Masterbation

Human sex research has made great advancements in recent years, however, there remains misconceptions that have yet to be completely exposed. A topic that falls under this category, but is still surrounded by stigma, is masturbation. In the past, mainly beginning in the 18th century, medical professionals began to claim that masturbation could have serious mental and physical health consequences. At that time, masturbation was considered to be immoral and was believed that it could lead to insanity, and even death. Yet, there was no scientific evidence to support these claims. With most cases, the evidence was only based on testimonies of supposed individuals suffering due to compulsive masturbation; even today there remains no evidence that masturbation is wrong or dangerous (Kaestle, 2011). Although many individuals retain negative attitudes toward masturbation, evidence suggests that these beliefs and attitudes are only common myth. The stigma that is associated with masturbation is often opposed with the commonality as well as the numerous benefits that can be attributed to it. Since masturbation is a natural behavior and can provide a safe sexual outlet, serve as a therapeutic treatment for sexual disorders and a method for self-discovery; it should be considered beneficial sexual act.
In an article by Kaestle and Allen (2011), they studied how young adults learn about and perceive masturbation. They begin by discussing some of the various benefits of masturbation such as promoting intimacy in relationships, providing a substitute for riskier sexual behaviors and an understanding of ones body. They then state that sexologists often promote masturbation, and they make attempts to overcome the negative stigma it has received....

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...ent that there must be more education and information available on the topic of masturbation. It should not be a topic that parents are embarrassed or want to avoid discussing with their children. Masturbation has many benefits however, if individuals cannot get past the misconceptions about it, they can never access these benefits. It can be used in self-discovery, to enhance relations, as a safe sex outlet, and a treatment for sexual problems. These benefits should not be overlooked, and action should be taken to not only educate children, but also include this in the discussion in various parts of society. This could allow for the removal of tension and discomfort that is associated with the topic. It will not be easy to eliminate the stigmas surrounding masturbation, however there has been improvement in the tolerance and it is becoming more generally accepted.