This volume investigates the historical, literary, and artistic evolution of autoeroticism as a cultural construct. Editors Paula Bennett and Vernon A. Rosario II assemble a multidisciplinary collection of essays that examine how masturbation has been conceptualized, pathologized, and represented across various eras. By drawing on medical texts, literature, and visual arts, the authors argue that the discourse surrounding solitary sexual pleasure reveals shifting societal anxieties regarding autonomy, gender, and the body.

Scholars and historians frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of sexuality and cultural history. The prose maintains a high level of academic rigor, making it a standard reference for researchers in gender studies and the history of medicine.