A brief history of masturbation

May 12, 2021

We are living in an unprecedented era of sexual liberation—sex toys, masturbation, open conversations, and unapologetic self-fulfilment. Or are we?

For centuries, we have created stigmas around masturbation that have profoundly impacted how humans mentally and physically engage with their sexuality. Those stigmas are undeniably shifting, but we’re not quite there yet. Masturbation is a fascinating topic with a rich history. In some communities, it is viewed as dirty or forbidden, while in others, it is considered a healthy, normal, and encouraged act. Yet even in those contexts, guilt and shame often accompany self-love, leaving many questioning their origins and relevance to our bodies today.

Many of our society’s laws, attitudes, and standards have been shaped over the years by the influence of the Bible. The Christian expectation that sex must be Church-sanctioned and solely for procreation, alongside an emphasis on remaining abstinent and pure, has been preached for the last two millennia.

It was at the beginning of the 18th century that masturbation began to be more broadly stigmatised, regarded as having pathological origins and negative physical and mental health consequences. This created a “nearly universal engine for generating guilt, shame, and anxiety.”

In 1712, an anonymous text titled Onania; or, The Heinous Sin of Self Pollution, and all its Frightful Consequences was published and widely circulated, openly condemning masturbation. It labelled this “new disease” as morally abhorrent.

In the following centuries, many writers, philosophers, and doctors argued that masturbation posed a serious threat to mental and physical health. In the 1830s, Benjamin Rush, a renowned physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, claimed that masturbation caused tuberculosis, memory loss, and epilepsy. J.H. Kellogg, a medical writer and creator of breakfast cereal, believed symptoms of masturbation included acne, a weak back, and convulsions. Noted 19th-century physician and early sex research pioneer Richard von Krafft-Ebing linked masturbation to homosexuality and other behaviours he considered deviant.

At this point in history, anti-masturbation devices, or "penis torture objects," were invented to control sexual desire. Vaginal genital mutilation was also practised in America in an attempt to redirect women’s sexuality to the only culturally acceptable avenue: vaginal intercourse within marriage.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that these myths and associated guilt began to unravel. In the 1940s and 50s, Alfred Kinsey published research findings revealing that “90 percent of men and 62 percent of women masturbated.” The 60s and 70s saw a significant movement to normalise female masturbation, with sex educator Betty Dodson's workshops, the female sexuality pamphlet Our Bodies, Ourselves, and feminist sex toy shops.

In 1972, the American Medical Association declared masturbation to be “neither physically nor mentally harmful,” and in 1994, American Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders suggested that masturbation be included in sex education curricula. By the 1980s, masturbation was publicly encouraged as a tool in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Today, we live in an age where the taboo has significantly loosened, yet masturbation remains a complex topic. Many sex therapists suggest that regular masturbation, whether one is single or partnered, can be beneficial, but for some, it may feel uninteresting, uncomfortable, or contrary to their belief systems. Stigmas around masturbation persist, and it is common to experience feelings of guilt, anxiety, shame, or self-loathing while engaging in self-pleasure. Many individuals grow up in communities or families where masturbation is discouraged, hushed, or ignored, internalising the idea that acts of love towards one's body are unnatural.

While we are amidst a sexually liberating revolution, embracing a new era where the enlightened self is the pleasured self, it’s essential to acknowledge that this journey may involve addressing negative attachments. Talking to a therapist, reading more about the topic, or simply practising self-kindness can help us navigate the long history of repression that many still carry in their bodies.