Spanish Government Launches Masturbation Workshop

"The pleasure is in your hands" is a new workshop being offered by the Spanish government through its Youth Council and the Institute for Women and it's quite controversial. The workshop encourages teens to masturbate and teaches them how to use sex toys. The course description includes how to use and enjoy ben-wa balls "because they help strengthen the muscles in women", and how to stimulate your genitals with oils, lubricants and all types of vibratory equipment (sound familiar).

These are not "youngsters" they are teens with active hormones that create sexual desires. They will masturbate anyway so if we infuse guilt with their sexuality or let them develop stupid habits like not using lubrication they could be damaging their sex organs and never develop fully as sexual beings. This is a brilliant move by the Spanish feminist Institute who will be vilified and ridiculed by all practicing Catholics. Brava to María José Pulido for her intelligence, bravery and sexual compassion in launching this program.

Conservative spokespeople responded mainly with embarrassment. "This is an intimate subject that should be dealt with at home," complained local opposition leader Hernández Carrón of the rightwing People's party. "We have become the laughing stock of Spain ."

"They are interfering with the right of parents to educate their own children about a matter as important as their sexuality," agreed the conservative Confederation of Fathers and Mothers of Schoolchildren.

Officials from the neighboring region of Andalucia have expressed an interest in copying the program. The campaign includes leaflets, flyers, a "fanzine" and workshops for the young in which they receive instruction on self-pleasuring techniques along with advice on contraception and self-respect.

"The campaign is simple, clear, natural and easily understood by the people it is aimed at, who are aged between 14 and 17," said Laura Garrido, president of the Youth Council of Extremadura.

Commentators questioned why the poorest region in Spain was paying for a campaign to promote masturbation, though they did not seem to get the point that masturbation gives girls an alternative to the kind of sex that could lead to getting pregnant, and teaches everyone that they're responsible for their own pleasure.

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