Medieval Masturbation

What is it about?

Masturbation is a relatively ignored aspect of human sexuality within medieval and later culture, and it is often dismissed as a solitary, meaningless act. This article demonstrates that in medieval literature it is in fact rarely solitary because it is always potentially observed, and that it has a complex range of meanings. Despite the diversity of opinion on the subject, this article shows that masturbation has a recurrent cluster of associations: nocturnal emission, pollution, the sin against nature, softness and effeminacy, unsanctioned pleasure, and boys or young men. It is always used to create a relation between creation and creator, sinner and confessor, human and divine or demonic, author and reader.

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Why is it important?

The article shows that literary representations of masturbation can make an important contribution to our understanding of sex and gender in the Middle Ages.