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Flicking the Bean on the Silver Screen: Women’s Masturbation as Self-Discovery and Subversion in American Cinema

Adams, Megan E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1300749024

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, American Culture Studies/Popular Culture.
Women’s masturbation has the potential to disrupt the patriarchal constructions of sexuality by presenting an alternative wherein women can control their own pleasure independently of relationships with men. Considering the power of film as an influential and widely-consumed medium, and given the persistent cultural climate against women’s self-stimulation and sexual satisfaction in general, diverse onscreen portrayals of autoeroticism have the ability to foster feminist resistance to hegemonic discourses and potentially change attitudes regarding what is culturally considered to be normal sexual behavior. The selected depictions of female masturbation discussed in this analysis often implicitly or even explicitly address themes of power and sexuality, repression, transformation, and many other issues wrapped up in autoeroticism, suggesting that both real life masturbation and its onscreen representations are volatile and potentially revolutionary. These portrayals are examined based on their distinct intentions, audiences, and contexts in order to understand the films’ reflection of and influence on women’s sexuality within a patriarchal society. A comprehensive analysis of this manner calls for the reconsideration of traditionally oppressive constructions of sexuality and the re-examination of established film theory, including reevaluating spectatorship and gaze theory. Not every representation is equally feminist or sex-positive on its face, but all depictions of women’s autoeroticism offer an opportunity to construct subversive readings and identify redeemable aspects, even if it is only a reminder that women can and do masturbate at all.
Kim Coates, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Ellen Berry, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
76 p.
American Studies; Film Studies; Gender; Gender Studies; Womens Studies
Feminist film theory; gaze theory; feminism; women's sexuality; masturbation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Adams, M. E. (2011). Flicking the Bean on the Silver Screen: Women’s Masturbation as Self-Discovery and Subversion in American Cinema [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1300749024

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Adams, Megan. Flicking the Bean on the Silver Screen: Women’s Masturbation as Self-Discovery and Subversion in American Cinema. 2011. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1300749024.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Adams, Megan. "Flicking the Bean on the Silver Screen: Women’s Masturbation as Self-Discovery and Subversion in American Cinema." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1300749024

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1300749024
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.