Last month I wrote about gender differences in notions of health in a 1922 public health campaign designed to teach American teens about sex.
Today, we might not recognize that any of these recommendations had anything to do with sex. But in fact, they many of them were about masturbation. At this time, fewer physicians thought that it would cause madness, epilepsy, homosexuality, or gout, but they still believed that it would encourage depravity and a lack of self-discipline.
To encourage a healthy sexuality, they advised lots of exercise. Exercise was believed to teach self-control. It was also considered a good outlet for “energy,” leaving one to worn out to masturbate.
TEXT:
Can you walk 20 miles in a day? Can you work an 8-hour day in the field? Can you “chin yourself” 8 times? Can you run 100 yards in 12 seconds?
They promoted a healthy diet. Too much meat and too much spice were thought to encourage masturbation.
TEXT:
1. Eat fresh vegetables, cereals, bread and butter, eggs, fruit and a little meat or fish. 2. Eat slowly and thoroughly masticate (chew) your food. 3. Use judgment in amount and choice of foods. 4. Drink 6 to 10 glasses of water a day. Do not drink much water after supper. 5. Use your tooth brush at least twice a day — in the morning and at night.
People were also advised to sleep in well-ventilated rooms and to wear loose clothes that did not cause any friction:
TEXT:
Sleep with the windows open. “Turn in” at regular hours. Get 8 to 9 hours sleep every night.
Interestingly, only the boys’ posters actually discuss masturbation directly (self-abuse).
TITLE: Outdoor Life (avoid self-abuse)
TEXT:
1. Athletics. 2. Abundant outdoor life. 3. Wholesome companions. 4. Lots of good fun. 5. Constant employment. 6. Will power will help a boy break the habit called “self-abuse” (in case he has acquired the habit) and recover from any harm it may have done. This habit does not produce the terrible effects some ignorant people say it does. Most boys who have abused themselves stop before any great harm is done. Self-abuse may, however, seriously hinder a boy’s progress toward vigorous manhood. It is a selfish, childish, stupid habit. The strong boy will “cut it out.”
The posters are held at the Social Welfare History Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries.
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Christina Barmon is a doctoral student at Georgia State University studying sociology and gerontology.
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Comments 18
Tom Birkland — October 15, 2011
Perhaps boys were mentioned more specifically in campaigns against self-abuse because medically-induced orgasm, as we know fairly well, was a common treatment for "hysteria" in the late 19th century. I cannot recall the sources, but several responsible scientists had also abandoned most claims of the awful effects of this practice by about 1920 or so. But the campaign against it is among the most comical--and futile--efforts in public "health" history.
Soso — October 15, 2011
It is my understanding (and I cannot site any reliable sources) that hot food at breakfast was thought to promote masturbation. As such, Dr. Kellogg - along with quite a few others at the time - developed cold breakfast cereals. They were also strong proponents of (male) circumcision (for exactly the same reasons as female circumcision: to remove the more sensitive areas thus decreasing the enjoyment, although in females this can be reduced to nil and is often accompanied with a 'tightening' that may please the male during coitus but causes great pain for the female).
Old Pamphlet Enthusiast — October 15, 2011
I love the phrase "Most boys who have abused themselves stop before any great harm is done."
As if there was some precise, magical point at which /some/ masturbation turned into /too much/ masturbation.
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze — October 15, 2011
what exactly are open windows at night supposed to do? And is it not good "sleep hygiene" to "turn in" at about the same time every night? And is it not good to get about 8 to 9 hours a night? I mean, I do those things and masturbate plenty...what is objectionable here? What is at all related to gender and masturbation here?
Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze — October 15, 2011
What part of the "sleep with the window open, turn in at the same time, get 8 to 9 hours of sleep" bit is at all related to gender or masturbation?
Kat — October 16, 2011
The "will help a boy break the habit of self-abuse" bit is related to gender and masturbation.
LLLLL — October 16, 2011
I know this is looking at how things were specifically in the twenties, but when I was growing up as a male in the 80's and early 90's the first language I grew up with was very similar to this. I wish I could look up some of the old "health class" materials I had, because I remember that the only terminology I had for masturbation was self abuse, or self rape, and was extremely confused at what was happening. Looking back on it now, it's really messed up, but what I did know back then? I wouldn't be surprised if similiar material is still getting passed around today.
Moses Malone — July 31, 2013
If God is too holy to behold evil why would He want mens penises cut so they would bleed even if it does not leave a scar on boys penises growing into manhood? This is no different than if he commanded girls to have their vaginas bleed by being cut with a sharp knife that leaves no scar. Maybe the devil likes it when people do this and God does not. This is traumatic, but so is being lied about when complimenting someones cleavage.
Mordecai — July 31, 2013
Rubbing the penis till it shoots semen out of it or the vagina till it squirts is a sin against God and thats what someone here failed to say. Those who play with their penis or vagina are going to hell as is everyone who calls compliments, "hassling" and uses the book of Proverbs as an excuse to justify incriminating men for their compliments. The dream where I have a couple of erections and the final erection the semen gets shot on my stomach is really exciting but its anothe sin against God. The police and the womens socalled movement are pharisees. Police will burn in hell for all the grief they put people through, namely writing out tickets,intimidation trespass threat,etc. The nocturnal emission of a wet dream at night displeases God as does getting ones one-eyed willy rubbed good by a strippers ass till their is semen shot through the underwear onto the left thigh in the jeans or pants.
Knut Holt — September 10, 2013
Many of these attitudes against masturbation are actually coming back right now. In reality society does not like people, and especially young people, having simple and inexpensive ways to please themselves. Authorities want people to feel basically unsatisfied, because then people is an esy object for exploitation.
Regards Knut Holt
http://www.abicana.com
The Vine: Why It's Important to Master Masturbation | Freddy and Eddy - A Website and Blog for All Couples — December 9, 2013
[…] language of Tissot and his cronies, but in the new scientific language of child-rearing. This American health pamphlet from 1922 favours exercise, willpower and healthy eating over ‘”self-abuse”, a “selfish, childish, […]
Kevo — December 22, 2013
Whoever write it was a wanker.
Why it’s important to master masturbation — November 1, 2019
[…] language of Tissot and his cronies, but in the new scientific language of child-rearing. This American health pamphlet from 1922 favours exercise, willpower and healthy eating over ‘”self-abuse”, a “selfish, childish, […]