Masturbation

By Masakhane Intern

Trevor Hall

What is masturbation?

Masturbation is the act of
touching parts of your body
or using a sex toy(s) in a sexual way
that produces pleasure.

SAY IT
WITH ME!

"There is absolutely
nothing wrong with

masturbating
or not wanting to

masturbate."

THE
MYTHS

ABOUT MASTURBATION

you'll grow hairy palms
you'll be ruined for partnered sex
your penis will grow or shrink
it'll change your orientation

Some of the many myths on masturbation may cause
real concern.

Rest assured, they are all false.

When talking about masturbation,
fingering may come to mind (or not, and that

is okay!), but fingering is not the
only method of masturbation (and more,
there is more to fingering than just inserting

fingers inside somewhere).

Additionally, you may have heard or
seen a method of masturbating for
people with penises that involves
gripping the shaft of the penis and
moving up and down; this is not the
only method of masturbation either
of course.

There are many other ways of
masturbating, and there is also more than just
this binary of penis and vulva; some people can
have elements of both and everyone can have a

unique masturbation style. No one way is
correct!

FINGERING

IN MORE DETAIL

Fingering involves
inserting fingers in or
around the vulva or anus
to produce pleasure.

a c or seesaw
motion may feel

pleasurable

Another motion
a person may like is
the circular motion.

These motions may
feel best on the
clitoris.

The clitoris is an enjoyable spot for
most people, but that doesn't mean it
is for all people or that other areas in

or around the vulva won't be!

When fingering the anus,
or vulva, make sure that

nails are trimmed
so as to not cause cuts

when masturbating!

You can enhance the
experience of fingering with
lube if you feel so inclined,

too!
More to come on lube

later!

When fingering the anus, one can stimulate
the prostate, typically found in people assigned
male at birth. Stimulation can also be done
outside of the anus, in an area called the
perineum or "taint."

Many trans folks find this spot a pleasurable
area to focus on after taking horomones, which
can change the function of body parts. Some
find it highly pleasurable to stimulate the
prostate in conjunction with other things!

Exploration
can lead

to pleasure

MASTURBATING

a penis

Stroking

stroking the penis in different
ways is a common way of
masturbating

Rubbing

is also a method
one can use!

Penises come in different shapes and
sizes. Each person can have a unique

set of practices that gets them off.
There is no abnormal way to

masturbate; all methods are good. If it
feels good, then call it your thing!

a note for
ttrhaonsseitioning

Masturbation may take a little work when
going through and after gender affirming
processes. For example, taking hormones
will cause changes in body parts. This is
not a reason to be discouraged though, it
just may take time to find one's groove.

It may be helpful to explore your fantasies
and vamp up your sexual expression to
not get discouraged. But when it comes to
masturbating:

touch yourself (over your body)
listen to the sensations.

Relinquish control. Let your body lead.
(Don't do it by force)

source: Valans



D.I.Y. is great for sex
toys because it can mean being
able to buy sex toys or find them

already in your home.

If you happen to live in a space
where someone might find (or
deliberately go snooping for) your
sex toys, it can help to use things
that are innocuous, everyday

items.

This doesn't mean that
masturbation is anything to be

ashamed of.
Quite the opposite!

"STRONGER" By Raveena Just a note
Dorian Electra - "Vibrator" here that
journaling can
enhance your
sex life too!

"FIND YOUR WINGS" Tyler,

the creator

"LboyveDHiaannagRoovessr"

"KICKS" And music too!

by FKA twigs

"Oops (Oh My)" Tweet
ft Missy Elliot

HTRK - wet dream

Some people do believe masturbation is
harmful, and you may live with these people.
These beliefs are often perpetuated by religious
institutions that want to discourage people from
masturbating because they think it is sinful.

D.I.Y. sex toys, however, show the creative
force in masturbation. Let's explore them!

masturbation sleeves are cylindrical tubes with
vibrators a hole for a penis and are

meant to be moved up
and down. A banana or
sock could be used as a
sleeve. Create one with a
tube and lining of some
kind, with attention to
sharp objects that could

scratch the penis

Here are some safety considerations when
picking a vibrator.

1. objects with sharp edges or points on it
can cause serious injury. Anything that
can shatter, splinter or break off can also
cause serious injury.

2. Don't use objects with an electrical current
internally.
3. Don't use anything with an electrical
current in the tub or a body of water.

electric toothbrush

Make sure you use the non-bristled end.
You may find it simplest to remove the bristled
attachment entirely. Then, cover the non-bristled
end
with a condom and have fun!

electric razor Remove the sharp
attachment and cover the
Removable Shower smooth end
Head with a condom also!

There is a myth that you will lose sensitivity in your
genitals by using a removable shower head, but
that's all it is- a myth! You may feel numbness at
times, but this is ultimately temporary. Safety tips:
don't use soap and do use warm water. Also avoid
putting water inside the vagina.

Personal Massagers

Among where you might find the Hitachi Magic
Wand (the Cadillac of vibrators), you'll find personal
massagers, where the epson salts and neck pillows
are.

Metal Spoons

Chill in a freezer & then glide them over your skin.
Don't put freezing spoons or super hot ones on
your genitalia as it can damage the nerves.

Hairbrush

Let the bristles run over your butt or put a condom

on the brush!

Can be humped, placed

between one's legs or

Pillows propped below one's butt
to allow something to
enter more deeply.

Do you want to buy sex toys from a store? Well,
you may want to take the following tips into
consideration.

First, be honest with yourself. Will you actually
use the sex toy? Do you consider yourself one
to enjoy sex toys if you've had past experiences
with them? Sex toys can be a big investment, so
it helps to be sure so as not to buy something
you don't like and can't return.

On the flip-side, taking risks and splurging on
oneself can pay off, especially the latter.

You may want to start with something cheap,
just to get a feel of what you like. Beware of sex
toys that say "for beginners" or "my first sex
toy" as well. Sometimes they are more
advanced than they seem for beginners.

I also suggest buying and using lube with toys.
To help with the process of choosing the right
lube, here is a chart.

Be aware of toys that say “for novelty use only.” This
is often a cop-out from manufactures to cover

themselves and not disclose harmful materials used
in making the sex toy.

Most sex toys are made of Jelly Latex, which is
made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride). PVC is known to
leak toxins from an extended shelf-life (more than 6
months), agitation, and heat. The toxins leach into
fat and can cause things like kidney and liver cancer
and damage to reproductive organs. PVC is also in
Cyber skin, mystery rubber, soft skin, and Ultra skin.

The safe materials used in making sex toys are
silicone, Pyrex, or Stainless Steel. Good places to
buy toys from are organizations/companies that
promote education and positive sexuality! Feminist

run sex toy shops are great, too.

Remember, reputable sex toy salespeople always
know the materials their products are made of.

Whether buying sex toys from a store or
using D.I.Y. sex toys, it’s important to keep
your toys clean. Some toys are just a one
time thing, such as banana peels. Others, you

want to keep for a while.

Simply wash them in warm water and
antibacterial soap.

You may have noticed that we recommend
using a condom with most D.I.Y. sex toys.
This is because a condom can help keep

bacteria from entering the body.

Porous jelly rubber like toys often hide
bacteria in it's small spaces and hidden
cracks. We recommend using a condom
with them and also for toys with sketchy

materials!

(Note: D.I.Y. sex toys shouldn’t be made out
of shared items. For example, if you and your
sister use a hairbrush, don’t make a dildo out

of that! -Total boundary violation.)

"comme des garçons" My last tip is to take solo sex seriously.
By Rina Sawayama Masturbation can be a form of
enjoyable sex. Masturbation is
something you can invest in if you
choose to do so.

Pay attention to your senses and your
body, your likes and dislikes.
And strive to give yourself pleasure.
You deserve it.

Below you will find some affirmations
to hopefully help if you are feeling
down. Feel free to cut them out.

Masturbation can promote self-love,
but it is your decision to masturbate or
not. Just know that it can be affirming
and powerful.

"SEX WITH ME" - RIHANNA

Special Thanks to
Aryanah Solano & Ally Knopf,
who helped me find music and

provided art respectively.
Also, thank you to my other fellow Masakhane

team
& HTRK.

Works Cited:

Valans, Ana. "Trans/Sex: Masturbation is tough for trans women.
I know first-hand" daily dot, https://www.dailydot.com/irl/trans-
sex-masturbation/. 12 May 2021.

My sexuality is my own
to

name, explore, and
discover

how I want and when I
want.

I can learn to
understand my body,

desires, likes and
dislikes and work
around that like a river,
continuing to grow.

My desires, kinks and
fantasies are my own

and they are not
shameful

I honor that my
relationship with my
body is full of many
emotions, gifts and

challenges

I deserve to be
surrounded by people
who never ask me to
apologize for being who I

am.

I am an expert on
myself. No one knows
better than me who I am

or what I need.