Dr. Ruth Westheimer says #TalkingIsPower with a Screening and Discussion of “Ask Dr. Ruth”
Power to Decide, Hulu, Magnolia Pictures, and New York University hosted a special evening with Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the world-renowned sex therapist, author, and media personality on the campus of New York University late August.
Media leaders, advocates for health, educators, university staff, and students gathered for a screening of the critically-acclaimed film "Ask Dr. Ruth," followed by a lively and memorable discussion with Dr. Ruth Westheimer and our CEO, Ginny Ehrlich. Dr. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, a member of our Board and a Professor and Associate Vice Provost of New York University, hosted the event and shared his perspective on the power of open conversations. According to producers, the film “chronicles the life story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a Holocaust survivor who became America's most famous sex therapist. As her 90th birthday approaches, she revisits her painful past and career at the forefront of the sexual revolution.”
This event was part of #TalkingIsPower, our national effort to spark meaningful conversations about sex, love, and relationships between young people and the champions who care about them most. Parents and champions share in a unique position to talk to young people about issues that impact them most; specifically, the power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. In fact, parents and champions are most influential when it comes to young people’s decisions about sex.
When asked about ways to engage in these types of conversations with young people, Dr. Ruth noted young people’s natural curiosity and encouraged the crowd to leave sex-ed information around the house to help foster that curiosity: “If they are reluctant to ask questions, leave a book and they will read it.” Something as simple as an open book on the coffee table will draw in young people to read and develop their own questions surrounding sex, love, relationships, and birth control in which they will come to their parents, mentors, and allies for answers.
Dr. Ruth shared the newly updated fourth edition of her classic “Sex For Dummies,” which includes updated information about Millennials and relationships as well as specifics on talking with children and young adults about sex.
We genuinely thank Dr. Ruth and Hulu for sharing her life story, generating such rich conversation, and providing advice that keeps people talking and helps to drive teen and unplanned pregnancy rates to historic lows.
It’s now Let’s Talk Month and we challenge all parents and champions to continue talking to the young people in their lives about sex. Even if the young person in your life seems uninterested, keep talking! These conversations serve as tools that can help parents and champions better understand what is going on in the lives of young people and will lay the foundation for life-long, open, and honest relationships rich in communication.
Watch the film and join the conversation by using the hashtags, #TalkingIsPower and #AskDrRuth and tagging our partner, @Hulu.
