At least once in our life, we all have been stuck in the conundrum of having discussed "sex" or the "nether region" with our parents. And if you think that they're not as uncomfortable as you're, try doing it with your younger siblings.

India is a very shy nation when it comes to "The Talk", however, we are 1.3 billion big. Amid everything that is left unsaid and everything that is yet to be told, lies a tiny grey area, which still needs to be talked about.

(Also read: Good News, Ladies! Frequent Sexual Intercourse Can Increase Memory Power In Women, Says New Study)

bigthink

We all have been duped into thinking that "the art of masturbation" is an evil thing. But, just to save his sibling from such deceiving, this boy wrote an open letter to his sister.

In his letter, he openly discusses a lot of things about female masturbation, something, that the society vehemently detests.

Read the full blog here:

Happy Birthday. And, welcome to hell, I mean, puberty.

Now, I’ll spare you the inspirational speech about the meaning of life, because I’m sure Papa must’ve already written you a long philosophical letter about growing up & exploring the world.

‘Growing Up’ reminds me, I’ll also spare you the ‘awkward talk’ responsible adults are supposed to have with their teenage kids/siblings. Mom & your teachers must’ve already told you all about how & why your body has turned into a nuclear power plant set to erupt every month for the rest of your life. Congratulations on womanhood; you’re going to have a blast.

Now that I’m done with the cherished duty of making my younger sibling feel miserable about her life, I’ll gladly move on to the main point of this message.

I’m here to talk to you about masturbation.

Yes. Masturbation.

Please don’t react like you’re hearing the word for the first time in your life. You and your friends have surely talked, gossiped & laughed about it at school. You’ve most probably been fed the wrong information in a format & language so filthy, it must make you cringe at the thought of touching yourself, even when your mind secretly itches to explore the wildness within.

And, so, I’m here to tell you that I totally understand what you’re going through mentally, if not physically. I’m really not here to conduct a sex.ed class or make you feel uncomfortable.

I’m only here to tell you that you’re not alone.

I was in the same situation 5 years ago, but, unfortunately, I didn’t get the right kind of information in the right way, so it took quite some time for me to figure it all out, and I don’t want you to go through the same confusion, which is why I’m here to tell you…IT’S OKAY.

It’s okay to want to touch yourself, and it’s okay to have weird fetishes & crazy dreams. In fact, masturbation is not only okay but also necessary for your health & well-being. It gives you a chance to explore your body, understand your needs, and know exactly what hurts you & what turns you on.

It gives you power over your body; it makes you your own happy boss. Maybe, that’s why masturbation, and specifically female masturbation, is still such a big taboo.

The realisation that a woman, too, has certain desires & she can fulfill them without your consent, or your dick, strikes an unsettling chord in a society that has disempowered & objectified your gender since the beginning of time.

That’s the essence of the hush-hushed stigma of self-pleasure- it’s often, if not always, partial to us men. I mean, if boys do it, it’s just a part of the natural cycle they can’t control, but if a girl does it, it’s considered immoral, irreligious & filthy in every sense of the word.

Well, if that’s the case, and if masturbation is really so ‘unethical’ that an author had to describe it as ‘the path to Satan,’ I suggest you should just own the walk & waltz your way to hell if that’s where your happiness takes you, and I’ll tell you why it’s totally worth the ‘punishment’ you might receive.

First of all, with the exception of a few asexuals i.e. people who don’t feel sexually attracted to any gender- everyone in this world does ‘the thing,’ regardless of whether they accept it or not, because guess what? everyone is a human being, and everyone’s body commands them to fulfil certain needs.

Secondly, it’s completely free & safe, and unless you get addicted or let it intrude your work, it cannot possibly bring you any harm or pain.

(Also read: Shaving Your Nether Regions Could Increase The Risk Of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Says New Study)

Thirdly, it helps you keep your relationships alive, because you can now let your partner know about your needs, and what he/she can do to satisfy them.

Fourthly, it relieves stress, keeps away certain infections, and it also feels good, so like, why not?

Lastly, unlike the situation 50 years ago, there’s an infinite number of books, articles, videos you can refer to for knowing how you can make the most of your ‘alone time.’ I kid you not, there’s even an app that guides you through the ‘game.’ What a time to be alive.

My point is, there’s a great library of resources you can access to know more about the topic; all you have to do is open up & be bold enough to ask questions whenever & wherever they arise.

I say that, because contrary to the popular belief & the most-used excuse by adults, I personally believe there is no ‘right time & place’ to share certain facts, especially in today’s world where a little kid has access to all the information on the net. If we adults don’t share the real facts with you kids when you ask for them, you’ll gladly forward your queries to your friends and get them answered anyways. Only this time, instead of getting the proper knowledge, you’ll be thrashed with all kinds of stupid stuff that may even scar some kids for life.

Parents*** need to understand that access to information is no longer an issue for any school-going kid in this world. The only difference between kids who grow confident & happy in their bodies & those who don’t is the way in which this information has been given to them. But in most cases, these facts are avoided & hidden from them eyes, and this makes them even more curious to take unwanted paths leading to nothing but confusion & guilt.

sheknows

***You wait for your kid to turn 18 so you can sit him/her down on a sofa & give the long awkward talk on ‘girls/boys’ only to realise your kid has already been stuffed with myths & misconceptions long before you realised his tiny brain even had room to accommodate them, and so you have no option but to hush down his quick responses, and softly ask him where he learnt ‘those words,’ and he then responds with something along the lines of ‘I heard a boy say it in school’ but what he really means is that he definitely didn’t hear it from you because you, Sir, were too uncomfortable & embarrassed to open up, and let your kid suffer for his/her lack of understanding of one of the most sensitive parts of life.

On that note, dear Isha, don’t you feel ashamed or afraid to bombard all the adults in the house with your questions & queries, because you have the right to know about how our bodies work, and as adults, it is our duty to give you the information you demand in the right way, regardless of the time & place of your queries.

My last piece of advice as a young human being who has the same needs as you do, is that you should never feel guilty about putting your needs before everything else, because there’s nothing bad in wanting to feel happy & good about yourself, because you’re doing nothing wrong, and because even if you make mistakes, there is someone who will always trust you, respect your space, and understand what you can’t express in words.

I promised Mom I’ll be the friend she & Dad can never be. So, I’ll say this again, and I’ll keep saying it until it gets fixed in your head You, my dear Isha, are never alone. You have my support, and you can be 100% sure that I’ll sincerely accept & appreciate all the decisions you take.

So, relax, dim the lights, google up Chris Hemsworth, and let your hormones take you on the craziest ride of your life.

Happy Play Time, my dear lady!

Most of us may still find it hard to discuss such things with our younger siblings, but maybe, it's the right thing to do.

This letter has been published with prior permission from the author, from his blog.