Human Sexuality: Masturbation - Essay Example

Human Sexuality: Masturbation ID Lecturer Submitted To Human Sexuality: Masturbation Masturbation is a sexual activity that is derived by self-stimulation and results in the eventual ejaculation of sperm in males and orgasm in the female gender. Masturbation is an act of sexual pleasure. It drives a number of other sexual arousal aspects that we know by the name of erection, falling out of the sperm in the case of men and orgasm in females. Masturbation leads to a self-satisfying feeling, one that is in line with sexual intercourse. Thus the individuals who are deprived of having intercourse with a mate often retort to masturbation as it gives them an avenue to express their sexual frustration. This however is a very genuine form of getting rid of the unwanted sperm which has accumulated within the human body as this individual has not had a chance to have sexual intercourse with a partner. Masturbation is common in both men and women. However the main difference is the manner in which it is done. Men usually press their urethra until it grows to the largest possible size and then it releases sperm. Women on the other hand use a finger to excite their vagina, the female reproductive organ, which also releases urine. Thus the relationship of the reproductive organs with urinary organs is significant to understand in the whole context of masturbation. Thus masturbation is a very pivotal aspect of human sexuality and is generally exercised by individuals when they reach puberty. It continues actively until the age of 45 years but the same varies individual to individual. The act of masturbation is seen to be most active between the ages 22 till 32 years since this is the time period in which sexual activity is at the peak. However this is true for men whereas for females the active range starts around 18 years and lasts till 30. The reason for the difference is that women are known to mature early but in different regions of the world, there have been studied significant alterations in the way human beings perform their sexual activities, masturbate and have sexual intercourse. Thus it is a proven fact that masturbation is a natural phenomenon that is derived by fantasy, pleasure and the lust of performing sex. Another research has proven that men and women are known to perform masturbation at least thrice a week, which is for the people who are the most active ones. While some individuals might perform this sexual act on a daily basis, others might just stick to a planned masturbation schedule. Then there are others who believe that masturbation is not allowed in their respective faith and thus they allow for unwanted sperm to pass out of their body after a particular period of time, mostly in the middle of the night, also known as wet dream in medical terminology. Masturbation has had different and opposing viewpoints surrounding its performance. Some religions and beliefs are of the view that men and women must not perform them. Others suggest that it is a healthy sexual exercise, one that keeps away the unwanted sperms and releases them from time to time, thus keeping the individual under question fit and steady. Some suggest that it could lead to bad eyesight, weakness within legs, infertility within women and lack of producing babies on the part of men, due to their impaired sexual organ. However what these different researches point out is a common fact that regular masturbation could lead to weakness which is an accepted fact. This weakness could be in the form of a number of different problems, one that could start from losing stamina to having headaches every alternate day. An alternative that has been suggested in different circles is that the individuals who masturbate on a very regular level must get married and perform intercourse so as to relieve frustration. However what they forget to address is the fact that intercourse also results in the eventual release of sperm, an act that is part and parcel with the sexual act of masturbation. Thus the contrasting viewpoints provide a very imbalanced approach towards the sexual act of masturbation and the same needs to be deeply studied before any research could be regarded as correct to the core. Thus it is an established fact that masturbation provides relief in terms of the sexual arousal and orgasm. It gives the male as well as the female solace that his/her sexual fantasies have somewhat been cured – for a particular period of time. Biologically speaking, the male and female, in their respective sexual state are in a process of “heat” to have masturbation as an active agent. This masturbation need not be in the form of sleep, where such acts are facilitated by dreams of a sexual nature, usually making-out, having sexual intercourse or sexual imagery. All of these aspects result in masturbation either voluntarily or involuntarily by the individual. However what is most important is the fact that masturbation is known to provide some sort of satisfaction to the individual under study and he/she is given the much needed sexual room that he/she has longed for within the past. Masturbation might not be through one’s own hands. It could also be led into active phase through an activity that is brought into action by the partner’s hands, mouth (oral) or any other device (usually known as a toy in the case of females). These aspects suggest that masturbation might not be made active through the acts of the individual but also through the acts of the partner. Masturbation has got a direct link with psychological ailments as well. The individuals who are sexually frustrated and feel victimized due to the people around them or even the society exercise masturbation on a pretty regular basis. They usually find this as a way out in the wake of achieving sexual satisfaction. Psychologically this gives them the pleasure that they crave to attain. At other times, it has been seen that men and women, even though being married and having active partners, prefer masturbating as they believe that this is a much satisfying sexual act and it would make them as well as their partners happier. However debates have been going on for the longest time in order to ascertain as to what exactly could be the motive of such individuals who prefer masturbation over sexual intercourse, which is believed to be the most satisfying and pleasurable sexual acts in history. However the angle of psychology takes the center-stage here since the linkage is pretty strong with the sexual tensions that a man or a woman might have with the passage of time. Thus in all essence, masturbation is a self-stimulation which is done in the name of causing sexual sensations within the body. The ultimate result of these sensations or acts is in the form of release of sperm in men or having an orgasm within the females. This indeed is the point of climax as far as masturbation is concerned. Thus the whole sexual activity of masturbation comes to an end when this eventual stage arrives. The sensitivity of the topic of masturbation is present whilst we speak here. Youth is known to hide the very fact that most of them masturbate during the day or night. Even the best of friends do not know that their mates secretly masturbate and thus satisfy their own selves in the name of sexual sensations and related activity. In some societies, this is considered a taboo to even discuss freely and thus the children do not get sex education due to the conservative approach that the specific society has adopted in the wake of its age-old beliefs and traditions. In the end, it is quintessential to comprehend that masturbation will continue to act as self-stimulating activity in the name of sex as long as human beings are having their respective sex drives. It indeed is a natural phenomenon which is bound to happen within their bodies. However the same gets a little ‘de-activated’ at an old age but never actually ceases to exist. A lot of sexual activity is known to arise in the wake of watching pornography, sexual content, touching, fondling, wet dreams, reading of literature that leads to sexual images and thoughts and so on and so forth. The need of the hour is to make the young ones aware that masturbation indeed is a natural activity and they should be taught well in advance as to how they could cope with the sexual pressures that come across within their lives. This would form as a very significant link at addressing their problems in a head on manner. All said and done, masturbation is the best form of human sexuality that could be addressed at any given point in time. It looks at just about every aspect of the physiological, psychological and social effects that men and women have within their lives. References Baker, Robin R.; Bellis, Mark A. (1993). Human sperm competition: Ejaculate adjustment by males and the function of masturbation. Animal Behavior 46 (5): p861, 25p Word Count: 1,500 Read More