New Word for Female Masturbation Is Coming

Female masturbation is a hot-button topic in Sweden— so hot that a sexuality/reproductive rights nonprofit there is campaigning to have a word added to the dictionary that refers to a female's solo performance. It so happens there are several words in the Swedish language that refer to male masturbation, but none for the ladies, and the Swedish Association for Sexuality Education (RFSU) decided it was time for a change, the Local reports. "Historically, women's sexuality and not least female masturbation has been taboo," the organization says in a statement. "Women are not expected to have desires and be turned on in the same way as men, which is reflected in the lack of words [for masturbation]."

RFSU received about 200 unique suggestions, but it was "klittra" that emerged the victor. Other choices included "klinka," "flick," "pulla," "selfie," and "selfa," according to the Telegraph. The group hopes "klittra" will take off in public use and gain entry into the next edition of Sweden's official dictionary, which is due for an update in 2025, per the Washington Post. RFSU believes inserting a word for female masturbation into the country's vocabulary will remove some of the stigma surrounding female self-pleasure. "If we don't have a word in the language, how can we even talk about it?" RFSU President Kristina Ljungros asks. (The Vatican blasted a Yale nun for her sex book dishing on same-sex relationships, divorce, and female masturbation.)