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
Why I became the Forward’s Editor-in-Chief
You are surely a friend of the Forward if you’re reading this. And so it’s with excitement and awe — of all that the Forward is, was, and will be — that I introduce myself to you as the Forward’s newest editor-in-chief.
And what a time to step into the leadership of this storied Jewish institution! For 129 years, the Forward has shaped and told the American Jewish story. I’m stepping in at an intense time for Jews the world over. We urgently need the Forward’s courageous, unflinching journalism — not only as a source of reliable information, but to provide inspiration, healing and hope.
