Sex can wait, masturbate: The politics of masturbation training

Abstract

Masturbation in sexology and in sex education constitutes one of the only sanctioned sexualities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The discourse around disease and infection prevention at times reinforces masturbation as a suitable expression of sexuality. Utilizing scenes from a 1975 American film, The ABCs of Sex Education for Trainables and other educational materials, I investigate how sexuality for individuals with intellectual disabilities is programmed, restricted and professionalized through different training methods in order to prevent the practices of public masturbation. Masturbation training for individuals with intellectual disabilities provides a unique vantage point to discuss how the sexuality of certain groups such as prisoners, people in group homes, and institutions fall under regulation and restriction of everyday life.