#OpenCommunication

Open, honest conversations between mothers and their teenage daughters about masturbation can improve emotional well-being and physical health. Leading psychologists, sex education experts, and parents are advocating a shift in how sexuality is discussed—moving beyond basic topics like consent and contraception to include self-exploration as a normal part of adolescence. This perspective is relevant for Thai families and resonates with global research on healthy development.

In many Thai households, sexuality remains a sensitive topic. Parents often frame sex discussions around risk prevention—pregnancy and infections—and shy away from self-pleasure. A 2020 study in the Journal of Sex Research found that masturbation ranked only 12th among topics discussed with daughters, well behind pregnancy, abstinence, and sexually transmitted infections. This pattern mirrors experiences in many cultures, where female self-pleasure is rarely addressed in home or school settings.

In a world where sexuality is often clouded by stigma and misinformation, leading psychologists, sex education experts, and parents are urging a generational shift: mothers must have open, honest conversations with their teenage daughters about masturbation and self-exploration, not just about more mainstream issues like consent, contraception, or relationships. Recent discussions, including a widely shared article from the UK and mounting research in sexual health, highlight the crucial importance of normalizing this dialogue — for both emotional well-being and physical health — here in Thailand and globally.