May. 04, 2011 - Issue #811: On being a John
Lust For Life
On your own
Masturbation too controversial for sex-ed programs
Happy National Masturbation Month! Don't worry: if you weren't aware that May is National Masturbation Month, you're not alone. Even though it began in the USA in 1995, National Masturbation Month is still something most people have never heard of.
The awareness campaign began shortly after then-US surgeon general Jocelyn Elders was forced to resign her position due to controversy over her position on masturbation. In 1994 Elders, in response to a question from the press, expressed that she thought masturbation should perhaps be taught. While Elders had been criticized for many controversial positions before this turned out to be too much. A huge firestorm of media and public outrage erupted and former president Bill Clinton asked Elders to resign.
Good Vibrations sex toy store in San Francisco subsequently launched a campaign to promote the health benefits of self-love and to encourage people to talk about, and practise, masturbation. Thus Masturbation Month was born.
Fifteen years later, on April 22, 2010, Dalton McGuinty, premier of Ontario, announced that he was pulling the plug on the Ontario School Board's new sex-education curriculum. The curriculum was a comprehensive program developed over two years by leaders in education and curriculum research. When news of the program was released to the media, a small number of parents objected, threatening to pull their children out of school. Among the parts of the program they singled out as unacceptable: discussing masturbation in grade six.
Self pleasure is an issue that kids in Grade 6 have been thinking about, and most of them have probably been doing for years already, but some people think they are too young to get some explanation and clarification in school.
When McGuinty called a halt on the program, he said that it was for reasons of consultation about the program as it was developed. He promised that this process would take place and the program, perhaps revised, would be implemented in time. So where are we now, a year later? In March, Education Minister Leona Dombrowsky stated during question period that the Ministry of Education is looking at its process for consulting parents. In other words, absolutely nothing has been done. Perhaps it's easier to talk about talking to parents than it is to actually talk to kids.
With all the controversy it looks like National Masturbation Month is just as relevant now as it was 16 years ago. If children aren't going to hear about masturbation in school, isn't it up to us to make sure that they hear about it elsewhere? This natural, and very healthy, mode of sexual self-expression, which is usually every child's first sexual experience, should be applauded rather than shamed. Maybe a month-long public awareness campaign is just what we need. V
Brenda Kerber is a sexual health educator who has worked with local not-for-profits since 1995. She is the owner of the Edmonton-based, sex-positive adult toy boutique the Traveling Tickle Trunk.
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