Jewish Women Prominent Among Female Sexuality Pioneers

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, of “Grace And Frankie” Image by Getty Images
I think I owe it to Sisterhood readers to click on, and link to, a post with the title, “These Jewish Women Think You Should Masturbate.” It’s not every day I see such a headline, but today just happens to be — as I learned from Bella Book’s JWA post — the final day of “both Jewish American Heritage Month and National Masturbation Month.” The latter was the brainchild of Joani Blank, founder of San Francisco’s Good Vibrations, and — you guessed it — Jewish woman.
Other Jewish women credited with innovations in the solo-pleasure department include some expected contenders (specifically: Dr. Ruth Westheimer) and others less so (Judy Blume). While we’re on the topic, I’d throw in Frankie from Netflix series “Grace And Frankie”, a fictional Jewish woman, yes, but an entrepreneur selling vibrators for older women.
Phoebe Maltz Bovy edits the Sisterhood, and can be reached at [email protected]. She is the author of “The Perils Of ‘Privilege’”, from St. Martin’s Press. Follow her on Twitter, @tweetertation
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
