Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Go: F**k Yourself: May is National Masturbation Month

We are all aware that each month brings us different events and causes to celebrate  to make us all aware of things that we wouldn't normally pay attention to or weren't informed about. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. November is AIDS Awareness Month. February is Black History Month. Well nothing and I mean NOTHING, could have prepared me for what has to be by far one of the most fun awareness niches celebrated in May: National Masturbation Month....Go on think long and hard on that one! I can't help but reflect that before now May was the month to celebrate Moms. Is anyone thinking that if more people celebrated May as Masturbation Month there would be less mothers celebrating their existence? Its OK, if you are, it has been said now!

National Masturbation month was declared in May, 1995, by San Francisco–based sex-toy and -education shop Good Vibrations.  As with anything progressive, the focus has shifted from primarily Masturbation, to a positive sexual focus and used as a time to provide public health education and information as an approach to safe and healthy sex. An array of events have been created to ensure that this awareness is widespread. One such event is the Masturbate-a-Thon which was originated by the collective Open Enterprises, which operates Good Vibrations in 1999. Rachel Venning, the found of the adult toy shop, formely known as Toy in Babeland (now known as Babeland), coined the slogan "Come for a Cause". (www.Wikipedia.com) Each event, individual and organization has one mission and that is to let people know that self-pleasure is perfectly fine and necessary to de-stigmatize the desire, ability and willingness to sexually 'loving' yourself.

I believe that masturbation is a non-medicinal, therapeutic path to maintaining sanity, however, not everybody thinks this way. Masturbation has a long history of stigma, shame and misconceptions. In Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of Masturbation, historian Thomas W. Laqueur argues that ideas about modern masturbation emerged quite powerfully in the early 18th century in the form of a new “disease” that required medical intervention. Masturbation was thought to cause blindness, madness and a host of other physical ailments and moral defects. By the mid-19th century there was a booming anti-masturbation market, including devices such as erection alarms, penis cases, sleeping mitts and hobbles to prevent girls from spreading their legs.The meanings associated with masturbation underwent a slow but steady transformation in the 20th century. In the 1960s and ’70s, masturbation was embraced by the women’s movement as a vital part of female sexuality and a stepping stone to sexual liberation. Feminists challenged Freud’s theory of sexual development, which posited that both masturbation and clitoral orgasms were infantile. They wrote books, held workshops and started vibrator businesses in an effort to reclaim masturbation as a feminist issue, turning the previous “anti-masturbation” market completely on its head. (http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/may/11/may-national-masturbation-month/ )

Playing with oneself is a great way to connect with yourself, find out what you like and how you like it. In addition to that, it is an immediate stress reliever. Then there is always the Use it or lose it.” principal. According to Las Vegas Weekly, "Evidence suggests that when people experience prolonged periods without engaging with their sexual responses, those responses diminish. According to Glickman, “Solo sex is a wonderful way to keep bodies happy, healthy and responsive.'" So Go FUCK Yourself, its natural, common, and healthy. Here's to celebrating the Official Jack-Off Month!!! Indulge and Enjoy!!!


"Buzzworthy Cravings, Creatively Satisfied!"

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