Cultural Puritanism to 'sex positivity': How Dr Ruth changed sex in the US forever

Dr Ruth Westheimer, widely known as Dr Ruth, was a groundbreaking TV sex therapist who rose to fame in the 1980s. Her candid and positive approach to discussing sex made her a cultural icon in the United States. Dr Ruth's radio and television shows, which began in 1980, were known for their humorous and detailed sexual advice. She promoted the idea that sex is a healthy part of life and that open conversations about it are essential. Her shows covered a wide range of topics, from losing virginity to achieving orgasms and indulging in fantasies. One of her famous quotes from 1985 was, 'If you want to believe that a whole football team is in bed with you, that's fine. ' This openness was a significant shift from the traditional Puritan views on sex in the US. Dr Ruth had the credentials to back up her advice. She worked at Planned Parenthood, earned a doctorate in education, and completed post-doctoral work in human sexuality. However, it was her bubbly personality and down-to-earth approach that endeared her to the public. She often remarked that her career wouldn't have been successful if she had been tall and sexy. Her grandmotherly appearance and demeanor were key to her mainstream acceptance. When she began her television career, she was already middle-aged, a petite woman with a chirpy voice. She once said, 'I was not a young woman sitting on television with a short skirt and a decolletage. I was already 50. I have an accent. ' Dr Ruth's early life was marked by hardship. As a Jewish child during World War Two, she was sent from Germany to Switzerland to escape the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of her parents. Despite this, she maintained an unrelentingly cheerful persona. She often quoted the Talmud, saying, 'It says in the Talmud that a lesson taught with humour is a lesson retained. ' Her humour made her a frequent guest on late-night talk shows, from Johnny Carson to Jimmy Kimmel, solidifying her cultural presence. People laughed with her, not at her. Beneath her cheerful exterior lay a substantial cultural legacy. The 1960s were a time of sexual liberation, and the 1970s began to bring pornography into the mainstream. By the 1980s, Dr Ruth made sex seem positively sunny and normalized discussions about sexual problems. This attitude resonated with a generation that had grown up with sexual liberation and served as a counterbalance to the cultural conservatism of the Reagan era. Although it wasn't a prominent part of her public image, Dr Ruth was a strong advocate for contraception and women's reproductive health. She also championed safe sex, particularly during the height of the Aids epidemic. One of her many books was 'Dr Ruth's Guide to Safer Sex,' though it wasn't as catchy a title as 'Sex for Dummies. ' In 2019, while promoting a Hulu documentary about her life, Dr Ruth continued to offer common-sense advice with her trademark brashness and enthusiasm. She addressed millennials who complained of being too busy or stressed to have sex, saying, 'Don't be stupid. Make sure that you have time for sex. Here is an activity that is so enjoyable and it's free. ' Dr Ruth's influence on how Americans talk about sex remains significant to this day.