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So here on Amplify we have had quite a few posts recently, that skirted what is really a very taboo topic in our society. It has been referred to as the "Solitary Vice" by some, referred to as a mental illness by others and even has a movement (and t-shirt) started against it. What could by the topic of such controversy and outrage?
Ok, let me give you some hints:
-The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines it as
" erotic stimulation especially of one's own genital organs commonly resulting in orgasm and achieved by manual or other bodily contact exclusive of sexual intercourse, by instrumental manipulation, occasionally by sexual fantasies, or by various combinations of these agencies"-According to the University of Illoinois McKinley Health Center and research by Alfred Kinsey, over "60% of females and 90% of males have done this thing" (and that was based on research from the 1940s and 1950s)
-It has also been incorporated as part of a large public health awareness campaign in the UK to decrease the high levels of teen pregnancy
Wait. So what are we talking about here anyway?
Masturbation, we are talking about masturabation.
Are you still with me? I know that even calling it by its name can make some people uncomfortable. Why is that, do you think? I mean what is masturbation really? How many people do it? What are the facts about it and can it really be a target of promoting the public health and well being of people everywhere and especially teens?
I would like to explore these questions briefly and kind of let you figure it out for yourself. I can not say that I am explicitly advocating any particular viewpoint or behavior. However, I will say that I am writing this from a place of sexual positivity, factual information and the perspective that young adults need to be given the correct information to make responsible choices for their own lives. So are you ready? Lets get into it then.
So I guess the first issue I want to address is the link between masturbation and mental illness. Although masturbation was long ago thought to be a symptom of mental illness, it is now considered a health sexual activity. The McKinley Health Center lists the following health benefits of masturbation:
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Masturbation alleviates premenstrual tension for many women.
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Masturbation provides a healthy sexual outlet for people who choose to abstain from sex with partners or who do not currently have available sexual partners.
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Masturbation can be a route to safer sex, to help prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
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Masturbation allows for sexual pleasuring for those who are not ready to engage in vaginal, anal or oral sex.
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Increases blood flow to the genital region, which can help overall sexual functioning.
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Masturbation can induce sleep.
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Masturbation allows people to become familiar and comfortable with their body.
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Masturbation is often suggested as a therapeutic technique for overcoming sexual dysfunction.
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For women, it can help them learn how to achieve orgasm.
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For men, it can help them increase ejaculatory control and manage rapid or delayed ejaculation.
- Masturbation can help alleviate stress.
That is quite a long list of health benefits. I wonder if this is what the UK National Health Service (NHS) was thinking when they suggested teens consider masturbation instead of early sexual intercourse. Maybe they are on to something with that...(Oh and I forgot to add... in case you heard this rumor too, no it will not make you go blind! )
Ok, I hear the cynics out there that are thinking that masturbation is "lame" or only for lonely people who "cant get any".... Well lets see what the facts are about that:
The National Health and Social Life Survey and other research conducted confirm between 48-95% of people masturbate.
Oh ok... So I guess that means alot of people must do it. I mean... yeah.. did you see that video? (Apparently, even a beautiful celebrity like Tweet masturbates! )
Ok so maybe you are thinking: "Wait... if about 48% of the population masturbates (including Tweet) does that really mean its all that common? I mean hey arent men around 48% of the population anyway, maybe its just men we are talking about here?"
I mean because of course we have all seen teen movies like American Pie (enough said) and probably heard guys make off hand jokes about "jackin it" or "jerking off". You may be thinking that this must be something that only guys do.
Well actually, according to Scarleteen, its not:
Most people will recognize that a lot of men masturbate, but many do not acknowledge that just as many women do. However, that is yet another misconception:
Well now we have explored some of the facts, what do you think? Is masturbation a normal, healthy part of life or is it a vice that must be exterminated to maintain the purity and goodness of women and men everywhere?
According to Susan Quilliam in her study, Women on Sex, 29.1 of women do so at least once weekly, only 1.8% masturbate without clitoral stimulation and 95% ALWAYS orgasm when masturbate (and in comparison, 77.3 can orgasm from oral sex, and 79.2 during intercourse, but cannot always). In her study, 95% of women she surveyed masturbated...
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