Funnily enough, most women do not look like Hollywood actresses or porn stars when they orgasm.
To prove the point, Lauren Crow photographs women masturbating as part of her ongoing project The Little Death.
"In a patriarchal society, women are flooded with information on how to be and how to look in order to please others, namely men. In terms of female pleasure, we are rarely shown what it really looks like," Crow says on her website.
"We are afraid to talk about it and when it is shown, it is from the male gaze in media such as pornographic films, which in general are made by men for men.
"These films, unless you truly understand their production and falsity, give people the wrong idea of what it really is to see a woman in a state of pleasure."
Crow hope these images will encourage women to be less self-conscious when it comes to climaxing alone, and with a partner. The honest portraits may not conform to pornography's idea of sexy, but we think they're all the more beautiful for it.
The Little Death By Lauren Crow
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Open Image Modal11 Tips For Masturbation
Hey, Everyone Is Doing It!(01 of11)
Open Image ModalLike Anything In Life, Do Your Research (02 of11)
Open Image ModalThink Moisture (03 of11)
Open Image ModalBring In A Literary Assist (04 of11)
Open Image ModalGo Beyond Penetration (05 of11)
Open Image ModalNinety per cent of women masturbate without penetration, according to research cited by Nagoski. "Popular culture has made it look like vaginal penetration is where it's at for pleasure,” Moen says, "but the majority of people with vulvas actually need direct clitoral stimulation to climax.” Focus your attention more widely than just penetration to increase your odds of a satisfying session. Also, try touching others parts of your body, like your breasts, nipples and thighs. (credit:Amy DiLorenzo via Getty Images)
Make A Habit Of Fantasizing (06 of11)
Open Image ModalIndulging in your own fantasies can make masturbation more enjoyable. "A lot of women can get bored of or frustrated by masturbation, especially if they don't yet know how to orgasm,” Marin says. "Fantasizing is a great way to help yourself stay in the mood, keep your mind from getting distracted, and give yourself enough time to reach orgasm." (credit:Brand New Images via Getty Images)
Take Your Time(07 of11)
Open Image Modal "It's not a race,” Moen says. “Give your vulva plenty of time to warm up and become turned on from your stimulation.” Everyone gets to climax at a different speed — don’t feel bad if yours is a bit more leisurely. (credit:ThomasVogel via Getty Images)
Remove Distractions(08 of11)
Open Image ModalIt can be hard to take time out for ourselves for anything, even a little self-love. Try to cut out the usual distractions, like turning off your phone ringer. “For women who tend to get distracted, sometimes I recommend trying to rate your level of pleasure on a 1-10 scale as you masturbate,” Marin suggests, "or to try comparing two different strokes to see which one you like better in that moment." (credit:Peter Dressel via Getty Images)
Play With New Toys(09 of11)
Open Image ModalBring In The Big Guns(10 of11)
Open Image ModalGet Some Outside Help (11 of11)
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