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May is National Masturbation Month

By HERWriter
 
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May 1 marks the first day of Nation Masturbation Month. If you didn't know this, you’re not alone. The annual observance is not high profile.

In fact, the most coverage masturbation has received may have been back in 1992 when Jerry Seinfeld and his cast mates brought up the taboo topic during a Seinfeld episode. In one of the first scenes, character George Costanza’s mother catches him masturbating. The four New Yorkers then entered into a contest to determine who could go for the longest period of time without masturbating. However they couldn’t say the actual word on primetime television, so the euphemism, "master of my domain,” was born. No one won.

So how does a hush-hush subject like masturbation get a month of its own? It started in 1995 in San Francisco as a response to the forced resignation of U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. After a speech at the United Nations World AIDS Day in 1994, an audience member asked Elders about masturbation’s potential for discouraging early sexual activity. She answered,“I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.”

That was the end of the first black Surgeon General’s Washington career, but the beginning of National Masturbation Month. The founders of San Francisco based sex toy and education shop Good Vibrations said, "Enough is enough!" They wanted to do two things: keep up the conversation about Elders unjust firing and make people talk about masturbation.

Good Vibrations recognized many people needed support and advice about the very act of masturbating. One of the first things they had to do is provide reassurance. They made sure people knew it was okay to masturbate in the first place. For so long, shame and stigma have been attached to masturbating. Yet the truth is it is an activity so commonplace, natural, pleasurable and healthy it is said "ninety-eight percent of us masturbate, and the other two percent are liars."

Since then, Good Vibrations has held annual events used as public health education programs to increase awareness of self-pleasure as a strategy for safer and healthier sex and to de-stigmatize masturbation. Their events have also worked to get people to talk about the act, instead of giggling or remaining silent. After all it is the ultimate in safe sex.

So go ahead, celebrate National Masturbation Month!

Stacy Lloyd is a writer and video producer in Phoenix, Arizona. A former television news journalist, she covered stories around the world. Currently, she produces corporate and non-profit videos and broadcast programming.

Add a Comment10 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Actually, in the episode "The Contest", George won!

May 7, 2016 - 7:43am

As a Tasteful Treasures distributor (adult toys), I speak to women all the time about self pleasure. I encourage women to learn their body; if you don't know how to pleasure yourself, how will he. Masturbation and toys are not there to replace your spouse (significant other); they are there to enhance your sexual relationship. I am going to paste this article on my Tasteful Treasures by Chanda FB page to encourage my customers to enjoy this month even more. Ladies and gentlemen... Play away!!
[solicitation and personal email removed by Moderator per posting guidelines]

May 19, 2011 - 1:55pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Women need to know that it's totally okay, in fact, it's better than okay - it's GREAT to take responsibility for yourself and your happiness (emotionally, physically, or otherwise). Even those of us in sexually-healthy, committed relationships need to take the burden off our partner. It isn't their responsibility. Sometimes a girl just needs a hand (so to speak) and it's 100% totally fine if that hand (or other) is her own.

May 14, 2011 - 6:49am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

HELL YAH. I AGREE WITH all THE ABOVE. SOMETIMES you gotta do what you got to do ESPECIALLY when nobody else can get the job done and also when you don't feel like dealing with assholes who THINK they can!!!!!!!!! but of COURSE, it is not "high profile topic..." as there will ALWAYS be those "high minded" ones who take God's place to judge and spout off condeming it and you to a place THEY have no authority to send you and where they probably may end up themselves.

May 11, 2010 - 3:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

masturbation month? sounds like it would be harder to get popular than satan month lol.but we can dream

May 10, 2010 - 6:44pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Well, you really have to hand it to those that thought this up! Yuk Yuk!!!

May 8, 2010 - 6:41am

lawl what day is it? Cinco de may-sturbation.rofl this is the single greatest month ever!

May 7, 2010 - 10:05pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

LOL, Anonymous!

May 7, 2010 - 12:46pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Battery companies are missing a great promotion angle: Don't get Mom flowers, get her fresh double-A's for her personal satisfaction!

May 7, 2010 - 12:32pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

What a great idea to get a month of observance for this. Interesting history of how this came to be. About time we remove the stigma associated with this!

May 1, 2010 - 10:19pm
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