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From Sin to Sexual Self-Awareness: Black Women’s Reflection on Lifetime Masturbation Messages

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A Correction to this article was published on 18 July 2023

A Correction to this article was published on 27 December 2022

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Abstract

To date, there has been very little empirical research on Black women’s masturbation practices and views on masturbation. This study fills the gap by exploring the messages Black women received about masturbation and self-pleasure and the sources of these messages using valence theory. Data were collected in 2021 from 242 Black women who participated in a survey during phase one of the triphasic Big Sex Study. Thematic analysis was used to analyze this short-form qualitative data. Results indicated a range of responses, with mixed messages reported more than negative, positive, and neutral messages. The three primary sources of messages were religion, family, and friends. There were several themes across the valence of messages including the development of positive messages, sexual self-awareness, masturbation as sin, health benefits and consequences, relationship difficulties, devaluation, and masturbation as dirty and gross. These results provide a basis for sexuality professionals to improve sociocultural knowledge about masturbation beliefs, practices, and message sources among Black women.

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Acknowledgements

The RISE2 Research team would like to acknowledge our community partners for all of their hard work and assistance during Phase 1 of the Big Sex Study: Tanya Bass, MEd, Ph.D., CHES, CSE, Robin Wilson Beattie, M. Nicole Coleman, Ph.D., Yarneccia Dyson, Ph.D., MSW, Tracie Gilbert, Ph.D., Jasmine Johnson, MSW, MA, LCSW, Omisade Burney-Scott, and Marla Renee Stewart, MSW.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Shemeka Thorpe

  2. Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, University of Kentucky, 251 Scott St., Lexington, KY, 40508, USA

    Rayven L. Peterson, Natalie Malone, Jaxin Annett & Candice N. Hargons

  3. Dr. Nikki Knows LLC, Houston, TX, USA

    M. Nicole Coleman

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The original version of this article was revised: The final word of the article title (“Messages”) was missing from the article as originally published.

The original version of this article was revised: In the 2nd sentence after the heading Results, participants’ age has been corrected to read “3 to 50” rather than “3 to 5”.

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Thorpe, S., Peterson, R.L., Malone, N. et al. From Sin to Sexual Self-Awareness: Black Women’s Reflection on Lifetime Masturbation Messages. Arch Sex Behav 52, 1403–1415 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-022-02473-7

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