Women’s Masturbation

Abstract

With the present study, I explore the function, meaning, and empowerment potential of masturbation for 765 American women. The sample was somewhat diverse, but primarily young (79% under 30), White (75%), educated (85% with at least a bachelor’s degree), and heterosexual (67%). Participants completed an online anonymous survey that included endorsement of various attitudes toward masturbation, reasons for masturbating, and emotions following masturbation. Two split-half exploratory factor analyses (followed by confirmatory factor analyses) indicated that women’s reasons for masturbating clustered into five main reasons: (a) sexual pleasure, (b) to learn about or better understand their bodies, (c) as a release, (d) to substitute for partner sex, and (e) general sexual dissatisfaction. Women’s feelings regarding their masturbation fell into three clusters: (a) shame, (b) sexual empowerment, and (c) fear that one is acting selfishly. Most women in my study did not feel ashamed about masturbating; instead, many women felt sexually empowered. A hierarchical multiple regression demonstrated that women were more likely to feel sexually empowered by the fact that they masturbate if they reported being more sexually efficacious, having higher genital self-image, and masturbating for sexual pleasure or to learn more about their bodies. Results lend support to the feminist theory that when women are able to focus on their own sexual pleasure or learning, without the concerns of pregnancy or pleasing a partner, they may feel sexually empowered.

“It’s Happiness and Relief and Release”: Exploring Masturbation Among Bisexual and Queer Women

“…Research has found associations between masturbation and negative outcomes, such as depression (Brody & Nicholson, 2013;Frohlich & Meston, 2002) and guilt (Bowman, 2014;Carvalheira & Leal, 2013). Bowman (2014) and Carvalheira and Leal (2013) found that women commonly reported shame or guilt as an emotional reaction to their masturbation, resulting in a decreased likelihood of positive physical and psychological outcomes associated with masturbation (Davidson & Darling, 1993). As masturbation is stigmatized by society, the guilt that results may be from the internalization of these messages, as opposed to the actual act of masturbation (Coleman, 2003).…”

“…Positive experiences with masturbation. Although some women report guilt and shame associated with their masturbation, positive experiences, such as empowerment, are also connected to women's masturbation (Bowman, 2014). Additionally, women who engaged in masturbation reported decreased difficulties in arousal and lowered sexual inhibition (Carvalheira & Leal, 2013).…”

“…Although previous research primarily used heterosexual samples, Bowman's (2014) sample included 29.5% lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women. Bowman (2014) found significant differences between LBQ women and heterosexual women.…”

“…Although previous research primarily used heterosexual samples, Bowman's (2014) sample included 29.5% lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women. Bowman (2014) found significant differences between LBQ women and heterosexual women. Specifically, LBQ women reported more positive attitudes towards their genitals, more often masturbating for release and sexual pleasure, having masturbated more recently, and higher levels of sexual-efficacy, or belief in one's ability to navigate a sexual experience.…”

“…The majority of the limited body of masturbation research has focused on straight White perspectives of masturbation (e.g., Kaestle & Allen, 2011). Although some studies examine the masturbation experiences of queer and bisexual women when looking at sexual pleasure as a whole (Goldey, Posh, Bell, & van Anders, 2016) or look at women's masturbation broadly (Bowman, 2014), no studies have looked exclusively at the masturbation experiences of bisexual and queer women.…”