If it seems that there is an official “month” for almost any product, service or disease, Tenga Co. Ltd. may have come up with the most unexpected: May is National Masturbation Month.
With the launch of #DoItInMay, the Japanese sex-product firm said “celebrating National Masturbation Month (is) aimed at broadening the conversation and furthering cultural acceptance around sexual wellness and self-pleasure beyond taboos and euphemisms.”
National Masturbation Month isn’t the first time self pleasure has taken a national stage. In 1992 the mega-TV hit “Seinfeld” featured the four main characters participating in a contest to see who could wait the longest without masturbating, even though the “m” word was never uttered in the show.
And a couple years later President Clinton fired his surgeon general for suggesting masturbation should be taught in schools.
This year’s National Masturbation Month comes with a pledge for participants. “The month-long program will encourage consumers to join the movement with a pledge to go ‘above-and-beyond’ by not only masturbating during the month of May but helping to de-stigmatize self-pleasure,” Tenga officials said.
The company linked National Masturbation Month to some serious government policy issues, saying the special month “was introduced in May 1995 in response to President Clinton’s firing of U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders for suggesting that masturbation should be part of sexual education. Since then, sex-positive organizations all over the world have honored Elders and celebrated masturbation in May.”
In fact, Elders, who was appointed in 1993 to be the first African-American to serve as surgeon general, drew a firestorm of outrage from the conservative community during a 1994 United Nations conference on AIDS when she responded to a question about masturbation being taught in schools to decrease the incidence of unsafe sex. “I think that is something that is a part of human sexuality,” she replied, “and it’s a part of something that perhaps should be taught. But we’ve not even taught our children the very basics.”
Almost a quarter century later, “Not everyone is comfortable talking about masturbation,” according to a company statement.
In Tenga’s 2016 United State(s) of Masturbation survey, the poll found that 88 percent of all Americans masturbate, but more than half of those surveyed were uncomfortable openly discussing it. “By participating in #DoItInMay, we can help change the conversation about masturbation and promote a message that self-care is a common, sex-positive act that should be celebrated, not hidden,” the company said.
A Tenga “brand ambassador” not surprisingly agreed.
“Masturbation is a natural part of life that not only gives individuals a better understanding of their bodies, but also empowers them to take control of their own pleasure,” said Chris Donaghue. “#DoItInMay is an opportunity to bring this to the forefront and celebrate masturbation for what it is: a positive and healthy sexual practice, whether it’s enjoyed by oneself or with a partner.”
“Participants can take the pledge online at DoItInMay.com, and if they chose to, can promote the campaign via social media. For every person who takes the pledge, TENGA will donate $1 – and will donate an additional $2 for every use of the hashtag “#DoItInMay” on social media, up to $10,000, to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS). SIECUS advocates for the right of all people to accurate information, comprehensive education about sexuality, and the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive health services.”
A top official at that sex education council agreed with Tenga’s efforts.
“There is still much stigma and shame in talking about sexuality and about masturbation,” said Chitra Panjabi, president & CEO of SIECUS. “We are proud to collaborate with TENGA and Dr. Chris Donaghue on the #DoItInMay campaign and help further cultural acceptance of sexual wellness, including masturbation.”
Tenga officials urged people to visit DoItInMay.com.
The company described itself as selling “a line of adult novelty products for men, with a focus on non-obscene product design as a tool for safer, better pleasure. Since their release in 2005, TENGA has sold over 52 million units worldwide and is now highly regarded as one of the leaders in products for male pleasure …” The company’s website is www.tenga-global.com.