Ruth Westheimer

(1928 - )

Dr. Ruth Westheimer is a Psychosexual Therapist who helped pioneer the field of Media Psychology with her radio program "Sexually Speaking" which began in September, 1980 as a 15-minute taped show that aired in New York. Today "Sexually Speaking" can be heard across the country and is part of a communications network that distributes Dr. Westheimer's expertise via television, books (she has written four), newspapers, games, home video and computer software.

Born in Germany in 1928, Dr. Westheimer was sent to a school in Switzerland at the age of 10 which became an orphanage for most of the German/Jewish students sent there. At 16 she went to Israel where she fought for that country's independence as member of the Haganah. She then moved to Paris where she studied psychology at the Sorbonne and taught kindergarten.

She immigrated to the U.S. in 1956 where she obtained her Masters degree in Sociology and her Ph.D. in Education from Columbia University. She studied human sexuality with Dr. Helen Singer-Kaplan at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center.

Dr. Westheimer is a pioneer in spreading what she has labeled "sexual literacy." She has been twice named "College Lecturer of the Year." Her television show aired on Lifetime "The Dr. Ruth Show" has been syndicated nationally and internationally. The National Mother's Day Committee has honored Dr. Ruth as "Mother of the Year." Dr. Westheimer has two children and resides with her husband in New York City.

Sources: Women's International Center