The PGspot: Self-Love Season: Celebrating Masturbation May

In this special Masturbation May episode, we journey through the rich (and often misunderstood) history of self-pleasure.  From historical attitudes toward erotic autonomy to the invention of the first vibrator, we explore how solo sex has evolved - and how it's been shaped by science, stigma, and shifting societal norms. We'll examine the lasting impact of Puritanical values on modern views of masturbation, and take a comparative look at how different cultures around the world understand and engage with self-pleasure.  It's time to challenge shame, reclaim pleasure, and recognize masturbation as a vital part of human sexuality and wellness. 

If you want to learn more about sexual health, sexual dysfunction, or how to improve your sex life, follow me on Instagram at @thepgspot or check out my website at doctorpattyj.com for blogs and resources related to sex positivity and real talk about sexuality.  As as always, stay curious, stay empowered, and stay you.

Transcript

Patty 0:08

Welcome to the PG spot, where our goal is to take the X out of sex by breaking down the barriers that prevent open communication about sexual health. I'm Dr. Patty Jalomo, a dual certified nurse practitioner, pelvic floor therapist, and certified sexual counselor. I'm here to provide expert insights, debunk myths, and empower you to embrace your sexual wellbeing. Whether you're looking for answers or simply curious, join us as we open up the conversation around sex, intimacy and everything in between. I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that some content may not be appropriate for all listeners. I'm a huge proponent of honest and accurate information regarding sexuality. But I'm also mindful that this should be age appropriate. Therefore, if you are under 18, this may not be the podcast for you. Additionally, some of the language used in this podcast may be offensive to some listeners. Please take these things into consideration before going forward with your consensual participation in this podcast. The opinions expressed by myself or my guests are just that, and these opinions are neither expected or required to be shared by all listeners. The information that is provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only, and should not be mistaken for individual medical advice if you do find the information that we cover in the PG spot. Helpful. Interesting or informative. Please rate and review the podcast wherever you're listening from. If you think this information is important, I would love for you to share it with your friends or family. This is a great way to get the information out to more people. So thank you for listening and let's get on with the show. Hey everyone. Guess what? It's masturbation may. So of course, we have to have an episode devoted solely to solo sex. In this episode, we're going to take a deep dive into the history of self-pleasure, including the invention of the first vibrator, how Puritan culture has influenced views on masturbation and a comparative look at how different cultures and societies approach masturbation and sexuality. We have a lot to cover in this episode, so let's get into it. To start, I want to introduce you to Dr. Joseph Mortimer G ranville, a British physician. Dr. Granville is most often credited with inventing the first electromechanical vibrator around 1880. This device, which he called the Percuteur, was originally intended to treat muscle aches and other neuromuscular conditions, but according to him, it was not invented for sexual purposes. During the Victorian era, physicians commonly diagnosed women with hysteria, which is a catchall term for symptoms like anxiety, irritability, sexual frustration. And this makes sense because at that time, sex was seen more as a means of procreation and not something focused on providing female pleasure. In her 1999 book, the Technology of Orgasm author Rachel P Maines claimed that physicians used manual pelvic massage to induce hysterical paroxysm. What these women were experiencing when going to the doctor was orgasm. So of course word got out and more and more women were showing up at their physician's office looking for this miracle cure. The belief is that this manual pelvic massage was labor intensive for doctors, or in simpler terms, their hand just got tired. So devices like Gran ville's. Electro mechanical vibrator were later adapted by some physicians for this purpose. Now, there isn't one single confirmed physician who was historically recognized as the first one to use manual pelvic massage in the treatment of female hysteria. And this is largely because the link between orgasm and medical treatment was likely more discreet. And there is a lack of historical evidence to document such practices in a specific way. Thus historians may argue this theory. But it definitely makes for an interesting trivia question. By the early 19 hundreds, vibrators became widely available to consumers and were marketed in women's magazines as health and beauty aids. And this was decades before electric irons or vacuum cleaners were even common in homes. So speaking of interesting trivia content, let's talk about the connection between cornflakes and masturbation. John Harvey Kellogg, who was a 19th century physician and nutritionist, had a strong opposition to the practice of masturbation. He was a devout Seventh Day Adventist, and he believed that masturbation, which he referred to as self-abuse. Was morally and physically harmful. He believed that it caused a wide range of ailments, including things like epilepsy, poor digestion, mood disorders, and even early death. These views were common among many 19th century doctors. Kellogg believed that a bland diet could reduce sexual urges, including the desire to masturbate, and he promoted dietary and lifestyle recommendations to discourage it. He felt that foods that were plain low in fat and meat free were necessary to prevent stimulating libido, and essentially he encouraged removing any of these things from the diet. As part of the dietary philosophy, Kellogg co-invented Corn Flakes with his brother Will Keith Kellogg. The flakes were intended as a bland, wholesome breakfast to reduce sexual excitement and promote physical and moral wellbeing while his brother later commercialized them into the Kellogg cereal brand. John Harvey Kellogg was more focused on the health and moral reform aspects, so focusing on these aspects. John Harvey Kellogg also ran a sanitarium. Called the Battle Creek Sanitarium. This is where he advocated for and performed extreme anti masturbation measures, especially in children and adolescents. For boys. He recommended circumcision often without anesthesia because he believed that pain would deter future masturbation. He also claimed that it would reduce sexual desire and make sex less pleasurable. For girls, he recommended applying caustic chemicals like carbolic acid, which is phenol to the clitoris to discourage, touching and reduce sexual sensitivity. He also suggested using physical restraints at night such as straight jackets or genital cages to prevent children from touching themselves while they were sleeping. These methods reflected his intense belief that sexual activity outside of procreation, especially masturbation, was harmful to mental and physical health. So the link between Kellogg and masturbation is that his health and dietary innovations, especially cornflakes, were originally motivated by his desire to curb what he viewed as harmful sexual behaviors. The measures that he recommended to discourage it were extreme, even by 19th century standards, and now would widely be condemned as unethical and abusive. So think about that the next time you have a bowl of frosted flakes, but Puritan culture has had a deep and lasting impact on the way shame around masturbation and sexuality is experienced and expressed in modern Western society, especially in America. This influence can be traced through several historical and cultural layers, particularly in the US where Puritan values were foundational, despite distinctively being the opposite of what our forefathers and original writers of the Constitution had in mind. The original founders of the country and the writers of the Constitution were trying to get away from the religious constraints that were prevalent in Europe. Due to the interference of church into government and law, predominantly by the Roman Catholic Empire. Puritans, a Protestant sect prominent in the 17th century. Colonial America held strict views about morality, bodily discipline, and sexual behavior. They believed that sex was only for marriage and procreation pleasure, especially outside of this context, was seen as potentially sinful. They felt that the body was a vessel for sin and desires, particularly sexual ones. Had to be controlled. They believed that the only reason for sex was for procreation. Therefore, masturbation was an intentional waste of seed and was viewed as morally corrupt and selfish. It's interesting that even in these times, female sexuality was virtually ignored. I mean, a female doesn't have a seed to waste, but that was a prevailing reason that masturbation was felt to be a disconnection from God's purpose of sex. And still to this day, in some states, anal and oral sex are against the law and are punishable, although. These laws are rarely, if ever enforced. What is even more unbelievable that some of these laws even determine what types of sex can happen between married couples, so as American society developed, Puritan ideals evolved, but remained embedded. As we can see in the 19th century. Protestant health reformers like John Harvey Kellogg, who took up the cause of purity and self-control, as well as in the Victorian era sexual repression where modesty, discipline, and the moral dangers of masturbation were major themes. Additionally, early medical and educational materials in the US echoed these ideas and treated sexual desire as something shameful or dangerous, even after medical science debunked the supposed health dangers of masturbation. Moral judgment still lingered, especially in religious communities and school influenced by puritan descended ideologies. Sex education often emphasized abstinence, sin and shame, reinforcing secrecy and guilt rather than understanding and acceptance. Even today, sex education is focused on prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Not so much on pleasure intimacy or connection. Today, the effects of this heritage show up in various ways such as guilt or anxiety about masturbation, especially among people raised in conservative or religious homes, sexual repression or dysfunction, stemming from being taught that desire is wrong or shameful. The persistence of abstinence only education in parts of the US, which is often justified by moral, not scientific arguments. The effects of Puritan culture and conservative religious beliefs also result in struggles with body image and self-acceptance, which are linked to ideas that the body is inherently sinful. There is an avert shaming of female sexuality in much more of a harsh way, as opposed to how men are sexually shamed. There is a disconnect between private behavior and public morality where people hide or deny their sexual needs due to fear of judgment. And finally, we see silencing open conversations about pleasure, consent, or sexual health, which is one of the main reasons that I'm doing this podcast. So Puritanism has embedded a deep suspicion, a pleasure, strict moral codes, and the belief that sexuality must be controlled. Though modern society is more liberal in many ways, those underlying values still shape attitudes, laws and education, especially here in the us. So let's compare how different cultures and societies approach masturbation and sexuality. In the Western culture, predominantly here in the US and the uk, they maintain more of a puritanical legacy. So some dominant traits in these cultures are things like shame, guilt, privacy, moral framing and judgment regarding sexual expression. In these cultures, we see that sex often is tied to marriage, love or reproduction. Although this is shifting with moral values and a push towards more sex positivity, masturbation has been traditionally stigmatized, especially in religious and educational context. But again, as we continue to be more open about sexual expression, this stigmatization is decreasing. And then the recent changes that are facilitating this include more open discussions in media and more progressive sex education in some regions, however, remnants of shame and moral conflict persist, especially in very conservative areas. The Japanese culture often fosters a sense of cultural duality, meaning publicly conservative while privately permissive. So in these cultures, sexual content including masturbation, may be widely available and discussed in media. However, social norms really discourage open discussion and especially informal or family settings. And while masturbation isn't heavily moralized, emotional restraint is still very much valued. In the Netherlands, there's in more of an open and educational culture. This area is known for its sex positive culture and comprehensive sex education. Here masturbation is treated as a normal part of development, and it is discussed more openly in school curricula. Additionally, parents often take an open factual approach to sexuality and data shows that this results in both lower teen pregnancy and higher levels of sexual satisfaction and informed consent. So, maybe we could learn something from the Netherlands. In Sweden and Scandinavia, they tend to be more progressive and body positive. Like the Netherlands, sex education includes positive messaging about masturbation and pleasure. Nudity and body talk are less taboo, and there is an emphasis on mutual respect, consent, and wellbeing, not shame in these areas. Religious influence on sexuality is minimal. Many African and Middle Eastern countries, sexuality still carries a strong sense of taboo. Religious and cultural conservatism, which is often Islamic or Christian, still heavily influences views on sexuality In these cultures, masturbation is often seen as morally or spiritually wrong, and even is sometimes legally penalized. The open discussion of sexuality is rare, and unfortunately in some cases it is often dangerous because of this. Young people often lack access to accurate sex education. I see this a lot in my practice in pelvic floor therapy. Patients from these cultures may still be virgins until marriage and often have no real education about what to expect on their wedding night. This can lead to several conditions that I will speak more about in future episodes, um, diagnoses, such as Dyspareunia and vaginismus. In India, there may be tension between ancient openness and modern conservatism. Historically texts like the Kama Sutra celebrated sexuality. While modern Indian society often reflects Victorian era British moral codes layered over religious traditions. Again, these attitudes can present future problems where shame plays a large role in physical sexual function. Masturbation is stigmatized in many areas of Indian culture and can be seen as weak or shameful, especially for men. Additionally, sex education is limited, though urban youth are increasingly turning to online resources. This in itself can cause problems as porn is a horrible source of sex education. In Latin America, there is a strong influence from Catholic teachings, which generally discourages masturbation and premarital sex. The machismo culture of Latin Americans may encourage male sexual expression, but often shames women. Masturbation may be normalized privately, but it is not openly discussed, and sexuality is often wrapped in contraindications. Celebration of sensuality versus religious moralism. So in closing, attitudes towards masturbation and sexuality are shaped by a complex mix of religion, colonial history, gender roles, education and media exposure. Cultures that view sexuality through a lens of health, consent and personal agency tend to foster less shame and more wellbeing than knows that, view it through sin, control, or secrecy. And really that's what this podcast aims to achieve, fostering less shame and more wellbeing by creating a context of sex positivity and encouraging open discussion. So let's end with a common myth about sexuality. This is something that I hear often from clients that I counsel on sexual health. It's not uncommon for a partner to be concerned about not being able to give their partner an orgasm. This is problematic in several ways. First and foremost, an orgasm is not something that someone can give you. Um, the truth is you are responsible for your own orgasm. This is typically more of a problem for vulva owners, as we discussed in episode one. There are very distinct differences between experiencing orgasm as a penis owner as opposed to a vulva owner. And to put it simply, penis owners are typically more apt to orgasm with intercourse, whereas vulva owners are more likely to orgasm outercourse. That's not to say that it's not possible to to have an orgasm in other ways, but the majority of vulva owners need that clitoral stimulation, which may not occur just in penis and vagina sex. But the key is this. A vulva owner needs to not only know what kind of stimulation is needed, but also where and with how much pressure. The only way to know this is to become familiar with your body, and the only way to become familiar with your body is to be curious and to explore. Once you know what you need and how you need it, you can then communicate that to your partner. And this goes both ways. You know, our partners are not mind readers, and there's no way for them to know what is pleasurable unless this is something that is communicated. This is truly the key. So the next time you complain that your partner didn't give you an orgasm, consider how well you've communicated your needs to them. Think of it this way. If you're comfortable enough to be intimate with someone, why wouldn't you be comfortable enough with them to communicate what your needs are? So in honor of masturbation, may get curious, explore, and communicate your needs to your partner so that you can be having the best sex possible. That's it for today's episode. Thanks for listening, and be sure to rate and review the podcast on whatever platform you're listening from and share it with your friends. That's a great way to help reach new listeners and make this a more sex positive world. Also, I'd love your feedback and questions, so send me a message. It's at email@doctorpattyj.com, and that's doctor spelled out, D-O-C-T-O-R-P-A-T-T- y j.com. Until next time, stay curious, stay empowered, and stay you.