Masturbation Isn’t a Luxury: Reframing Self-Care After Purity Culture

A reader asks why daily masturbation makes her feel guilty, but Slate’s How to Do It column, with sex educator Erica Smith, reassures that pleasure isn’t a luxury or something you must ‘earn.’ There’s no required frequency—enjoy yourself when you want to, whether that’s daily, weekly, or somewhere in between, and expect desire to wax and wane with hormones and life pressures. The piece also suggests tuning into small everyday pleasures, considering budget constraints (use what you already have before buying new devices), and embracing the idea that sexual pleasure is a natural, entitlement-based part of being alive.