Masturbation Month, May 2011
From your erotica editors, Jordan LaRousse and Samantha Sade
Dear Lovers of Erotica,
Happy Masturbation Month!
That's right, May is Masturbation Month here in the good ol' US of A. Masturbation Month was first commemorated in 1995, following the forced
resignation of U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. After a speech at
the UN in 1994, she was asked about masturbation's potential for
discouraging early sexual activity. Her answer: “I think it is something
that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps
should be taught.”
After Elders' resignation, the pioneers at Good Vibrations realized masturbation needed stronger proponents. "We
started National Masturbation Month to raise awareness, and because we
wanted to highlight the importance of masturbation for nearly everyone:
it's safe, it's healthy, it's free, it's pleasurable and it helps people
get to know their bodies and their sexual responses. Of all the kinds
of sex people can have, masturbation is the most universal and
important, yet few people talk about it freely -- worse, many people
still feel it is "second best" or problematic in some way. National
Masturbation Month lets us emphasize how great it is: it's natural,
common and fun!"
We have the founders of the San Francisco based sex toy
and education shop to thank for May now being Masturbation Month. Thank
you Good Vibrations!
A few fun facts for Masturbation Month.
• Masturbation is the safest form of sex there is.
• In women, masturbation strengthens the immune system and increases resistance to yeast infections. It also helps to alleviate pre-menstrual tension and cramps.
• In men and women, masturbation helps combat stress, insomnia, and improves mood by releasing endorphins.
• The Kinsey’s survey found that almost 40% of men and 30% of women in relationships masturbate. A study of Playboy readers found that 72% of married men masturbate, and a study of Redbook readers found that 68% of married women masturbate.
• The average time a porno film is watched in a hotel room is 12 minutes.
• Some male walruses give themselves blowjobs (they self fellate).
• Some female porcupines use sticks as dildos.
• There is a masturbation hall of fame. Inductees include sex columnist Dan Savage, Prince (for all of the music he's written about the joys of self love) Joan Allen and Reese Witherspoon in the film Pleasantville (for the beautiful, positive portrayals of masturbation), and Jamie Lee Curtis, who told Entertainment Weekly in 1994 that masturbation is one of her favorite hobbies and describes it as "an unbelievably good pastime."
Celebrate Masturbation Month:
Aside from the obvious activities you can and should engage in to celebrate Masturbation Month, check out The Sex Positive Photo Project. Shilo McCabe is posting one photograph a day this month to celebrate the art of self love! She is celebrating "the diverse, amazing and inspiring people who are a part of the sex positive community of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she makes her home. This project is an ongoing exploration of the sex positive movement and culture that can be found here as well as an exploration into the meaning of 'sex positive'."
We hope you enjoy this month dedicated to masturbation. Cheers!
xo
Jordan and Samantha
Originally published May 2011