Masturbation For Women?

Hi, I’m 24 and I’ve got a few questions for both sexes.
First I’d like to know what, if any are the health benefits of masturbation, in women. I’ve been doing it since I was eight years old (I used it as a stress reliever as I was brought up with sexual, verbal, emotional and physical abuse) I’ve since changed quite a bit, I’ve grown into what most people in society would call normal, but I’ve continued my self pleasure because I find that it makes me happy and I can’t get that kind of pleasure though a sexual partner. So I’d like to know, if any, good this does for my body. I need to explain the reason I do it to my current partner who is skeptical that I “need” it.
Also while I’m here, I was wondering what men and women think of masturbation in their female partners? Is is a turn on, does it make you feel left out, or not good enough? I think its perfectly natural, but I’ve had someone tell me that its disrespectful to my partner, because it sends the signal that he’s not good enough in bed for me. Which in this case…he’s not. He just doesn’t take the time to get me off, so I compromise, I take care of my own orgasm and we don’t fight about sex. But I do feel like I need to hide it from him…do I?
Also is it bad to touch yourself in public…like public restrooms. I have extremely high libido, and I get excited very easily, also another issue in my current relationship, but rather than wait until I’m done shopping, or whatever I’m doing (innapropriate things like kids functions, friends homes, funerals, that stuff I will not, and I don’t even get the urge typically) I just go into a bathroom stall and take care of it discretely and go about my business. Again the same friend, aforementioned, stated that it was disrespectful and said that if someone heard me they would be really offended. I’m quiet, so would you be offended…you wouldn’t even know except that I tend to take more than five minutes?
I’m just trying to get this whole ettiquete thing down. Like I said, I grew up in severe disfunction and I was never taught the ins and out of these things. I just know that if I don’t do it, I get cranky and I don’t sleep very well, so I don’t plan on stopping, but I don’t want to over step my bounds and make someone else feel uncomfortable with my choices.