Dr. Ruth Preaches Open and Honest Dialogue about Sex
Dr. Ruth speaks about sex to students at ColbyRenowned sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer in an October 6 talk in Lorimer Chapel urged students to be open in discussions about sex. “Sex is a wonderful thing,“ she said. “If there is a problem, it should be talked about.”
Colby's Health and Wellness Committee brought Dr. Ruth, who gained fame in the 1980s for her candid, humorous approach to sex, to encourage students to engage in healthy sexual relationships. With her characteristic German accent, high-pitched voice, and grandmotherly stature, she blamed Victorian moralizing for muted discussion about sexuality. As dialogue about sex has increased, so has misinformation, she explained.
Dr. Ruth encouraged people to get credible information before assuming there's something wrong with them. She expressed her skepticism about existence of the G-Spot. “I have heard from many women who say they think that they are not normal because they can’t find it.” The audience burst into laughter.
Moving on to potential concerns of men in the audience, Dr. Ruth offered some solace. “Size doesn’t matter,” she said. “Unless … it’s minuscule.”
Now 82, Dr. Ruth has hosted a radio show, appeared on television for many years, and authored several books on sexuality, including Sex for Dummies. “I said 'I don’t want to do a book for dummies.' I talk to Colby students, I don’t talk to dummies,” she recalled. “In the end I said 'I’ll do it.' The book is out in 28 languages," she said. "It shows that anything about sex is universal.”
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