The month of November holds many famous events such as Remembrance Sunday, Bonfire night, and the US’ Thanksgiving. November also holds as the month to recognize and raise awareness of male mental health. “Movember,” for example, encourages the growth of mustaches, stimulating conversations around male mental and physical health—whilst also providing an opportunity to show off some funky facial hair.
In the same month that advocates for greater support around male help, we also have No Nut November — an annual event that encourages people to go thirty days without ejaculating, hence the name. Though both men and women are encouraged to participate, it is largely men who seem to be involved (as is evident through their interaction in Reddit forums). Whilst this may sound like the latest internet challenge, No Nut November can be traced back to 2011 on forums like Reddit and 4chan. Urban Dictionary sets out the rules as followed:
You cannot have sex, masturbate, or nut in any way, shape or form
Watching pornography and having boners are allowed, but you can’t nut
You are only allowed one wet dream
You only have one shot at it. If you miss it, you’re out
There are various reasons why someone may choose to participate in No Nut November. First, some people think that there are various health benefits of not ejaculating for 30 days & for some people, it’s the space to re-evaluate their use of pornography, for others this event serves as a chance to practice self-control over their masturbation habits. However, some take this annual occurrence a step further, claiming it to be an opportunity for people to ‘cure’ their masturbation or pornography addiction. This is where the challenge changes from something harmless and potentially eye opening to something that perpetuates harmful false ideas.
The history behind No Nut November involves an anti-pornography movement, with certain groups genuinely believing that abstaining form masturbation and ejaculation was a way to combat addiction to pornography or sex. AASECT rejects the concept of sex addiction, understanding that it is a social phenomenon rather than a clinical or medical one. Dr. David Ley, clinical psychologist and a regular feature within the Sexual Health Alliance expands on the myth of sex addiction:
“The problem is that sex isn’t like a drug or alcohol. No one ever died from blue balls, but long-term alcoholics can die if you take away alcohol. At a deeper level, what got glossed over in the zeal to offer support in the form of sex addiction treatment to these individuals, was that their pain and fear was often coming from social and moral struggles with sex.”
No Nut November in some ways contributes to this moral panic we have around sex, pornography and masturbation. Not only does it demonize the act of masturbating and ejaculating, but gives false promise to those who abstain from masturbating for a long period of time. Youtuber Jordan Green discusses these “benefits” in a video (2020) titled The Truth About No Nut November, opening with the statement he has “no[t] fap[ped] for six months now.” The video includes examples from Jordan’s own experience, as well as notes from “his own research” (though he provides no actual proof of research he has done). Two minutes into the video, Jordan jumps to the claim that abstaining gives you “discipline” to help with your “addiction.” He says, “You know it’s just simple logic, when you curb an addiction you become more disciplined. The more addicted you are, the more pronounced this benefit is going to be” (yikes). Other nonexistent benefits Jordan claims himself and others have gained include: more confidence, motivation, being more attractive to women, and “bossing up” (I’m equally as lost about what this really means). Jordan further goes on to claim that anger is an effect from masturbation and sex abstinence, but that this can be used in a “positive way” to “feel all emotions” and “be more in tune with your emotions and learn to tame them.” Comments under this video and the 40+ other videos on a similar topic praise Jordan on being this generation's “savior” and that he will “help to heal us from our addiction.”
The videos that Jordan publishes only add to the moral panic around sex and masturbation, his videos villify the act of self pleasure under the claim it ruins your mental clarity. There is nothing wrong with masturbating, whether it's to help you sleep, relax, relieve some menstruation cramps and even beat boredom. In terms of frequency, it completely varies from individual to individual. What is a ‘normal’ amount for me, is completely different to my partner. Fellow SHA student Alyssa Morterud dives into the topic of frequency of masturbation, taking on words from Shawna Scott of Sex Siopa: “There is no right or wrong amount, so long as you have a healthy attitude towards it - you don’t feel shame about masturbating and it brings you joy.” No Nut November changes masturbation from something healthy and fun to something that brings shame and embarrassment. The shame No Nut November brings is further amplified by the suggestions of “punishments” for those who fail to abstain from orgasm. Punishment can range from being made to sit in your failure to being encouraged to participate in “Destroy Dick December, described by one Reddit users as: “everyday after you failed in November, you add a day to December, but you have to orgasm x amount of times according to the day.”
The spirit and comraderie of No Nut November could and should be channeled in healthier more productive ways: an opportunity to have more (healthy) discussions around sex and masturbation. It could also provide a chance to discuss harmful ideas perpetuated by mainstream pornography sites, and why we should make more effect to consume ethical pornography. Urologist Rena Malik addresses the claims around abstinence in No Nut November, concluding that “if you are going to try to participate, a much healthier option is actually to go ‘No Fap,’ to avoid pornography.” No Nut November could indeed provide a chance to find other sexual stimulus instead of relying on pornography, whether that’s indulging in an erotic novel, using the good old imagination, or giving audio based pornography a go! The shame around masturbation, pleasure and sex that No Nut November perpetuates must stop. Whilst some may view it as an internet challenge that’s easy to ignore, others who attempt to participate can be left in a state of emotional distress, and, perhaps worse, with the idea that masturbation and ejaculation is “bad” when it is fundamentally not.
By Stephanie McCartney