Jan 18 2022 79 mins
Growing up in a very religious setting, I had very little information about sex, sexuality, and especially masturbation. In fact, I had never even heard about masturbation until the age of 15. My own self-explorations were shrouded in shame and guilt, and only about a decade later did I manage to shake off most of the damaging stories I'd internalised as a child.
In this episode I explore the toxic shame around self-pleasure that is passed on through generations; I share my own story and also those of many others' who sent me their experiences. I discuss the fact that girls never spoke about masturbation, even as boys in high schools made frequent jokes about it (and why there might be this stark difference), and explore the influence of the church and society on this. Finally I read you a few striking letters from listeners who, like me, have had complicated and painful journeys towards embracing the right to feel pleasure.
Also, I've launched a Patreon account! If you'd like to support this podcast, and the other projects I hope to start this year, check it out at https://www.patreon.com/sagefreda.
About me: My name is Sage Freda and I'm a storyteller and journeyer, currently setting out on some new adventures, travelling and volunteering across South Africa with my dog. I hope you'll come along for the ride!
Send me questions, comments, or voice messages at [email protected]. My website is www.sagefreda.com, or find me on social media: Instagram and Facebook.
Cover art done by my talented sister, Hannah.
Music by Lesfm on Pixabay.