Johnson, Virginia E. (1925–)

American psychologist and sociologist. Name variations: Virginia Johnson Masters; Virginia E. Johnson-Masters. Born Virginia Eshelman in Springfield, Missouri, Feb 11, 1925; dau. of Hershel Eshelman and Edna (Evans) Eshelman; attended Drury College, 1940–42, University of Missouri, 1944–47, and Washington University, St. Louis, 1964; m. George Johnson, June 13, 1950 (div., Sept 1956); m. William Howell Masters (professor of obstetrics and gynecology and author), Jan 7, 1971 (div. 1992); children: (1st m.) Scott Forstall Johnson; Lisa Evans Johnson.

With 2nd husband William Masters, compiled information on human sexuality which documented sexual revolution of 1960s; began career at St. Louis Daily Record (1947–50); worked at radio station KMOX, St. Louis (1950–51); joined division of reproductive biology, department of obstetrics and gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine (1957–63) and was research instructor (1962–64); at Masters and Johnson Institute, served as research associate (1964–69), assistant director (1969–73) and co-director (1973–94); became director of Virginia Johnson Masters Learning Center (1994); served on advisory board, Homosexual Community Counseling Center; co-wrote with William H. Masters: Human Sexual Response (1966), Human Sexual Inadequacy (1970), The Pleasure Bond (1975), Homosexuality in Perspective (1979) and Textbook of Sexual Medicine (1979); co-wrote with Robert Kolodny: Crisis: Heterosexual Behavior in the Age of AIDS (1988).

See also Women in World History.