Known as a nationally recognized authority on sex, Dr. Ruth Westheimer speaks her mind – and for that matter tells the truth about what’s on many of our minds too.
Born in Frankfurt in 1928, Ruth was the only child of a privileged Jewish family. A naturally inquisitive girl, she could often be found in her father’s library, where her curiosity regarding human sexuality was first piqued. Unfortunately her happy childhood was cut short when the Nazis came into power in 1933. Her father was taken away by the SS, and Ruth was sent to school in Switzerland. She never saw her family again.
The next 25 years of Ruth’s life would take a series of twists and turns – marriages, moves, divorces, and college – before settling in New York City.
A career opportunity in the late 1960’s charted the course for Dr. Ruth’s future. She took a job at Planned Parenthood in Harlem, and found herself having very intimate conversations with her clients about sex. At first it was uncomfortable, but she soon discovered she had a knack for providing practical advice without judgment.
A lecture given in 1983 to New York broadcasters on the importance of sex education would be her big break. The talk impressed the community affairs manager of a local radio station so much that she offered Dr. Ruth a 15-minute show, Sexually Speaking. The show was an immediate success! It was an expanded to an hour, developed a loyal following and soon had a quarter million listeners calling in to ask their most pressing questions. A year later, the show was nationally syndicated.
From there Dr. Ruth’s career skyrocketed, expanding to include a regular article in Playgirl and her own cable show on Lifetime.
Of course her forthright approach was not without its critics. Many believed her frank discussions about sex along with her advocacy of contraception and sexual openness was irresponsible. However, Dr. Ruth believed that she was providing an educational service that empowered people to make informed choices.
Whether you agree or disagree with her views one thing is for sure – Dr. Ruth ignited women around the country to have honest discussions about sex. For her courage to talk about what was once taboo, we’re adding her to our list of Women Who Dare.
Does her story encourage you to boldly express your views? Leave us a comment telling us how!
Hugs and Blessings ❤
PS – Check out the other women profiled this month, and be sure to share their stories using the hashtag #Dare2BMe.
Leave a Reply