Breaking taboos with touches: A qualitative study on women's attitudes toward and experiences of masturbation

This study investigates women's attitudes toward and experiences of masturbation, as well as how these attitudes and experiences are shaped by individual and environmental factors. In this context, semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten women between the ages of 23 and 42. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis through MAXQDA 2020 software. Five main themes were identified through the analysis: (1) Social Contexts Influencing Individuals' Relationship with Masturbation, (2) The Social Position of Masturbation, (3) Individual Factors Influencing Masturbation Experiences (4) A Positive Perspective on Masturbation: "Pleasurable and Necessary", and (5) External Factors Influencing Masturbation Experiences These themes are discussed in relation to the relevant literature.