Dr. Diana Wiley and Dr. Mark Schoen paid tribute to Betty Dodson, Ph.D., a sexual revolutionary known as the “Mother of Masturbation.” Betty died on Halloween at the age of 91. Dr. Diana and Dr. Mark knew Betty personally and agree that her promotion of sexual pleasure was a huge part of her legacy. In her radical Bodysex workshops, Betty taught women how to overcome negative body image and pleasure anxiety. These were also spaces where many women had their first orgasms. Through her books, videos and art, millions of women have known orgasmic bliss! 

Mark Schoen is a filmmaker who made an award-winning documentary “Betty Dodson: Her Life of Sex and Art.” For a limited time, folks can view this free on Mark’s website www.SexSmartFilms.com. In the documentary Betty reveals her history through the images of her art and teaches as she entertains. Betty had her first one-woman show of erotic art in 1968 in New York City followed by others. She was interviewed on many television shows from the 1970s to the present, and was recently named number 43 of the 100 most important people in sex by Playboy Magazine.

In the Epilogue of Betty’s 2010 book My Sexual Revolution she reported that an actual little bird visited to her apartment one night. This was a sacred experience that taught Betty patience to wait until the morning when the bird could have daylight to see her way out. The bird was a “divine visitor” who offered Betty this message: When the time is right, the light will be there to see your way out. October 31st was Betty’s time. The light saw her out … leaving some sensual/sexual light behind for those of us who loved and admired her.