THE "M" WORD

In general terms, masturbation refers to any self-stimulation of the genitals done in a voluntary manner. (If another person stimulates one''s genitals against their will, this is not M.) Masturbation is a more specific term than autoeroticism, which encompasses any solitary physical or mental sexual activity including masturbation.

Obviously, autoeroticism is too broad a term to describe what we as humans know to be the true experiential meaning of masturbation: namely, any means of self stimulation, the goal of which is to achieve an orgasm.

The term masturbation comes from the Latin verb masturbari (which is common or vulgar Latin) and is probably derived from a combination of the Latin words manus (hand), turbare (to disturb), and stupare (to defile). Another possibility for its origin is the linking of the Latin noun mas (the male seed or semen) and the infinitive verb turbare (to disturb). So now we have manus stupare (to defile by one''s hand) and mas turbare (to disturb one''s seed).   In any event, the common idiom is "to bring oneself or to come to orgasm."

For millenniums, the biblical basis for the explanation of masturbation and its denunciation rested with the text of Genesis 38:8. This passage describes the story of Onan, the son of Judah who was to marry his dead brother''s wife and deposit his seed within her. Onan felt the seed ought not to be his. So, when he entered his brother''s wife, he withdrew at the last moment and spilled his seed on the ground, whence the Lord, displeased, slew him.

Actually, Onan was not masturbating but simply engaging in a time-honored (if ineffective) form of birth control, coitus interruptus (withdrawal).

However, the above represents the beginning of the denunciation of masturbation throughout history. Using religion and the Bible as their foundation, moralistic individuals such as clergymen, doctors, teachers, parents, politicians, kings, etc., took up banners of condemnation, using God''s wrath as the fearful incentive to avoid such solitary sex. (Interestingly, in the New Testament, Jesus never mentions M and readily forgives adulterers.) By the way, almost everyone who has denounced M, has masturbated at some time.

At length, virtually every influential member of society joined in to outline the mental and physical debilities brought on by masturbating. Fear and guilt were the byproducts of such thinking. Children especially were visited with so great a degree of guilt that at times they developed the very fictitious and physical problems that authorities had promised would result from M. Adults created an atmosphere of fear and guilt surrounding a normal event, the stage of sexual development we call puberty, which caused emotional and maybe physical problems for teens unconnected with the actual act of masturbating. Moralizing adults attempted to suppress sexual expression, and in so doing, virtually compelled, or at least encouraged, children to engage in M.

Masturbation, generally speaking, is not harmful in any way. Scientific and medical studies confirm this fact. Yet, if the person (usually during teen years) believes and feels M is evil and despicable (even though it is not), they will develop emotional problems associated with unresolved guilt. These problems are not related to masturbation itself as an act of sexual release.

Fear is the most paralyzing of all emotions. To drill fear into children over an act that nature thrusts upon them is at best wrong and at worst evil and destructive.

No interdisciplinary expertsj have ever presented any evidence that masturbation is essentially or generally harmful. Yes, there exist many pitfalls and problems brought on by M. (We will discuss these later.) However, these represent the exception in overall human experiences.

Masturbation is the ultimate private human act. No action is more individual and isolated except suicide. Thus, solitary sex, as it is commonly understood, is always performed alone and by strict definition excludes a partner. It is, therefore, an experience of total concentration upon oneself. By completely turning in upon oneself and enjoying the experience, a person does run the risk of developing a habit of M which can reinforce a degree of introversion. Clearly then, masturbation can become a liability to certain individuals.