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Masturbation.Pdf MASTURBATION 9 gay people are projected backinto the past, must be adapted or reformulated before they boldly proposed that there is no single they can function in the study of same-sex nature of homosexuality that is stable behavior. Moreover, Marxist concepts across time. It has been shown that the seem more suited to posingquestions than broader attempt to derive this demolition to providing firm answers. The greatest of the whole idea of human nature from weakness of the Marxist approach is the the writings of Marx and Engels them- difficulty in correlating the changes in selves is shaky, and that it really belongs to homosexual behavior and the attitudes the thought of Georg Lukacs and the toward it with the technological and eco- "Marxist-humanist" trend of revisionism nomic determinism that is the very heart that succeeded him. Also, it proved diffi- of Marxism, not to speak of the inability cult to find a "historical materialist" (or better refusal) of Marxian thinkers to grounding for the changing concepts of incorporate the biological dimension of homoerotic behavior, an accommodation human existence into their reasoning. All to the well-known Marxist sequence of the same, the Marxist contribution, slave-owning, feudal, capitalist, and so- whether direct or indirect, has served to cialist societies. What caused the shifts in broaden horizons and to strengthen the same-sex paradigms remained mysterious. trend to supplant the present-mindedness Moreover, this attack on the unchanging and provincialism of the gay movement nature of homosexuality-on "essential- and gay studies on 1950s lines with a new ism," as the assumption of uniformity has outlook that is potentially subtle, critical, been called-was not restricted to Marx- and multicultural. ists. The Social Constructionists, as the opponents of "essentialism" styled them- BIBLIOGRAPHY. David Fembach, The Spiral Path: A Gay Contribution to selves, included symbolic interactionists, Human Survival, Boston: Alyson, 198 1; pragmatists, and nominalists. Still, when Gay Left Collective, Homosexuality: all is said and done, academic Marxism l'ower and Politics, London: Allison and deserves credit for bringing into question Busby, 1980; Hubert Kennedy, "J. B. von assumptions of the historical uniformity Schweitzer, the Faggot Marx Loved to Hate," Fag Rag, 19 (1977),6-8. of homosexual identities and relationships, Wayne R. Dynes and for asking scholars to seek an under- standing of the place which these occupy within the larger framework of social MASQUERADE change. See Mardi Gras and MaskedBalls. Finally, Marxism has made a contribution in an unexpected quarter-in MASTURBATION therealm of theology. The 1960s and 1970s Broadly defined, masturbation is saw the rise in Latin America of "libera- tactile sexual stimulation obtained by tion theology," strongly influenced by the means other than intercourse. Marxist critique of oppression. Some schol- Techniques. Masturbation is ars have sought to adapt this perspective to harmless, legal, and carries no risk of dis- the emerging theology of the gay churches, ease. Typical masturbation, involving where it may well serve as a useful correc- pleasurable stroking, caressing, or massag- tive to traditionalism and liturgical preoc- ing of the genitals and other parts of the cupations. body, is healthy fun and cannot be over- As this last aspect shows, the done. Soreness or chafing heals easily if Marxist influence on homosexuality has treated gently, and use of a lubricant re- often been indirect, mediated by femi- duces irritation. For men an oil, including nism, by the New Left, or by liberation household oils (Crisco, cooking oil, baby theology. It seems that Marxist theories oil)and some hand lotions, will workwell; 9. MASTURBATION for women a water-based lubricant in- masturbation rituals have been part of tended for genital lubrication, such as K-Y male coming-of-age ceremonies since or Astroglide, will give better results. prehistoric times. Temporary abstention Through experimentation with different from sexual activity, including masturba- strokes and caresses, not just on the geni- tion, may be presumed to have been a tals but all over the body, each person can common means to summon extra physi- discover what, for him or her, is most cal performance (as today in the advice of pleasurable. Some find the use of avibrator some athletic coaches), and abstention helpful, and a variety of gadgets, store- from and indulgence in masturbation have bought or homemade, are used to assist in been part of the worship of the generative providing the desired sensations. How- powers. ever, a good masturbation machine for Civilizations have been indiffer- male use has yet to be developed.Thoughts ent or hostile to adult masturbation ac- or pictures of stimulating scenes, whether cording to the fertility which they desired. provided by individual fantasies or acquired (Masturbation by children has usually been pornography, can increase one's excite- treated more leniently.] In bellicose socie- ment. If desired, masturbation can be ties, those trying to populate new land, prolonged, and the intensity of orgasm and those subject to heavy losses from a enhanced, by stopping just before orgasm, hostile environment, there was pressure to begin again when excitement has some- to direct sex toward reproduction, although what subsided. masturbation's simplicity no doubt made Masturbation with friends, a it impossible to suppress. In more urban common male experience of adolescence, and pacifist cultures, in which population is becoming an adult practice as well. Pairs pressures were felt, reproduction then or groups can either masturbate separately became a problem rather than a necessity. while watching and talking to each other, In such settings masturbation could be or partners can masturbate each other, tolerated, along with prostitution and either simultaneously or taking turns. homosexuality, all of which were prefer- Masturbation while talking over the tele- able to the infanticide whichwas common phone (phone sex) has been a spreading in parts of the ancient Mediterranean world. practice in the 1980s. In classical antiquity masturba- Masters and Johnsonreported that tion was called a "natural sexual prac- many find masturbation produces more tice," and physicians recommended it as intense orgasms than intercourse, and it preferable to harmful continence, and as a also avoids the discomfort that anal pene- treatment for impotence. Indeed to be tration produces in many men. It is also masturbated was recognized as a delicacy, reported that masturbation by a partner and masseurs, prostitutes, and especially produces more intense orgasms, for some, slaves provided this service. Anal mastur- than masturbating alone. If free of guilt, bation using fingers, dildos, and eggs is re- masturbation is said to have a positive ported, as is auto-fellatio. The Greek Cynic effect on the personality. Masturbation, Diogenes, and others followinghim, openly alone or with a partner, can be part of a masturbated, saying that experience re- spiritual experience. vealed masturbation to be the easiest and History, Men. Masturbation in best sexualpractice,that it wasnot shame- males is nearly universal. It is engaged in ful and did not need to be concealed, and spontaneously by infants and children, and that masturbation could have prevented is found in many mammalian species, the Trojan War. Masturbation's mythical although no animal other than man mas- inventor was said to have been Hermes, turbates to orgasm on a regular basis. who taught it to his son Pan. Anthropological evidence suggests that MASTURBATION 6 Among the extensive sexological many others. Masturbation waseven called literature of Islam is the first treatise on "humanity's worst vice." Means employed masturbation, by the ninth-century Al- to control masturbation included circum- Saymari (Encyclopedia of Islam, article cision, pharmaceuticals, mechanical de- "Djins"); it is today unavailable or lost. vices, and foods (Graham crackers and Classical Islamic culture was supportive Kellogg breakfast cereals). Inasmuch as of partnered sex, and masturbation, espe- physicians based themselves solely on cially in solitude, was mildly condemned. anecdotal (unsystematic)observations, and In part this was because one was not sup- emission of semen is healthful rather than posed to touch the "unclean" genitals; a threat to health, this medical "break- handless masturbation through use of a through" may confidently be attributed to melon, though, is widely known in Arabic puritanism. folklore. In the modern Islamic world it is In the twentieth century opposi- sometimes considered morereprehensible tion to sexuality has been deflected else- than sodomy and bestiality. Classical where, and masturbation is no longer Chineseculture encouraged masturbation condemned in Western culture, except by without orgasm; emission of semen was the Catholic church and a small minority only supposed to take place during inter- of conservatives. The influential Kinsey course with a woman. surveys (1948, men; 1953, women), docu- Early Christian writers paid little mented how widespread masturbation is. attention to masturbation and fantasy. In Physicians have admitted that masturba- the fourth and fifth centuries, with the tion is harmless, and masturbation is an spread of clerical celibacy and monasti- important part of sex therapy. Enlightened cism, masturbation and nocturnal emis- advice books recommend to parents that
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