OP Wimmin's Supplement

March 22, 1995

Endless fun with your fingers

Masturbation is a safe
and ok alternative to sex

 

 

|

She would never admit it but...
by Kelly Hayes

way my mother has. How much change can
these journals make if my mom can’t read them?

by Dia Richardson

In the 90s some people turn red when the
subject of masturbation arises. Even worse, some
people still consider masturbation a mortal sin.

Then there are the old wives tales about go-
ing blind or growing hair on the palms of your
hands. These were the stories that boys were told
to discourage them from jacking off. The truth of
the matter is, what with the threat of AIDS and
the campaigns to “Just say no (to sex)”, that the
only real safe sex is masturbation and it’s a lot
more fun than saying no.

We are sexual beings. Little baby boys get
erections and little girls like to play with them-
selves and hump stuffed animals. A parents’
reaction to their child’s first sexual urges can
shape the child’s sexuality for the rest of her life.

There are four common reactions to this: The
Prude approach: Horror, shock and scolding the
child for doing such a disgusting thing. The
Sensible approach: Telling the child that they are
doing nothing wrong but that they should only do
that in their own home/room. The Invisible
approach: The parent does not know how to
deal with the situation so they ignore the
child. The Horrific approach: These sick people
prey on an child’s innocent sexuality and abuse
them. An abuser once used the defense in
court that the three year old was sexually
aggressive and that was why he molested her. The
judge bought his story.

What is the right approach? I think we all
know that the last one is definitely not right but
it will still affect the child’s sexuality. A number
of these children grow up to be abusers, them-
selves.

So how we were raised determines if we as
adults are the gigglers, the blushers, the abusers,
the completely shocked or comfortable when
masturbation comes up. The completely shocked
probably stopped reading this article after the first
paragraph.

So what is masturbation? According to the
Oxford dictionary: masturbate: Produce sexual
orgasm (of) by manual stimulation of genitals,
etc., not by sexual intercourse.

There is even a market for devices to help
people masturbate. There are artificial vaginas
for men and vibrators for women. Of course, you
can always stimulate yourself by hand, then you
don’t have to worry about replacing the batter-
ies. Some women prefer a nice massage with the
shower head.

Masturbation is also probably the one thing
that humankind has in common. I’m sure as much
as some of us hate to admit it, that most of us
have masturbated at some point in our lifetime.
It probably felt good too. Maybe not as great as
the real thing... sex... but it felt good. Isn’t that
really what masturbation is, a substitute for sex,
and since we all have it in common, what is there
to be ashamed about?

Wuy?

When I asked my mom if she would like to
write something for this Womyn’s Supplement,
her answer was, “Sure, how about writing
FUCK YOU!”

Quite a surprising response, considering
my mom does not allow the use of the F-word
in her home, never mind using it herself!

However, it was an appropriate response
coming from a woman who is up at 5:00 a.m.
and to bed at midnight - besides going to work
from 7:00 till 4:00 for just above minimum
wage, she feeds, clothes, cleans, nurtures, shops
for, advises, takes huge amounts of shit from,
worries about, and fights for her 4 children,
husband, mother brother, aunts and uncles and
anyone else in this fucked-up world who needs
what she has.

She will claim again and again that she is
not a feminist - yet SHE IS one in its purest
form. No article in any white, middle-class,

academic journal has changed this world the

I applaud her answer of writing Fuck You
and support it with all I have. Why do I think
she is a feminist? Well, if the above doesn’t
satisfy you: She raised me to be proud of
my working-class neighbourhood, and at
the same time, to look at it critically and
work to change the structures that oppress
us and our neighbours; She is never afraid to
giver her boss shit (non-unionized women risk
a lot by doing this!); She continually fought for
our rights to equitable education
(although she would not use this term - it’s my
internalized academia showing through)
even though that same education has tried
very hard to teach me to hate where I come from,
to negate my foots, possibly to hate all that
my mom stands for.

Now it’s my turn and your turn. I learned
it all from her, and yet she would never
admit that either.

 

 

   
   

Breastimplants

 

  

Sateen s anna
Feet binding

Republicans do believe
in a woman’s right to
control her own ody!

At

aoa er
Clitorectomies

  

A PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE FROM GUERILLA GIRLS 532 LAGUARDIA PL NEW YORK 10012

 

 

 

BS I’ve had to search for role models other than Barbie. Because I’m not
lying, I’m not stupid, and I mean what I say. Because I can’t trust and

survive. Because men can walk on the moon and [I still can’t get decent safe birth

control. Because I’m told to alter myself every day. Because I would like to have
a daughter. Because I like my name. Because some bruises never go away.

Because I have a right to choose. Because I’m not helpless, I’m not frail, and yes
maybe I willcry. Because I’m hungry. Because I’mangry. Because it is her
story too. Because I want control. Because I want power. Because I believe.

For these and many other reasons, I am a feminist.