Sex therapist Ruth Westheimer is dead. Known as ‘Dr. The well-known psychologist ‘Ruth’ died on Friday evening (local time) at the age of 96 and in the presence of her children Miriam and Joel, spokesman Pierre Lehu confirmed to the German press agency dpa.
Westheimer is seen, especially in the US, as an important pioneer for an open approach to sex and relationship issues. She was born in 1928 as Karola Ruth Siegel in Wiesenfeld near Frankfurt in a Jewish family and was brought to Switzerland at the age of ten on a children’s transport, shortly before the outbreak of World War II. She survived the Holocaust and became an American citizen in 1965 and later regained her German citizenship.
Has written numerous books
Westheimer’s career began with the radio program ‘Sexually Speaking’, in which she answered questions from listeners. The success was soon so great that further broadcasts on radio and television followed. Together with speaker Pierre Lehu, Westheimer also published several books, including ‘Sex for Dummies’ and ‘Silver Sex – How to Enjoy your love with pleasure’.
Her trademark giggle and open approach to sex tips earned her a legion of fans. She spoke without inhibitions about topics like ejaculation and masturbation, prompting hundreds of thousands to anonymously seek the mother-expert’s advice. “Her name and the distinctive sound of her voice are inextricably linked to the subject of sex,” the New York Times once wrote.
Many international supporters
The German-American had a large international following and was also awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit in 2019. “The questions are the same everywhere,” she once told the German Press Agency. Every country prides itself on having better lovers. But she certainly couldn’t recognize anyone who was the best in the world.
The image of a so-called puritanical America compared to a much more sexually liberal Europe is also pure ‘nonsense’, says Westheimer, who has written more than thirty sex guides in total.
Source: Krone
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