“For a bad mood, make love to yourself”, the controversial campaign of the Ministry of Youth in Colombia unleashes reactions on social networks

“For a bad mood, make love to yourself,” recommends the Medellin mayor’s office in digital pieces illustrated with the image of a woman masturbating. The unusual campaign on the benefits of this sexual practice on physical and mental health sparked controversy in Colombia.

“Orgasm releases endorphins, serotonin and oxytocin: happy hormones that can make a bad day one to remember. Dedicate yourself to this intimate moment!”, They quote the messages of the Local Youth Secretariat, which circulate on social networks.

Hundreds of people reacted on Twitter for and against, in a country with conservative roots and mostly Catholic.

“Those shouldn’t be policies from a city’s top authority. It’s embarrassing,” Felipe wrote; “Talk about public health and sexual health without hesitation or taboos. Very good for the campaign”, said Juliana; “Don’t you think there are much more important issues to resolve in the city?” Iván wondered.

Santiago Bedoya, Secretary of Youth of Medellín, explained that the objective of the pieces is to “recognize” masturbation as “a human practice that is natural, evolutionary, historical” and “normal”, “because many young people suffer penalization and moralization” in this regard.

In addition, masturbation has “positive benefits from a biological, psychological and social perspective,” Bedoya added in an interview with Blu Radio.

According to the official, It was chosen to start the campaign with the image of a woman masturbating “because this topic has been more forbidden and more stigmatized” with them.

For Dr. María Camila Torres, a sexual and reproductive health analyst at the Universidad del Rosario, the campaign is “pertinent and necessary” to “educate in such a conservative, Catholic and macho culture”.

And while he applauded the spread of the benefits of masturbation, he called it “unfortunate” to associate “the bad mood of women with the lack of sexual intercourse or self-stimulation”.

The mayor’s office announced that men will also be part of the communication strategy, although they are evaluating the appropriate message when there are cases of harassment of women through male masturbation in public spaces.

“We are trying to consolidate a safer and kinder male gaze with women who have suffered abuse,” Bedoya said. (I)