It’s never too late to learn the art of solo sex.
On Grace and Frankie Season 3 Jane Fonda’s Grace Hansen and Lily Tomlin’s Frankie Bergstein launched a sex toy brand for women over 50 after Grace has her first experience with a vibrator, promptly resulting in carpal tunnel and eye strain as she attempted to read the instructions.
As comedic as this scene might be it did touch on some points about masturbation and aging. The result propels the two women into developing a vibrator for older women.
Taking on Masturbation Myths
While Grace and Frankie attempted to bring their device to market, they also dispelled a lot of the myths about age and satisfaction. Especially when it came to masturbation and taking control of that pleasure.
Sex education may end in high school, but there are benefits to masturbating as you get older. It can relieve stress, make you feel sexy, and teach you which areas of the body give you the most pleasurable experience.
Often older generations, especially women, are de-sexualized by society. But on Grace and Frankie, Grace is a powerful example for women of a certain age.
Most People Masturbate at Every Age
Masturbation gets a bad rep because no one wants to talk about it. That’s totally fine. Your sex life is your business, even when it’s with yourself. But the result is several masturbation myths that many women still believe surrounding infertility, sex drive, and sensitivity.
A study conducted at Indiana University’s Kinsey Institute surveyed a sample of 5,865 Americans between the ages of 14 and 94 and found that 67 to 94 percent of men and 43 to 85 percent of women have masturbated at least once.
Masturbation is Good For You
While this subject might be taboo, it’s also good for you. Learning the art of self-pleasure doesn’t always have to be about reaching orgasm. It can help identify other erogenous zones and help you get to know your own desires in and outside of the bedroom.
Studies have shown that masturbation is a workout for your brain. Especially in the centers that focus on sensation, movement, cognition, and reward. Plus, orgasm can release endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin a powerful natural cocktail of mood-enhancers.
“Masturbation can be a form of stress relief or self-intimacy—an escape from the mundane, or a form of self-soothing,” said Dr. Janet Brito in an Oprah Magazine article. “It is a perfectly natural and healthy approach to promote emotional regulation, enhance your mood, and be with yourself. After a busy day, masturbation gives you an opportunity to take a break from the pressures of life to reconnect with yourself—to chill, and relax.”
Conclusion
We tend to associate solo sex with the hormonal changes associated with puberty and adolescence. Those changes continue throughout your life. The sex hormones that control libido do taper off as we age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be intimate with yourself whether you’re single or in a relationship. You might even be more confident with the practice if you’ve gotten more comfortable in your skin.
Were you surprised that people of all ages, even seniors, masturbate? Do you plan to masturbate when you’re elderly? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
