Masturbation Choices Are Influenced by Gendered Sexual Script, Says Study

A recent study on the role of masturbation in sexual satisfaction examined how people experience their sex lives according to gender norms and traditional sexual script which is gendered.

The gender norms influence the self-pleasure experience of the respondent in study. Women with greater sexual variety and higher intercourse frequency reported a high masturbation frequency and sexual satisfaction, and men with partnered sex reported low masturbation frequency. It means men prefer masturbation in an absence of a partner, compensating the sexual satisfaction, while women opt for it as a complementary to partnered sex.

The study observed women masturbate two or three times per month, whereas men masturbate two or three times per week. The self-stimulation activity among women is low compared to men. This comes from the socio-cultural roots of the society. Men have a stronger  interest in sex than women. Women express their sexuality within the context of committed relationships. Gendered sexual scripts are hegemonic at the cultural level, as per another research. 

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The study titled- A Seemingly Paradoxical Relationship Between Masturbation Frequency and Sexual Satisfaction was co-authored by Nantje Fischer & Bente Træen. Authors argue, 'Despite many benefits related to masturbation, we know surprisingly little about how solo sex is associated with sexual satisfaction.'

The researchers took a sample size of 4,160 Norwegians in the 18–89 age bracket. The experiences reflecting the respondents' sex lives were analysed under four groupings- high masturbation/sexual satisfaction, low masturbation/sexual satisfaction, high masturbation/sexual dissatisfaction, and low masturbation/sexual dissatisfaction. 33.1% of the respondents came under the first category of high masturbation/ sexual satisfaction. The second, third, and fourth clusters stood at 31.5%, 18.7%, and 16.7% of the sample population, respectively. It means the relation between masturbation frequency and sexual satisfaction need not necessarily develop in the same direction. 

Masturbation Choices Of Women

The study also touches on masturbation-satisfaction patterns from the sociodemographic, psychological and sexual behavioral characteristics. Masturbation frequency is higher at a younger age with access to pornography consumption, and sexual exposure. Women and men in the high masturbation category reported high porn consumption. On the contrary, men consuming greater porn was associated with sexual dissatisfaction. Sexual mental health is also a deciding factor in how fulfilling the sex life is. The study derived that men and women having a negative body and genital self-image are dissatisfied with their sex life. 

Further, the study notes with an open discourse on sex, the stigma around masturbation declines, and more women feel free to masturbate without any judgment or fear. The sexual scripts can slowly evolve and become more pronounced and positive towards masturbation.