An Ode to a Pioneering GOAT of Sexual Health
An Ode to a Pioneering GOAT of Sexual Health
"Sex On Sunday? You Bet!" Wise Words From Dr. Ruth
Hello Dearest Readers,
Quick housekeeping for some of us late bloomers. If you’re like me and Meryl Streep and you’re unsure what people mean when they refer to someone as the G.O.A.T., it stands for Greatest Of All Time.
As in, Dr. Ruth Westheimer is the GOAT of sexual health.
This joyous powerhouse was a sex therapist and a fearless trailblazer who made frank, detailed conversations about sex less taboo. I suppose GOAT status is always up for debate; either way, she’s pretty great.
Not only did Dr. Ruth Westheimer pioneer mainstream sexual health discussions, she also escaped Nazi Germany in 1939, trained as a sniper, and worked as a maid to put herself through grad school. She died last week, on July 12th, at the age of 96. In our Puritan-born culture, she cracked open the sex vault using humor and candor, making sex something people could talk about and sexual issues something to solve, not repress. Dr. Ruth may be my 4-foot-7-inch sexual health idol.
Words About Dr. Ruth
I enjoyed seeing Dr. Ruth’s Life in Pictures. She’s so beautiful.
A tribute from the American Sexual Health Association
Dr. Ruth's Tips for a Happy Life article in the New York Times.
Life and Joie de Vivre is a TED Talk by Dr. Ruth Westheimer.
Her story is one of strength and a zest for life.
Sexually Speaking at Google a talk by Dr. Ruth from February 28, 2012.
Dr. Ruth’s Top Selling Books
Dr. Ruth’s Sex After 50: Revving Up the Romance, Passion and Excitement!
First Love: A Young People’s Guide to Sexual Information
Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Teens & Sex Today
A Cultural Phenom
Her radio show Sexually Speaking first aired in 1980.
She inspired a play titled, “Becoming Dr. Ruth” by Mark St. Germain.
Saturday Night Live honored Dr. Ruth with a SNL News Segment Parody.
David Letterman hosted Dr. Ruth in an entertaining segment.
An Ode in Process
I am in the process of writing an ode to Dr. Ruth, but it’s not ready yet. She had boundless courage; her life-affirming spirit and candor inspire me to keep the conversations going. I’ll share it with you soon, dear readers. Until then, Dr. Ruth would want you to keep having good sex!
Rest in peace, Dearest Doctor Ruth.
xo
Tara