Part 4/6:
Victorian sexual norms were quite peculiar, governing even the positioning during intercourse. Only the missionary position was deemed acceptable, with some physicians suggesting slight tweaks like elevating the legs to avoid harm to the woman. Such absurdities point to a broader societal ignorance regarding female pleasure, which was either minimized or ignored entirely.
Masturbation, deemed sinful and wasteful, was strictly frowned upon within this era; women who engaged in self-pleasure risked being labeled as immoral. Furthermore, Victorian medical literature, such as Theresa O'Neal's "Sex, Marriage, and Manners," outlines the lack of genuine clinical understanding of sexuality during this time, offering instead troubling moralistic advice.