Dr.+Ruth

Suzanne Niersbach
 * Dr. Ruth**

Dr. Ruth History Karola Ruth Siegel, more commonly known as Dr. Ruth, was born on June 4th, 1928 in Frankfurt, Germany. Dr. Ruth moved to Switzerland at age ten, later emigrated to Israel where she married her first husband, then moved to Paris where she lived for several years until she was divorced and following that sailed to America (Rosenberg, 1999). Dr. Ruth studied psychology in Paris and years later earned her Doctor of Education from Columbia University Teachers’ College in New York in 1970 (Rosenberg, 1999). Dr. Ruth saw a chance to use her knowledge and expertise to reach out to the community and world around her. In September of 1980 she began her radio program Sexually Speaking. For the first year it was a, “fifteen minute, taped show that aired Sundays after midnight on WYNY-FM (NBC) in New York (Dr.Ruth.com 2006-2011)”. The radio show was such a success that a year later it became a one hour live show where viewers could call in and she would answer their questions.

Dr. Ruth in the Media Dr. Ruth is a sexual communicator. She is, “a pioneer in spreading what she has labeled ‘sexual literacy’ (Women’s International Center). Dr. Ruth uses and has used various methods of communication to get her messages across to all different audiences. She has, “35 books and counting” (Dr. Ruth.com, 2006-2011), radio shows, TV shows, a column, and has her own website. In today’s society sex is still considered a taboo topic to talk about. The United States currently has the highest teen pregnancy rate out of all the industrialized countries (Bond, 2011). The spread of STI’s and other sexual disease is growing. Yet the topic of sex is still avoided. Both parents and teens believe that sex is an important subject, but neither wants to be the one to bring it up (Bond, 2011). People are even uncomfortable talking about sex with their doctors and partners, but sex is still the subject that is most often on people’s minds. This is why it is so important to have people like Dr. Ruth; people that are willing to be open-minded and answer every ones ‘forbidden’ questions. Having so many different available resources from Dr. Ruth is what makes her unique. If someone is too shy to go to the bookstore and actually buy her book for fear of being seen, they can just go to her website. Or, if an elderly person doesn’t know how to use the Internet, and doesn’t want to ask someone to get one of her books for them, they can tune into her TV show, or listen to her on the radio in the privacy of their own home. Dr. Ruth is making sex information available in all facets of the media today.

Dr. Ruth Tips The key to having great sex with your partner is communication. Dr. Ruth, “advises couples to maintain healthy sex lives no matter what their circumstances are” (“Dr. Ruth: Sex,” 2011). It doesn’t matter if you are on older couple, or a young one with children and feel there is never time for sex, you must keep the “spark” going. Dr. Ruth uses her books to speak on topics such as “enhanced foreplay, practicing safe sex, and finding love through personals” (“Dr. Ruth: Sex,” 2011). Dr. Ruth is not a shy woman by any means. She is not afraid to be asked any type of question or afraid to go into detail with the answer. Dr. Ruth, “Discusses how to have better sex. She goes into great detail about where men and women like to be touched and offers tips on how to improve sex between a couple” (“Dr. Ruth: Sex,” 2011). Dr. Ruth is even featured on websites such as WebMD. On the site she hosted a live chat were members could ask her questions and she gave back immediate answers and feedback. The following is an example:

“Member: Dr Ruth, in order to have sex with my wife, I need to schedule an appointment well in advance. What tips do you suggest for getting her to engage in more spontaneous lovemaking? When we were younger, she was ready to go anytime and anywhere. Dr. Ruth: Here Valentine's Day is coming. Go out and buy her a nice gift -- something for HER and then say Dr. Ruth says that it's very important for her to sometimes initiate a sexual activity so that you know that she really wants it and does not just engage in it to comply with your wishes. Good luck to you. (“Let’s Talk Love” 2003)”.

Here Dr. Ruth is communicating to this man on how to initiate a conversation with his wife. It is sometimes hard to bring up a sexual topic, even if the person you want to talk to has been your spouse for many years, sometimes that can make it even harder. Dr. Ruth is advising this man to use Valentines Day, and a gift (which never hurts) to break the ice. Then talk to his wife about how to improve their sex life and how to communicate with one another about when they are in the mood. Without Dr. Ruth’s help, this man would quite possibly still be scheduling intimate nights with his wife into his daily planner.

Dr. Ruth In Our World Dr. Ruth is truly one of a kind. She’s the kind of person that makes you feel comfortable talking about any subject, whether is be sex, relationships, or everyday problems, and if you don’t want to ask her you can almost always find the question or one related to it that someone else has asked in one of her many books, articles, web pages, interviews, radio shows, or television shows. Her blunt personality and ability to be straightforward is just a few aspects that have made her such a success. Not only is there a need for more Dr. Ruth’s in this world, but there’s a need for everyone to become a little bit more like Dr. Ruth. People need to open up, not only with their partners, friends, and families, but also with themselves. The first step to becoming sexually comfortable with others is being sexually comfortable with yourself, and Dr. Ruth is just the person to help you.

References Bond, Brad. Sexual Communication. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Champaign. 2001. Lecture.

Dr. Ruth.com. (2006-2011). All about Dr. Ruth. Retrieved from http://www.drruth.com/content/view/42/27/

Dr. Ruth: Sex Therapist. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.datehookup.com/content-dr-ruth-sex-therapist.htm

Hasib, N. (2007, February 27). Dr. ruth speaks on sex. Yale Daily News, Retrieved from http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2007/feb/20/dr-ruth-speaks-on-sex/

Let’s Talk Love & Sex – Ruth Westheimer, PhD. – 02/11/03. (2003, February 11). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?article key=54462

Rosenberg, C. (1999, April 8). The Doctor Ruth Page. Retrieved from http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~chuck/ruthpg/

Women’s International Center. Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Retrieved from http://www.wic.org/bio/westheim.htm