Diferent views on masturbation Essay Example

per their teachings, sex is meant to be a shared gift between couples, aligning with biblical principles. The Protestant church emphasizes that sex should involve mutual selflessness between partners and considers masturbation as a grave sin that should be avoided.

In ancient times, masturbation was condemned by Judaism as it was seen as wasteful of semen and believed to be self-destructive. Although the degree of condemnation has decreased over time, the act is still regarded as an evil within the religion today (Fisher n. p).

While Buddhism discourages masturbation, it does not consider it a sinful act. In contrast, Islam allows masturbation as a way to avoid committing adultery (Fisher, n. p).

In both Islam and Hinduism, individuals are given the autonomy to decide about masturbation without strong condemnation. Islam views it as a minor issue, while Hinduism trusts that wisdom will lead people towards making the correct decision (Fisher, n.p).

Gender perspectives on masturbation

The opinions and beliefs about masturbation vary among individuals, including their gender. While some consider it taboo and strongly disapprove of it, others see it as a personal pleasure. Both men and women engage in masturbation, although men are the majority. Women also participate in this activity but often feel uncomfortable discussing it openly. Fahs & Frank (p.

According to the authors, there were contrasting attitudes towards masturbation between men and women. Men were more open-minded and frequently discussed it, while women had negative views and rarely talked about it. The authors propose that this divergence may stem from women depending on men for sexual satisfaction, whereas men were more inclined to masturbate if they lacked other sexual options. Moreover, men showed greater comfort in

discussing masturbation compared to women. Furthermore, white women reported engaging in masturbation more often than black and Asian women.

The perception of masturbation varies among individuals. Some view it as a means of achieving sexual satisfaction when they lack a partner, while others see it as a way for women to assert their independence from men. Many women who engage in self-pleasure use sex toys like vibrators, stating that these devices offer more pleasure than having a partner (Fahs & Frank p.243). Research shows that adolescent boys masturbate more frequently than teenage girls (Fahs & Frank p.244). In one study, only a small number of girls openly discussed and expressed positivity towards self-stimulation, while others avoided the topic altogether and considered it morally wrong. Instead, they preferred engaging in sexual activities with their partners and cited intimacy as their primary motivation.

Women, unlike men, generally refrain from discussing masturbation in public due to their reluctance to address topics that are often considered taboo or hidden (Fahs & Frank p.244). While men engage in masturbation for pleasure and to alleviate sexual tension, women have diverse reasons for participating in this activity. Some women have openly admitted that they find more satisfaction through self-pleasure than through sexual intercourse with their partners. By exploring their own bodies, women can fulfill their sexual desires more efficiently by engaging in masturbation (Fahs & Frank p.246).

Some women see masturbation as a means of asserting their dominance over men by satisfying their sexual needs without them. For others, it becomes a habitual behavior that is hard to quit. According to Fahs & Frank (p.247), masturbation can be addictive and quitting becomes difficult once individuals

get used to it. Like men, women also find pleasure in this activity.

Cultural perspectives on masturbation

In the past, the Christian culture viewed masturbation as immoral, causing individuals to engage in it secretly to evade criticism. Different cultures had different notions about the potential risks and outcomes of masturbation. For instance, Mormons regarded semen as precious and believed that it should not be squandered, leading them to consider masturbation as a taboo act associated with adultery. Gradually, these beliefs started changing as they reevaluated their position on this issue.

One belief they held was that sex caused diseases, but in reality, it was the opposite. They also believed that wasting semen caused madness, headaches, numbness, and tumors, among other symptoms (Malan p.83). According to Hewlett (p.121), Euro-American culture differed in that masturbation was accepted and not considered taboo like in other cultures. The region has distinct demographics and political characteristics unlike Africa and other regions.

Hewlett (p. 113) asserts that the Aka community from Central Africa had no knowledge of acts like masturbation, considering it a new and uncommon practice. Their report suggests that if it did exist, they were oblivious to it. This implies that masturbation was not a norm in earlier times on the African continent, and if it did occur, it was done discreetly. Presently, numerous cultures are adopting the Western culture, leading to the widespread acceptance of masturbation across continents.

Despite being considered taboo and wrong in many cultures, masturbation is prevalent in the current generation and is no longer done secretly.

References

1. Beginning Catholic.com. (2006). Straight Talk About The Catholic Teaching on Masturbation. Retrieved 10th March 2016.
2. Breanne, F. & Elena, F. (2014) Notes from
   

the Back Room: Gender, Power, and (In) Visibility in Women's Experiences of Masturbation, The Journal of Sex Research, 51:3, 241-252, DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2012.745474.

The text below contains a link to the source it was retrieved from on March 10th, 2016: "http://kinseyconfidential.org/sex-religion-religious-traditions-masturbation/". Additionally, there is a citation for a study conducted by Hewlett, B. and Hewlett, B. in 2005 titled "Sex and Searching for Children among Aka Foragers and Ngandu Farmers of Central Africa."The article "Sexuality ; Culture" by Malan (2005) can be found at http://www.mormonstudies.net/pdf/mormon_masturbation.pdf.

The article titled "Historical Development Of New Masturbation Attitudes in Mormon Culture: Silence, Secular Conformity, Counterrevolution, and Emerging Reformation" can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.mormonstudies.net/pdf/mormon_masturbation.pdf

The article with the title "Historical Development Of New Masturbation Attitudes in Mormon Culture: Silence, Secular Conformity, Counterrevolution, and Emerging Reformation" is accessible through this link: http://www.mormonstudies.net/pdf/mormon_masturbation.pdf.