self-love
ˈˌself ˈləv/
noun: self-love
- regard for one’s own well-being and happiness (chiefly considered as a desirable rather than narcissistic characteristic).
It seems fitting to launch The It Collection’s official blog on May 1st, the beginning of Masturbation Month. Today marks an entire month dedicated to promoting the healthy acceptance of one of self love’s most intimate offerings. To love yourself is to accept yourself, and masturbation teaches us just that. To accept our sexuality, to accept our differences, and to accept whatever about us is unique. This understanding that masturbation is more than okay is critical to self-acceptance and self-love. Here at The It Collection, self-love is what we are all about.
Now you may be curious, why is May Masturbation Month? When did this even happen? Well, it traces back to 1994 when U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders spoke openly about masturbation in response to an audience question about masturbation’s potential for discouraging early sexual activity at the UN World Aids Day. She answered, “I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.”
This completely rational statement was unsurprisingly too radical for the establishment to handle, and soon after that, the first African-American Surgeon General’s Washington career was over. This did not sit well with many who were, and still are, sick and tired of the way sex education and values are administered in this country.
It was the founders of the incredible San Francisco-based sexual wellness company Good Vibrations who did something about it that caught on. In 1995 they declared May National Masturbation Month as a way to keep up awareness about the unjust sacking of Elder, and to make people actually address what is still too often a taboo subject — Masturbation.
Yes, masturbation, the thing 98% of people do that relieves stress, is good for the immune system and is the safest sex possible, but somehow still remains a relatively taboo subject. Masturbation Month is a time for everyone to get out of the closet and embrace their own sexuality in whatever way they like. Everyone masturbates (the other 2% is pretty much lying), even those who have partners. Masturbating with your partner is in fact amazing! We at The It Collection are grateful for this month because we support sexuality in all forms.
So, how far have we come in the 20 plus years since this month came into existence? I would say we have made progress, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. The biggest shift has to be the acceptance of homosexuality throughout society, which is a win for love on all accounts. A month celebrating one of the universal tenants of human sexuality is the thing our society needs. We see more companies embrace these concepts as well. The It Collection is going to be the next big line of sexual wellness products that caters to every body no matter the shape, size or ability.
With a focus on servicing all needs and a commitment to universal design principles, we at The It Collection aim to offer products that will increase intimacy and pleasure for all. We strive for inclusivity, which is what really stood out to me about the company’s mission.
The It Collection team went to the Adult Video & Novelty (AVN) conference this year, and it was so wonderful to see all these different forms of sexuality so accepted and out in the open. One of the speakers said, “Don’t yuck someone else’s yum.” A cheeky way to put what might be the most beautiful and perfect take on sexuality. Everyone is different and into different things, but in the end, we all want love. This message was front and center at the AVNs. Accept what others enjoy, as this will help you accept yourself and what you enjoy. In the end, it is self-love that is the most important form of love we really need.
So, celebrate Masturbation Month proudly! Get off creatively as many times as you can. And do yourself a favor and grab yourself a Perfect Pleasure Cushion. Whether self-love or partner love it will open up a new world of possibilities and help you find your personal pleasure state. That is what IT’s all about.