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IN THE NAME OF FEMINISM, 28 MOVIES AND TV SHOWS THAT FEATURE FEMALE MASTURBATION

Breaking taboos one vibrator at a time.

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(Image credit: CW)

By Mehera Bonner
published June 08, 2019

This just in: women masturbate! It's totally normal and healthy! Everyone does
it! Yay! So, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about
on-screen female masturbation scenes—which are pretty few and far between
compared to their male equivalents because for some reason people get super
uncomfortable with the idea that women like sex (opens in new tab). And more
specifically, like touching themselves.



Even now, this is considered pretty scandalous—so cheers to films and TV shows
like Fleabag, Girls, The Deuce, and Reign for breaking taboos.


FRANKIE SHAW, 'SMILF'




The scene: Single mom Bridgette [Shaw, who also created the series] masturbates
to photos of her ex's new girlfriend after a hilariously failed attempt to get
off with a vibrator earlier in the episode.




Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: “Part of what I’m drawn to when I’m
writing is sort of a fantasy aspect [of women] and the secret life. So, a lot of
this is a huge discrepancy between reality and women’s fantasy lives."

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU... Marie Claire




LOGAN BROWNING, 'DEAR WHITE PEOPLE'



(Image credit: Netflix)

The scene: Fans think Sam and Gabe are on again in the season two premiere—until
its revealed that their hot and heavy sex scene is actually Sam's fantasy, and
that she's in bed alone with a vibrator.



Her comments on it: None, because BFD.


AIMEE LOU WOOD, 'SEX EDUCATION'



(Image credit: Netflix)

The scene: Aimee Gibbs gets in touch with her own sexuality during her first
masturbation experience, trying out lots of positions and techniques to figure
out what works for her.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "It’s just so weird because [in school]
you would hear boys talking about, 'Oh, I watched this video last night. I had
the best wank, da-da-da-da-da.' They'd be shameless about it at school, and it
was all the girls being like, 'I don't know what that is. We don't masturbate.'
It was a complete taboo. I think debunking some of those myths about if a boy
plugs away, a girl's going to have a great time, but no, girls need to be like,
'No, this is what I want.' So I'm really happy that that's in the show.




JANUARY JONES, 'MAD MEN'



The scene: Textbook housewife Betty Draper is at home, doing housewifey chores,
when she notices that the washing machine is shaking. Upon closer inspection,
she realizes that the vibrating machine is actually totally fine and indulges in
a fantasy.

Her comments on it: None, about the washing machine love scene. Jones has talked
about Betty's sexuality more broadly, however, recalling (opens in new
tab) that Mad Men creator Matt Weiner, "keeps telling me: 'She is a sexual
person, she’s not some prude.'" 


KIM CATTRALL, 'SEX AND THE CITY'



The scene: Samantha meets a very hot man of the cloth (Friar F*ck) and, given
his vow of celibacy, she has to take care of her urges all on her own.

Her comments on it: None, because BFD.


MIA WASIKOWSKA, 'STOKER'



The scene: Wasikowska's character, India, masturbates in the shower while
thinking about her uncle committing murder on her behalf. The scene (like the
entire movie) is a twisted exploration of the link between sex and
violence—including a rare look at how the two intertwine from a female
perspective.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: “If you’re gonna go there, you go there.
The anticipation is worse than actually filming it. It’s a closed set, and
they’re such specific, small shots, and they yell ‘Action!’ And then after
you’re covered right up. So you’re not that exposed, thankfully!"


PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE, 'FLEABAG'



The scene: Titular character Fleabag is minding her own business masturbating in
bed (as ya do)—the catch is her boyfriend's asleep next to her and she's
masturbating to Obama videos.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on the scene: "Ah yes, the masturbating-to-Obama
bit! That was in the play. Originally, she was looking for something to distract
herself from having a bad wank so she turns on the news and, well…I mean, it's
Obama, can you blame her?"


SHARON ROONEY, 'MY MAD FAT DIARY' 



(Image credit: Channel 4)

The scene: Rooney's character gives herself her first ever orgasm thanks to
masturbation. Because you really don't need another person to enjoy yourself,
mmmkay?

Her comments (opens in new tab) on the scene: "When they said we’d be doing that
scene, I thought 'Yeah I’ll do that. Why not?' How many times have you seen a
boy having a wank? All the time! It’s all they talk about! I thought: 'Let’s do
it for the girls.'"


ALLISON WILLIAMS, 'GIRLS'



The scene: Marnie masturbates in a public bathroom while leaning against the
door.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "A scene like [that] just gets added to
the pile and gets smushed in. It's been really interesting being interviewed and
being asked about it so much, because I'm like, 'Oh, yeah, well there have been
seven episodes since that scene.' I also feel like we are showing these very
intimate, private and specific moments in our characters' lives and it just sort
of is a part of Marnie's puzzle."


CAITLIN STASEY, 'REIGN'



The scene: Lest you forget, Reign is a CW show. And CW shows don't typically
show sex, let alone masturbation. But this scene features a royal bedding
ceremony with witnesses—one of whom is so turned on that she runs away to
masturbate.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "This is the thing: I don't care about
being naked on screen. I don't care about masturbating on screen; I don't care
about sex scenes on screen. The aftermath is fine; I don't care who sees it.
It's the actual process of filming it that sucks. It's unsexy, it's incredibly
technical, it's incredibly boring and also incredibly embarrassing. You're just
like writhing around in front of a group of maybe 30 dudes because the set is
primarily men…. But the act of a woman actually taking care of herself in that
way is incredibly powerful."


MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, 'THE DEUCE'



(Image credit: HBO)

The scene: Gyllenhaal's character masturbates after sex thanks to not orgasming
during the deed itself. Relatable!

Her comments (opens in new tab) on the scene, and why she *asked* for it to be
included: "I thought here’s all this performative sex, all this transactional
sex. I wanted to know what her desire looks like. And after we filmed it, he was
like, 'Okay. Okay. We’re okay. We have made something feminist. We have.'"


BETH BEHRS, 'TWO BROKE GIRLS'



The scene: Beth's roommate finds her masturbating in the bathtub with a shower
head. Everything happens off screen, but the hijinks!

Her comments on it: None, because BFD.


LEA DELARIA, 'ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK'



(Image credit: Netflix)

The scene: Boo is seen getting off with the end of a screwdriver, because when
in jail, you gotta make due.

Her comments on it: "I jumped up and down like a little girl. I was that
excited. Because I knew it was going to be something that people will remember.
And indeed, it is. The first take, I started laughing because I made the mistake
of thinking about what I was doing. That's a huge mistake when acting—you
shouldn't think about it. So, the first take was one of the first shots on our
gag reel. It was me, starting to masturbate, and howling with laughter. It's
just like, 'What am I doing? I'm getting paid to do this.' I can't tell you how
many people have asked me to autograph their screwdrivers."


ILANA GLAZER, 'BROAD CITY'



The scene: Glazer performs her "pre-masturbation ritual," which involves a
mirror, candles, and a giant vibrator. Treat yourself.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on female sexuality on the show in
general: "It's like these girls are horny but not under the male gaze. They're
horny, period. Just starting from the vagina, not starting from some man looking
at them."


AMY ADAMS, 'JUNEBUG'



The scene: Adams' very pregnant character masturbates in bed while looking at a
photo of her husband.

Her comments on it: While talking about the most difficult scene to film in the
movie, Adams said "It's a toss up between the masturbation and the hospital...it
was such an intimate and vulnerable moment."


JOAN ALLEN, 'PLEASANTVILLE'



The scene: Allen is seen masturbating in the bathtub as the screen changes from
black to color.

Her comments on it: None, because BFD.


KATE WALSH, 'JUST BEFORE I GO'



The scene: Kate Walsh's character masturbates while sleep walking.

Her comments on it: "We actually shot all of those on the second day of
shooting. [Director Courteney Cox] was great; she made me feel super safe."


MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL, 'SECRETARY'



The scene: Gyllenhaal's character fantasizes about her boss while masturbating.

Her comments on sex in the film: "I love the fact that people wanna talk about
sex. I mean, I wanna talk about sex, too."


SHIRI APPLEBY, 'UNREAL'



(Image credit: Hulu)

The scene: Rachel is masturbating to porn with a vibrator in the back of a van.

Her comments on it: "The opening and closing scenes of episode 105
of UnREAL really sparked a conversation. Who knew a women pleasuring herself
would be so newsworthy."


RILEY KEOUGH, 'THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE'



(Image credit: Starz)

The scene: Keough's character, an escort, enjoys watching herself masturbate.

Her comments on it: "We wanted to show things that you don't really see, like
the girl getting her period or the girl masturbating… You really feel like
you're creeping in on this girl, so it's a bit uncomfortable. It's not like
we're showing her masturbate just to have a masturbation scene. It's showing
every part of this person and her private moments."


LIZZY CAPLAN, 'MASTERS OF SEX'



(Image credit: Showtime)

The scene: Her character stands completely naked and masturbates as Michael
Sheen's character watches.

Her comments on it: "That was shitty. I could not have been more well
protected...crew was as paired down as possible, these are my friends now. I
just remember sitting in my trailer feeling for the first time since being on
the show that I don't know if I can walk out there. What is it going to take to
be able to walk out there and do this."


KIERNAN SHIPKA, 'MAD MEN'



The scene: Young (10-year-old) Sally Draper has her sexual awakening while
watching an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. While the scene does not depict
Sally masturbating on screen, it's implied and later confirmed by her mother,
Betty's, reaction afterwards.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "I was very in the world of Sally when we
shot that scene. I knew that her mother was really ashamed of what she’d done,
and I played off that."


ISSA RAE, 'INSECURE'



The scene: Issa just casually wants to quench her thirst solo and is frustrated
to find that the batteries in her vibrator are dead.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "In the [writers’] room we were talking
about what it feels like to be thirsty and how we don’t really get to see female
characters masturbate. Even in a funny way. Especially black women! So we wanted
to portray that, while remaining true to our show and showing sexual
frustration."


ADÈLE EXARCHOPOULOS, 'BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR'



The scene: Adèle touches herself while thinking about Emma.

Her comments (opens in new tab) on it: "The first time we filmed a sex scene, I
was just laughing. I was supposed to touch myself and it was supposed to be my
fantasy and then when I opened my eyes and saw her we laughed so much. We were
embarrassed. And he shoots for such a long time, I was thinking, 'Man, you can
stop there!'"


SALLY HAWKINS, 'THE SHAPE OF WATER'



The scene: Hawkins' character, Elisa, slips into the tub while she waits for an
egg to boil and casually and quickly brings herself to climax.

Her comments on it: None, but director Guillermo Del Toro did discuss the
scene, saying (opens in new tab), "We are used to either never depicting female
sexuality, or depicting it in a glamorized, artificial way. I thought, most of
the sexuality in the movie is not glamorized."


Mehera Bonner
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Entertainment Editor

Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo
and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment
editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade. 




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