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Ruth WestheimerAmerican sexologist
Date of Birth: 04.06.1928
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Childhood and Early Life
- Military Service and Injury
- Education and Career
- "Sexually Speaking" and Beyond
- Books and Lectures
- Personal Life and Legacy
Childhood and Early Life
Rут Вестхаймер was born into a Jewish family in 1928. Her father was arrested by the Nazis in 1939, prompting her mother to send Ruth to Switzerland for safety. She spent the remainder of World War II there, unaware of the tragic fate that had befallen her parents in the Holocaust.
Military Service and Injury
In 1945, upon learning about her parents' deaths, Ruth traveled to Palestine and joined the Haganah, an underground military organization. She trained as a sniper and sustained serious injuries from a bomb during the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli War.
Education and Career
After the war, Ruth studied psychology at the Sorbonne in Paris from 1950 to 1956. She then immigrated to the United States and earned a master's degree in sociology and a doctorate in humanities from Columbia University's Teachers College. She also completed her training in sexology at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.
"Sexually Speaking" and Beyond
In the 1980s, Ruth launched her groundbreaking radio show, "Sexually Speaking." Initially airing for 20 minutes after midnight, the program's popularity led to its expansion to a 90-minute broadcast syndication across the United States. Its success was attributed to Ruth's tactful, open-minded, and subtly humorous approach.
Books and Lectures
Dr. Ruth penned numerous books on sexology, including "Dr. Ruth's Encyclopedia of Sex" and "Sex For Dummies." She also held lectures and teaching positions at New York University and conducted sex education workshops at Yale University.
Personal Life and Legacy
Married to Manfred Westheimer until his passing in 1997, Ruth and her husband had two children. In 2019, a documentary film titled "Ask Dr. Ruth" by Ryan White was released, chronicling her life and work. Today, Dr. Ruth continues to host a nationally syndicated radio and television show.
