Masturbation

This is the practice of stimulating one's own genitals for sexual pleasure, which may involve the use of hands, objects, fantasies, visual or auditory stimuli, and can occur individually or within partnered relationships. It is one of the most ancient and universal forms of sexual behavior, recorded across cultures worldwide through cave paintings, mythology, and religious texts. References to masturbation can be found in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, and Greece—for instance, in myths of the god Atum who, according to legend, created the world through masturbation, or in sexual manuals such as the “Kama Sutra,” where it is considered part of a broader sexual culture. In European history, from the 17th century onward, masturbation began to be viewed as harmful, immoral, and dangerous to health—especially under the influence of religious and medical discourses that associated it with moral decline, mental illness, and physical deterioration. These beliefs peaked in the 19th century, prompting moral campaigns, restrictions, and even medical interventions to suppress the practice. It wasn't until the 20th century, particularly after the sexual revolution of the 1960s, that attitudes began to shift, thanks in part to the work of sexologists like Alfred Kinsey and Masters and Johnson, who demonstrated its normalcy and prevalence. Today, masturbation is widely recognized as a natural aspect of human sexuality, contributing to self-awareness, stress reduction, better sleep, sexual tension relief, and even disease prevention. It is also used in psychotherapeutic and medical contexts as a method to address sexual dysfunction and is a component of comprehensive sexual education. Despite its normalization in many parts of the world, it remains stigmatized or morally condemned in certain cultural and religious traditions. Technological advancements have led to the development of various tools and devices for masturbation, further individualizing and destigmatizing the practice.