Meet Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the 87-year-old sex therapist who has offended a large part of the internet after she suggested women can’t change their minds about sex once both parties are naked.
While promoting her latest book, The Doctor Is In: Dr Ruth on Love, Life, Joie de Vivre, Dr. Westheimer appeared on the Diane Rehm Show on Monday and spoke about her controversial views regarding consent.
“I am very worried about college campuses saying that a woman and a man – or two men or two women, but I talk right now about women and men – can be in bed together, Diane, and at one time, naked, and at one time he or she, most of the time they think she, can say ‘I changed my mind,’ ” Westheimer said.
“No such thing is possible. In the Talmud, in the Jewish tradition, it says when that part of the male anatomy is aroused and there’s an erection, the brain flies out of that and we have to take that very seriously, so I don’t agree with that.”
Rehm pressed her on the topic again later in the interview to clarify: “What you’re saying is it’s already gone too far.”
“You’re putting it very well,” replied Westheimer.
This sent some listeners into uproar, along with many internet users forcing the 87-year-old to rephrase her views on Twitter.
She tweeted: “I am 100% against rape. I do say to women if they don’t want to have sex with a man, they should not be naked in bed with him.”
Tweeting again, she wrote: “That’s risky behaviour like crossing street against the light. If a driver hits you, he’s legally in the wrong but you’re in the hospital.”
Twitter users weren’t exactly swayed by the sex therapist as one tweeted: “Dr. Ruth this reads like you’re only 60% against rape. What are you doing.”
We’ll let you make up your own mind.
