Female Masturbation in U.S. Cinema – Between Dependence and Independence
Hannah Blumas
Female masturbation is still taboo. This video essay unravels the medial representation of autoeroticism and its patriarchal dependency. The analysis examines cross-genre U.S. cinema since the second wave of feminism. Using Feminist Film Theory to scrutinise problematic scenes through the lenses of religion, hysteria, shame, the male gaze and masquerade. Progressive film scenes, dialogues between friends, female authorship and the possibilities of an "Oppositional gaze" leave no doubt: we must masturbate for our independence – especially on screen.