Masturbation Nation (Part Two)

Continued from Part One. 

Pop culture dictates that part of the secrecy surrounding masturbation stems also from prohibition forced by religious institutions or mental health professionals in the past, and this is likely to be true, given the human relationship to masturbation has been radically different in different cultures throughout history.

Masturbation in art and history

How do we know this? 

Primarily through art, which has always been a good indicator of sexual social practise whether actual or for stimulation. Masturbation, either self inflicted or performed with another individual, is a hot topic in art throughout the ages appearing as early as on prehistoric rock paintings. There is a female masturbatory image on an ancient Maltese temple dating back to the fourth Millennium BC. Masturbation is considered to be healthy in both the male and female from a biological perceptive as it keeps the cervix and sperm flow healthy and more likely to result in a successful pregnancy. It is also considered to be important in teens, as it is one of the primary triggers that result in control over the body and the self in terms of sexual self-awareness.

Still a Taboo

And yet, with all that we know about masturbation, it still contains a taboo that goes against all this modern permission. It is not uncommon for people to keep their masturbatory moments a secret from their lover; sometimes this is from a desire for a completely autonomous experience, and other times it might be because of shame regarding practise or stimulant. Do we want our partner to know what triggers our masturbation? 

Do we want our partner to watch us?

One thing that is consistent with every human on the planet - in some way shape for form, everyone does it.