Ladies, would you agree with some of the research findings below? In particular, would you agree that masturbation is empowering? If so, in what way(s)? Or, is masturbation mostly used as a substitution for partner sex?
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Women’s Masturbation: Experiences of Sexual Empowerment in a Primarily Sex-Positive Sample
By Christin P. Bowman
Abstract:
With the present study, I explore the function, meaning, and empowerment potential of masturbation for 765 American women. The sample was somewhat diverse, but primarily young (79% under 30), White (75%), educated (85% with at least a bachelor’s degree), and heterosexual (67%). Participants completed an online anonymous survey that included endorsement of various attitudes toward masturbation, reasons for masturbating, and emotions following masturbation. Two split-half exploratory factor analyses (followed by confirmatory factor analyses) indicated that women’s reasons for masturbating clustered into five main reasons: (a) sexual pleasure, (b) to learn about or better understand their bodies, (c) as a release, (d) to substitute for partner sex, and (e) general sexual dissatisfaction. Women’s feelings regarding their masturbation fell into three clusters: (a) shame, (b) sexual empowerment, and (c) fear that one is acting selfishly. Most women in my study did not feel ashamed about masturbating; instead, many women felt sexually empowered ... when women are able to focus on their own sexual pleasure or learning, without the concerns of pregnancy or pleasing a partner, they may feel sexually empowered.
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Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10 ... 4313514855