!
It pairs the clinical, data-driven authority of an expert investigative report with the raw, vulnerable intimacy of a life-saving medical memoir.
Genre
Non-fiction / Health & Wellness / Memoir.
Themes
~The High Cost of Being "Good":
How training girls to be polite, quiet caretakers physically manifests as chronic adult illness.
~The Eldest Daughter Syndrome:
The disproportionate health risks born by eldest or only daughters raised under intense domestic caretaking burdens.
~Sovereign Self-Permission:
Learning that reclaiming your personal voice and setting hard boundaries is a vital medical necessity rather than a selfish choice.
~Re-Mothering and Archetypes:
Healing the inner child through modern and mystical feminine frameworks to reprogram the autonomic nervous system.
SARA HIRSH BORDO: THE SYSTEMIC INVESTIGATOR
Turning profound personal physical collapse into a global crusade for women's healthcare reform.
Standout Characters
~Sara Hirsh Bordo: The fierce, relentless protagonist; an autoimmune-diagnosed documentarian who refuses to accept standard medical dismissals and uncovers a groundbreaking data link.
~Dr. Richard Carmona: The 17th U.S. Surgeon General; a towering, expert medical authority whose crucial endorsement validates Sara's global health findings.
Author Writing Standout
Bordo’s trademark background as an investigative filmmaker shines through in her meticulous, highly empathetic rendering of personal and collective data. She completely avoids dry, clinical academic text, writing the everyday logistics of physical collapse, statistical analysis, and emotional breakthrough with striking, tactile realism.
Takeaway
When women stay small and silent to keep the peace, their bodies will eventually internalize the war; true health requires the sovereign permission to put ourselves first.
Title Significance
Autoimmunity and the Good Girls acts as a brilliant, direct indictment of a cultural phenomenon. It explicitly connects a clinical physical diagnosis to a gendered societal expectation, highlighting that the biological mechanism of a body attacking itself is inextricably linked to a girlhood trained to attack her own boundaries.
Metaphor
The compromised immune system serves as the central metaphor of the book. It represents a broken home security network—an internal, defensive force that has been so systematically trained to ignore its own needs that it can no longer distinguish between external threats and its own fundamental architecture.
Why You Should Read
Read this if you are a fan of deeply validating, mind-body medical non-fiction like When the Body Says No by Dr. Gabor Maté, or if you want a revolutionary text that provides an empirical, liberating roadmap for healing chronic illness through radical self-preservation.
My Thoughts
Fascinating! The book succeeds beautifully in building immediate systemic tension. The data-driven findings are perfectly captured—especially the staggering statistic that over 6 in 10 women with autoimmunity were raised as eldest or only daughters. Sara is an unforgettable, fiercely articulate lead whose raw vulnerability and documentary eye make this text incredibly grounded. A masterfully executed, life-saving climax. If you have ever expereinced auto-immune diseases and being the eldest daughter, you will relate.
I appreciated the author's insights, research, and her personal experiences. As a vegan for many years, an avid cyclist, health-conscious, and like to have control over my health, a type A personality, perfectionist/Virgo, workaholic, and very frustrated with the medical and health care system.
This book is an extraordinary treasure, with a wealth of information and resources, offering a breath of fresh air as it illuminates the struggles shared by many. It reveals the intricate connections between these challenges, making it clear that we are not alone in our experiences. The insights within its pages resonate deeply, showing just how intertwined our lives can be.
Verdict: 5 / 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
"A groundbreaking, masterfully executed medical exposé that pairs shocking quantitative data with an unforgettable story of female reclamation and healing."
Recs
~When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress by Dr. Gabor Maté (for the definitive, foundational study on the mind-body stress-disease connection)
~The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Dr. Gabor Maté (for more essential, five-star reading on how societal trauma shapes physical illness)
Special thanks to Harper One and NetGalley for graciously sharing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: June 2, 2026
June 2026 Must-Read Books
On a personal note:
The author's journey and the novel struck a deep chord within me. Absolutely brilliant! As the eldest daughter myself, I found elements of my own journey reflected in its pages. I have navigated a long and challenging path with autoimmune conditions that have shaped my life in significant ways. Even now, I continue to grapple with the complexities and struggles that accompany these health challenges. The themes of resilience and perseverance in the story resonated with my own experiences and feelings.
My Autoimmune history:
~Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA/TA) Temporal arteritis (you need to add GCA to your list in the book)
~Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)
~Arteritic Ischemic optic neuropathy (AION)
~Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency due to long-term steroid treatment for GCA.
~RRMS Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
~Hypothyroidism (Hyper) in the past
~Thyroid Nodules
~Fibromyalgia
~Positive ANA
~DNA AB (DS) Crithidia, IFA (positive)
~IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome
~Lyme Disease
~Epstein-Barr
~Very high SED/CRP levels over 100
In addition, very serious allergies, degenerative disc disease, tachycardia, osteoporosis, and cataracts (due to steroids), Mast Cell Activation, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Severe medication, chemicals, environmental, and food allergies; familial hypercholesterolemia, Electromagnetic sensitivity (EHS), Chronic rhinosinusitis, poor recovery, heavy bleeding starting at age 11, long extensive intense labors (childbirth-twice), cystic ovaries, partial hysterectomy at an early age, plus more.
Praise
"Sara Hirsh Bordo combines deeply suffered but ultimately triumphant personal history with the irrefutable science of mind-body unity to show that disease can arise from being too good for one’s own good and be overcome by reclaiming power and agency. This illuminating volume will liberate many women from self-suppression and its frequent consequence, physical illness."
- Gabor Maté M.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Myth of Normal and When The Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection
"Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is a deeply validating exploration of how being raised to be “good” can quietly shape a woman’s wellbeing. With data-driven research and gripping stories from her own life, Sara Hirsh Bordo shows how self-silencing and chronic caregiving take a tremendous toll on women’s bodies. She guides us toward reclaiming ourselves as part of healing both body and soul—powerfully taking back what we need to thrive. As a woman, and a daughter with my own story of autoimmune challenges, I recognized myself in these pages. I can’t think of anything more powerful than being seen and validated in the struggles of womanhood and family life."
- Dr. Allison M. Alford, communication scholar and author of Good Daughtering
"Sara Hirsh Bordo’s Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is the kind of support every woman deserves, the kind that doesn’t talk down to you or try to fix you, it reminds you that you’re not broken. It’s deeply human, and full of real tools you can use right away. If you’ve been searching for clarity, or a way forward, you’re going to feel so grateful you found it."
- Tamsen Fadal, New York Times bestselling author of How to Menopause & host of The Tamsen Show
"Sara's an Architect of Change."
- Maria Shriver, New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist
"Sara Hirsh Bordo’s Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is a brave and necessary work. It is a book about illness, yes—but more importantly, it’s a book about voice. About the cost of silence. . . Sara weaves together science, soul, and social commentary with clarity that is both urgent and compassionate. Her voice is one that demands to be heard—not just for her own healing, but for the millions of others who stories remain untold."
— Dr. Richard Carmona MD,MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, excerpted from the foreword
"The insights Sara brings from her personal experience enrich a unique voice that beautifully combines wellness and empowerment. Her personal storytelling in Autoimmunity and the Good Girls will broadcast a message certain to resonate and inspire women everywhere."
- Julie F. Kay, author of Controlling Women: What We Must Do Now to Save Reproductive Freedom
"Not only is Sara a beloved leader in our shared women and girls space, but her quality of writing is so accessible and beyond inspiring. I can’t wait for the I Am That Girl community to awaken to new heights within themselves because of what Sara is presenting in Autoimmunity and the Good Girls."
- Alexis Jones, Founder of global I AM THAT GIRL movement, author of I Am That Girl and Joy Hunter
"As Sara Hirsh Bordo makes clear in this riveting personal account, 'empowerment' and 'making a difference' can become their own kind of traps when not fueled by a holistic awareness, aligned with our authentic intuitions and deepest self— those inner GPS signals that our accomplishment-driven society is so expert at scrambling, especially in women. An inspiring yet sobering read, this book is full of wisdom that is both clear-eyed and hard-earned."
- Daniel Maté, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Myth of Normal
"A majority of us walk through life holding our own flashlight. We do everything we can to make sure our light is bright and shining in the best way possible. When it comes to Sara, she has selflessly held the flashlight for women and girls like me, dedicating herself to light the way for others. Her wisdom, compassion, and courage is the guiding light we all need."
- Lizzie Velasquez, award-winning global anti-bullying activist and influencer, and author of Dare to Be Kind
"Sara has the unique ability to empower others. I have seen it time and time again through her films and writing. She brings creativity and a deep understanding to every subject that is rare and compelling—giving us an irresistible call to action to make the world a better place."
- Gay Gaddis, T3 Think Tank Founder and bestselling author of Cowgirl Power
"Autoimmunity and the Good Girls is not just a study and a book—it's a catalyst for change, inspiring healthcare professionals, policymakers, and society to reevaluate existing paradigms surrounding women's health and autoimmune disorders. Sara's unwavering commitment to elevating marginalized voices and unraveling the myths surrounding chronic illness makes her study an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about advancing women's health and wellness. Sara’s work is not just a triumph—it's a call to action, inviting us all to listen, learn, and advocate for a more equitable and compassionate healthcare landscape."
- Dr. Kimberlee Sullivan, PT, DPT, WCS, BCB-PMD
"Insanely good. Think The Body Keeps The Score but for the very first time written by, for, and about women. Sara Hirsh Bordo has written a book that most of us will carry like a bible. For all the women who have felt unseen, dismissed and unwell, this work gives us a glimpse into the urgent need we all have not just to understand ourselves, but how urgently we must begin to allow ourselves to have a real reason to own our power, our traumas, and in turn, our wellness.”
- Dr. Tracy Shevell, High-Risk OB/GYN and Women’s Health Advocate
I recognize myself and every woman in the pages of Sara’s book as she makes a compelling case that closing the women’s health gap must go beyond biological understanding into the society factors of being a girl. This book has the power to change the way we research women’s health and autoimmune conditions – an area in which 80% of patients are women – to truly advance women’s health outcomes.
- Kathryn Godburn Schubert, President & CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research
About the Author
Sara Hirsh Bordo is a 20-time award-winning filmmaker and Founder/CEO of Women Rising®, named "One of the Most Innovative, Interesting, and Purpose-Driven Women-Led Startups to Watch” by Inc. Magazine. Sara is currently executive producer of ConnectHer International Film Festival, consulting director for the Gates Foundation PitchFest Program, and most recently, the author and researcher behind the first proprietary quantitative survey at the intersection of female empowerment and health, Autoiommunity and the Good Girls™. Sara previously held positions in media and entertainment, including Executive Director of Interactive Marketing at Paramount Pictures, VP of Digital Marketing at MGM Studios, and CEO and Co-Founder of NowLive. She lives in Austin, Texas, and Santa Fe, New Mexico, is Aunt Sissy to eleven nieces and nephews, and Fairy Godmother Sara to three godchildren.
