Klittra: The New Name For Female Masturbation

Why do we have such a problem with the word masturbation? Think about it - nobody likes this term. We've got countless euphemisms for the act, some pleasant, like 'self love' and others crude, like 'beating the meat.' We will call stimulating one's own genitals any other thing in the world except masturbation.

And female masturbation? That barely warrants any notice. Jilling off? That's just a version of the much more popular male version, jacking off. Diddling? Have you ever known anyone to actually use that who wasn't a middle-aged man in a soft core porn flick?

Dudes, well, there are countless variants of male masturbation. Jerking off, jacking off, strokin' it, choking the chicken, pull in' the pud... the list goes on and gets more and more ridiculous. I really don't know how some of them ever got associated with touching one's penis. Really it can't be too hard to come up with a new one of your own.

Take a look to your left and note the first action or verb you see. Now look to your right and remark the first object you see. You've just created a new phrase for male masturbation! I'm in a coffee shop so mine is 'frothing the milk.' Seriously, it is that easy because society views men's sexuality as that basic, that simple? Have cock, will touch it?

Unfortunately, there is a historical reason for the complete disregard of female masturbation: of course, women don't masturbate, you know! No, really, that's what a lot of people used to think, and sadly, still do. Or it is just another thing on the big list of things women aren't supposed to do, whereas male masturbation is practically ever present in films. Oh right, that's because guys are jackin' it all the time, remember. Too bad that representation is almost always a joke (but we'll tackle that depiction another day).

And actually, it is true that women report masturbating less than men, but they certainly do 'stir the latte' (still in the coffee shop). Maybe they will be more encouraged to and comfortable with self love if the language surrounding it is inclusive and not shame-based.

So, the Swedish Association for Sexuality Equality launched a contest to pick a new word to be used in place of the super scary 'female masturbation.' Self pleasure by a woman will henceforth be known as.......  'klittra'!

With the clitoris being the primary sexual focus of women masturbating, the base of the word is clear. And the intention is even more important. Masturbation carries a (foolish) social stigma and discussing it makes many uncomfortable. Especially when it is about women. Creating a word that is nicer to say and hear emboldens the opportunity for more discussion, conversation and movement toward breaking that stigma down.

Although I prefer plain ol' masturbation as a term, I do like klittra. I like the way it sounds and how it positively embraces female sexuality. I hope it makes its way into common parlance.

I'll use klittra... will you?