Why Masturbation and the Rising Taboo Around It Are Concerning to Modern-Day Feminism
"I masturbate a lot these days. Especially when I'm bored. Or angry. Or upset. Or happy." — Fleabag, Season 1, Episode 2 Lines similar to this one are spoken everywhere within pop culture, songs, movies, and mainstream media narratives. Still, it always seems to be about the male experience. Even without an outright statement, it nevertheless continues to frame and imply the same perspective – that of men and AMAB people (AMAB = assigned male at birth). The bluntness used in the series Fleabag feels entirely unusual when compared to modern media. Not because the topic of masturbation and pleasing oneself is that much of a taboo anymore, but solely because of who feels entitled to speak about it. Even within our everyday language and slang, a clear distinction can be found. While “having balls” implies being brave and daring enough to do something difficult or risky, “being a pussy” directly translates to behaving in a cowardly way. Through this slang, we can see how m...
