I think the reason no one talks about women's use of pornography and women's interest in pornography has to do with discomfort with the idea of women masturbating. Another disclaimer is called for here. Whenever sexologists talk about sexual specifics it is assumed that we are talking in a normative way-this is good, this is bad, this is healthy, this is sick. By talking about pornography and masturbation, I'm talking about sexual practices and what they are useful or not useful for. If someone wants to have a long and lively sexual lifeand believe me I don't care whether anyone does or does not want to, and I am making no recommendations-but a person who does want to needs to learn about sexuality and take time to practice.
Masturbation is a form of learning and practice that is known in every culture.
It's also a hobby, and like many hobbies it can be practiced frequently or rarely. If someone just wants to have a little bit of sex in his or her life, or if the experience itself is not very important, then masturbation is of much less relevance or importance for that person. As a sexologist my goal is to discuss sexuality without choosing values, without endorsing particular acts or patterns. For the religious right, however, sexuality is always a moral issue. Conservative religious organizations oppose women's autonomous sexuality and believe that sexuality is for procreation, for families, not for individual pleasure, identity, and exploration.