A Brief History of Masturbation: From Taboo to Self-Care

Let’s Begin With the Obvious

You’ve done it. Probably this week. Maybe today. No shame.

Masturbation is arguably the most universal sexual experience—crossing gender, culture, and timeline.

Yet somehow, for centuries, it was treated like a moral crisis. A source of guilt, fear, and punishment. Hell, at one point, they thought it could kill you.

But now? It’s a billion-dollar industry, a mental health tool, a feminist rally cry, and a search term so popular it could crash the internet.

Let’s stroke through time (sorry) and explore how this very normal, very pleasurable act went from “satanic seduction” to Saturday self-care.

Ancient Times: Gods, Hands, and Fertility

Masturbation isn’t new. It’s older than agriculture. Literally.

• Greece & Rome: While they glorified sex in general, masturbation was seen as a “lesser” form of pleasure. Still… they did it. A lot.

• India: Early Tantric texts viewed self-pleasure as a sacred, spiritual act.

So what happened? How did something divine become demonic?

Enter: Religion.

The Church Era: Shame Begins

In early Christianity, pleasure without purpose was sinful. And masturbation? Maximum blasphemy.

• St. Augustine called it a “perversion of divine order.”

• Medieval monks wrote about “self-abuse” as a mortal sin.

• Confession manuals listed masturbation as a damnable offense, alongside murder and theft.

Basically: if you touched yourself, you were going straight to hell. (But like, quietly. And probably still under the covers.)

The 18th & 19th Centuries: The Medical Panic

Then came the pseudo-science era, and things got even weirder.

In 1716, an anonymous pamphlet titled “Onania” warned that masturbation would cause:

• Blindness

• Insanity

• Impotence

• Death

Doctors, clergymen, and quack “experts” jumped on the bandwagon.

By the 1800s:

• Parents were told to monitor children 24/7.

• Genital mutilation and restraints were prescribed.

• Dr. Kellogg (yes, the cereal guy) pushed anti-masturbation diets. Cornflakes were invented to suppress libido.

All this for… wanking.

Meanwhile, Women Were Quietly Doing It Too

The patriarchy often assumed women didn’t have strong libidos. Spoiler: they do. Always have.

But because women’s bodies were policed and medicalized, female masturbation was pathologized.

• “Hysteria” was diagnosed in women showing signs of arousal.

• Doctors treated it with… manual genital stimulation.

• Tired hands led to the invention of the vibrator—marketed as a medical tool.

So yeah. Vibrators were mainstream before vacuum cleaners.

The 20th Century: Shame Meets Revolution

• 1920s–50s: Masturbation still taboo, especially for women.

• 1960s–70s: The Sexual Revolution. Feminists like Betty Dodson redefined masturbation as empowerment.

• 1980s–90s: The AIDS crisis reframed solo sex as safe sex.

• Late 2000s: Wellness culture embraces self-pleasure as part of mental health.

Now? It’s taught in sex ed (at least in progressive spaces), promoted by therapists, and owned by Gen Z on TikTok.

Modern Stats: You’re Not Alone (Like, Ever)

• 95% of men and 89% of women report masturbating at least occasionally.

• 67% of people say they’ve used toys.

• The average adult masturbates about 8–12 times a month.

So if you’ve ever felt weird about it? Please don’t.

You’re in very, very good company.

Why Masturbation Is Actually Great for You

Science says masturbation is linked to:

• Better sleep

• Stress relief

• Improved mood

• Pain management

• Better sex with partners

• Higher self-esteem

Oh, and orgasms release dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins, and prolactin.

That’s a literal brain spa you can access any time. For free.

Common Myths—Busted

• “It’ll make you go blind.” Nope.

• “You’ll lose sexual interest in your partner.” Not if your connection’s healthy.

• “It’s only for single people.” False. Even people in amazing relationships benefit.

• “It’s shameful.” Only if you think pleasure is shameful. (Spoiler: it’s not.)

Masturbation as Self-Love, Not Just Sex

Solo pleasure is:

• A way to learn what you like

• A path to self-compassion

• A rejection of shame-based systems

• A private, powerful celebration of being human

It’s not selfish. It’s not dirty. It’s deeply human. And yeah—it feels amazing too.

From Sin to Sanctuary

Masturbation was once demonized, criminalized, and medicalized. Now, it’s liberated.

It’s not about replacing sex with others. It’s about reclaiming intimacy with yourself—on your own terms.

So whether you’re lighting candles or just using your phone flashlight at 2 a.m., remember:

You’re not “doing it wrong.” You’re doing what billions have done for millennia.

And honestly?

Good for you.