Dr. Ruth Westheimer is America's most respected "sexpert." Her raison d'etre? She wants people to be sexually active until the age of 99. But don't confuse this playfulness for flippancy — the running theme behind every piece of advice she gives is the importance of relationships. "Sexual enrichment, other positions, all can be taught. But first there has to be a relationship," says Dr. Ruth.
As the only child of Orthodox Jewish parents living in Germany during WWII, Dr. Ruth learned that love requires sacrifice. She was the only member of her family to survive the Holocaust after being sent to live on her own in Switzerland at just 10 years old. These early encounters with heartache and loss fueled a lifelong passion for facilitating communication and connection between people.
In 1956, Dr. Ruth moved to New York as a young woman, first teaching kindergarten and then pursuing a doctorate in education at Columbia University. But it was a stint at Planned Parenthood that ultimately sparked her interest in human sexuality. The renowned healthcare organization has since gone on to recognize Dr. Ruth's work with the Margaret Sanger Award "for her lifelong commitment to empowering women and men to talk openly and honestly about sex and sexual health."
