I vividly remember when I first saw a man kneeling masturbating in a random park. He was clothed but his eyes were distant and his hands were trembling, like he was trying to get himself away from the reality of the world. At first it scared me, but then I started to observe him, and it was something so raw, so vulnerable. I felt sadness, knowing that he felt the need to come into this isolated place to seek solace.
It also made me think about the idea of masculinity and what it means in our society. More often than not, male masturbation is seen as something that is unacceptable and something that should not be talked about, at least not in public. It is also seen as something of a taboo and in some places even forbidden. And here I was watching this man, so vulnerable and exposed in a public park.
At the same time, I saw it as an opportunity to think about the power of masturbation. To be able to find a moment of pleasure in the middle of a public park, with strangers coming in and out is an amazing feat and a testament to the power of self love. It put into perspective how much mental strength it takes to overcome the idea of disgust that our society has planted into our brains.
I started to think of it as an act of self-identification and self-exploration, instead of something shameful. It does not have to be a dirty act that is done in private, but a way to understand and be comfortable in our own skin. It’s about owning our feelings, emotions and desires. And sex toys when you look at it like that, dildos it truly is an act of defiance and rebellion against the society that is trying to suppress our innocence.
I also thought of how it is something everybody can relate to, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. We all find ourselves in moments of weakness, where our sexual need is a way of coping with something bigger. We do what we need to in order to make ourselves feel better and sometimes that involves self-pleasure.
And that is why I felt a deep sense of empathy for the man I saw in the park. I know it must have been hard for him to seek pleasure away from home but I also know that in that moment he was free, living in a little bubble that no one could take away from him. He was his own boss, free of judgement, free of guilt.
The experience in the park made me think about sexuality in a different way. To me, it is a powerful form of expression and a way to reclaim our freedom. It is an act of liberation that everyone should embrace and take pride in, no matter their gender or sexuality. It is about breaking conventions and opening up possibilities. It is about self-discovery and joy.