Jump to content

Sex toy

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Sexual enhancement)

Collection of sex toys, Germany, 2005

A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate sexual pleasure, such as a dildo, artificial vagina or vibrator.[1] Many popular sex toys are designed to resemble human genitals, and may be vibrating or non-vibrating. The term sex toy can also include BDSM apparatus and sex furniture such as sex swings; however, it is not applied to items such as birth control, pornography, or condoms. Alternative terms for sex toy include adult toy and the dated euphemism marital aid. Marital aid also has a broader meaning and is applied to drugs and herbs marketed to enhance or prolong sex.

Sex toys are most commonly sold at sex shops or online, but they may also be sold in a pharmacy or chemist store, a pornographic store, a head shop, or a department store. Sex toys are available in almost all countries for males and females.

Types

Erotic electrostimulation

Main article: Erotic electrostimulation
A "tabooboo" sex toys vending machine, England, 2005

Another form of sex toys for both men and women are those for erotic electrostimulation. Erotic electrostimulation refers to the act of using electricity for sexual stimulation. By the mid-1970s, medical transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machines were widely available. The machines work by stimulating nerve endings with electricity, sending signals of stimulation to the brain. Electrostimulation works off this same principle, when the brain received a signal of stimulation from the genitals, pleasure hormones are released.

Erotic furniture

Main article: Erotic furniture

Erotic furniture is furniture specially shaped for comfort, penetration levels, and stimulation. Also known as sex furniture, it is a form of furniture that can act as an aid to sexual activity. While almost anything can be used for this purpose, with the most common form of furniture employed for sexual activity being the bed, couches and sofas[citation needed], these are not strictly erotic furniture, as their primary use is not erotic.

A spanking bench

Specifically designed furniture for erotic purposes can include:

General penetrative toys

A type of Ben Wa balls
Top: A strap-on dildo
Bottom: Illustration of anal bead use
  • Ben Wa balls are hollow metal balls inserted vaginally which can be worn inside the vagina for extended periods of time. The internal rolling is claimed to enhance orgasms.
  • A dildo is a non-vibrating device which is used for sexual stimulation of the vagina or anus. Dildos are generally made of silicone rubber, but can be made of other materials such as body safe metals such as titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, or glass. They are often made to resemble a penis, although some are C-shaped or S-shaped for G-spot or P-spot stimulation.
    • A double penetration dildo is a long, usually flexible dildo with both ends designed for penetration. It allows for mutual penetration between two persons (or for double penetration of a single female, both anally and vaginally).
    • A strap-on dildo is a dildo worn in a harness, used to penetrate another person.
  • A horseshoe is a non-vibrating sex toy, shaped similar to a horseshoe, which is put into the vagina and anus at the same time. It is made with softer plastics.
  • Kegel exerciser, also known as vaginal barbells, eggs, or jugglers, are designed to improve muscle tone in the pelvic floor, and can be used for sexual pleasure as well as enhancing vaginal response.
  • A sex machine is a motor-driven device that combines penetration with rotational or reciprocal movement, or both.[2]

Anal toys

Two butt plugs
  • Anal beads
  • Butt plugs are often shorter dildos intended for anal insertion. They tend to have a flared base to prevent the device from becoming sucked into the rectum.
  • Prostate massagers are devices designed to stimulate a prostate for health and pleasure.

Glass sex toys

Glass dildo

Glass sex toys are commonly made from clear medical grade borosilicate glass ("hard glass"). This particular type of safety toughened glass is non-toxic and will withstand extreme temperatures as well as physical shock without compromising its structural integrity.

The choice of this high-grade material provides safety in use and the option to heat or chill the toys. Borosilicate glass is also non-porous and can be sterilized to help prevent infection with reuse. As well as their practical qualities, a main selling point of glass sex toys is their visual appeal.

Some glass sex toys vibrate. There are two main ways this can be achieved. Either the toy may have a hole into which a small bullet vibrator can be inserted, or the core of the glass design can be modified to form a standard vibrator. The latter option usually has a plastic cap covering the battery compartment, which will also house any control buttons or switches.

Vibrators

Main article: Vibrator (sex toy)
Two vibrators in a sex shop
Vibrator for couples: love ring

Vibrators are electric motor-powered devices intended to stimulate the body by creating a pulsating or buzzing sensation. Vibrators come in a range of shapes and sizes, for internal or external use. Some vibrators intended for internal use are phallic in shape. Small vibrators may have a stretchy loop attachment for use as a finger toy or cock ring. Penetrative vibrators usually measure twelve to eighteen cm (five to seven inches) in length and two to five cm (one to two inches) wide often to mimic the size of the average human penis.[citation needed]

  • Anal vibrators are designed to be inserted into the rectum, which may stimulate the prostate in men. The safest ones have a flared base which remains outside the body, that prevents the toy from becoming irretrievable.
  • Bullet vibrators are small, bullet-shaped vibrators that can be used for direct stimulation or inserted into other sex toys to increase stimulation. Some are sold with stretchy loops for attachment as a finger toy or cock ring.
  • G-spot vibrators are curved at one end to facilitate stimulation of the female G-spot.
  • P-spot vibrators are curved at one end to facilitate stimulation of the male P-spot.
  • Luxury vibrators have an increased focus on design and the use of expensive materials that appeal to a more upscale fashion market.
  • The rabbit vibrator, of which there are several variations, is a popular female sex toy popularized by the television series Sex and the City.[3] It comprises an insertable shaft which often has additional functionality, such as rotation and internal beads or a thrusting action. Attached to the shaft is a vibrating clitoral stimulator. For most rabbit vibrators this comes in the form of "bunny ears" which sit each side of the clitoris.
  • Sybians are dual-area vibrators in the form of a clitoral stimulator and vaginal stimulator, designed to stimulate the two erogenous zones simultaneously and independently.

Nipple toys

  • Nipple clamps are clamps used to stimulate the nipples by applying varying degrees of pressure.
  • Suction devices are generally either rubber or glass.

Penile toys

A penis sleeve
  • Artificial vaginas, also known as "pocket pussies", "male masturbators", or "strokers",[4] are tubes made of soft material to simulate sexual intercourse. The material and often textured inner canal are designed to stimulate the penis and induce orgasm. The male masturbators come in many shapes and styles; they can be shaped like vulvas, anuses, mouths, or as non-descriptive holes. Some male masturbators are disposable and some can be washed and used repeatedly. Some are equipped with sex machine options that work similar to milking machines.[5]
  • A cock harness is a more elaborate harness designed to be worn around the penis and scrotum. Its function is similar to that of a cock ring. These devices are often associated with BDSM activities such as cock and ball torture. An Arab strap is one such form of harness, purported to be a device used for maintaining an erection.
  • Cock rings prolong male erection by holding blood inside the penis. A man may wear a cock ring to combat erectile difficulties, or for the sensation of tightness and engorgement that wearing one provides. Some models include a protruding clitoral stimulator, designed to stimulate the clitoris during sex. Others vibrate, either vibrating the ring itself, or in a popular 'Dolphin' variant by using two removable bullet vibrators to provide stimulation to both the testicles and clitoris. Some cock rings also have vibrators attached which can be worn to stimulate a partner during sexual intercourse, especially in the scrotum or perineum.[6] Yet other cock rings have arms that rub and apply pressure to the perineum of the wearer.[7]
    • A triple crown is a special cock ring that has additional rings for restraining the testicles. In orgasm, the testicles usually retract toward the body before ejaculation. A triple crown changes and intensifies the sensation of orgasm by forcing the testicles to stay away from the body.
  • A docking sleeve is a cylindrical device similar to a penis sleeve, but is open at both ends, so that two men can dock.
  • An FTM stroker is a pocket-pussy-style toy designed "for [the] t-cock/enlarged clitoris" of a transgender man on hormone replacement therapy. In 2016, Buck Angel released the first such device, the Buck-Off.[8]
  • A penis extension is a partially hollow device like a very short dildo, with the hollow end placed on the end of the penis, intended to increase the effective length of the penis, again for the benefit of the person being penetrated. These are generally worn with condoms to prevent them from falling off during use.
  • A penis sleeve is a cylindrical device that is placed on the shaft of the penis, with the aim of increasing stimulation for the person being penetrated. They often have soft bumps intended to provide further stimulation.
  • Urethral sounds are rods, known after the nautical "sounding rods" that measure water depth, — usually silicone or metal, often with a ball at one end — inserted into the urethra for sexual stimulation.[9] There are sounding rods for women, but they are used far less.

Vulvar toys

  • Vibrator wands, such as the Hitachi Magic Wand, are large vibrators that generally plug into an electrical outlet (versus operating on battery power) and are often marketed as back massagers.[10] They are able to produce far more powerful vibration than most battery-powered vibrators.[10] Various attachments made of silicone or a rubber material allow the toy to be used penetratively, or give the toy more interesting texture.[10][11]
  • Clitoral vibrators are designed to stimulate the clitoris by direct contact.[12]
  • The Womanizer is a clitoral stimulator that uses air vibrations and suction.[13][14]
  • Clitoral clamps are used to stimulate the clitoris by applying pressure and restricting blood flow.[15]
  • Pussy pumps and clitoral pumps are used to sensitize the genital area prior to masturbation or sex with a partner.[16]
  • Clitoral suction toys consist mainly of a small tunnel that when placed around the clitoris and powered on, creates a feeling of suction.[17]

History

Dildos

A strap-on dildo being used by two women. Lithograph from De Figuris Veneris (1906) by Édouard-Henri Avril

Dildos in one form or another have existed widely in history. Artifacts from the Upper Paleolithic of a type called bâton de commandement have been speculated to have been used for sexual purposes.[18] Few archaeologists consider these items as sex toys, but archaeologist Timothy Taylor put it, "Looking at the size, shape, and—some cases—explicit symbolism of the ice age batons, it seems disingenuous to avoid the most obvious and straightforward interpretation. But it has been avoided."[19][20]

The first dildos were made of stone, tar, wood, bone, ivory, limestone, teeth,[21] and other materials that could be shaped as penises and that were firm enough to be used as penetrative sex toys. Scientists believe that a 20-centimeter siltstone phallus from the Upper Palaeolithic period 30,000 years ago, found in Hohle Fels Cave near Ulm, Germany, may have been used as a dildo.[22] Prehistoric double-headed dildos have been found which date anywhere from 13 to 19,000 years ago. Various paintings from ancient Egypt around 3000 BCE feature dildos being used in a variety of ways. In medieval times, a plant called the "cantonese groin" was soaked in hot water to enlarge and harden for women to use as dildos.[21] Dildo-like breadsticks, known as olisbokollikes (sing. olisbokollix),[23] were known in Ancient Greece prior to the 5th century BC.[24] In Italy during the 1400s, dildos were made of leather, wood, or stone.[25] Chinese women in the 15th century used dildos made of lacquered wood with textured surfaces, and were sometimes buried with them.[21] Nashe's early-1590s work The Choise of Valentines mentions a dildo made from glass.[26] Dildos also appeared in 17th and 18th century Japan, in shunga. In these erotic novels, women are shown enthusiastically buying dildos, some made out of water buffalo horns.[21]

Dildos were not just used for sexual pleasure. Examples from the Eurasia Ice Age (40,000-10,000 BCE) and Roman era are speculated to have been used for defloration rituals.[21]

Many references to dildos exist in the historical and ethnographic literature. Haberlandt,[27] for example, illustrates single and double-ended wooden dildos from late 19th century Zanzibar. With the invention of modern materials, making dildos of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures became more practical.[28]

Ancient Greece

A woman with a dildo. Red figure amphora attributed to the Flying-Angel Painter c. 490 BC; City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts

Greek dildos were often made out of leather stuffed with wool in order to give it varying degrees of thickness and firmness. They were often lubricated with olive oil, and used for sexual practice and other activities. The Greeks were also one of the first groups to use the term "toy" in reference to a dildo.[21] Dildos may be seen in some examples of ancient Greek vase art. Some pieces show their use in group sex or in solitary female masturbation.[29] One vessel, of about the sixth century BCE, depicts a scene in which a woman bends over to perform oral sex on a man, while another man is about to thrust a dildo into her anus.[30]

Page DuBois, a classicist and feminist theorist, suggests that dildos were present in Greek art because the ancient Greek male imagination found it difficult to conceive of sex taking place without penetration. Therefore, female masturbation or sex between women required an artificial phallus to be used.[29]

Vibrators

Electromechanical vibrators were first invented by Joseph Mortimer Granville in the late 1880s. Its intended use was to treat muscle pains in men, not a sexual device.[31]

Several theories have been proposed to explain how the technology grew to also have sexual uses. Rachel Maines' claims in The Technology of Orgasm[32] about physicians using vibrators to cure hysteria through inducing an orgasm (referred to at the time as a 'paroxysm') have been widely cited in academic documents and the media as the origins of vibrators' sexual origins. However, these claims lack valid evidence.[33]

Hallie Lieberman's more plausible historical account is that American vibrator companies started targeting household appliance and electrotherapeutic device markets in the early 1900s. It was advertised overtly as a tool to relax, assist with labor in the home, and a general medical cure-all, but coded language and imagery hinted at its potential sexual uses as well.[31]

The packaging box for the Hitachi Magic Wand vibrator.
Old packaging box for the Hitachi Magic Wand, later rebranded as the Magic Wand Original.

In the late 1960s, sex-positive second-wave feminist Betty Dodson organized group mastrubation workshops in New York City, encouraging women to become more independent sexually. In these sessions, Dodson encouraged the use of the Hitachi Magic Wand, a wand vibrator intended for muscle pain relief.[34] This culturally rebranded the product as a sex toy, although Hitachi would not market it for its sexual uses. Although Hitachi briefly ceased manufacturing of the product in 2013 due to concerns of being associated to a popular sex toy, they later decided to continue manufacturing it under as the "Original Magic Wand" under the sex toy distribution company Vibratex.[35]

In literature

Dildos are mentioned several times in Aristophanes' comedy of 411 BCE, Lysistrata.

LYSISTRATA
And so, girls, when fucking time comes […] not the faintest whiff of it anywhere, right? From the time those Milesians betrayed us, we can't even find our eight-fingered leather dildos. At least they'd serve as a sort of flesh-replacement for our poor cunts […] So, then! Would you like me to find some mechanism by which we could end this war?[36]

Herodas' short comic play, Mime VI, written in the 3rd century BCE, is about a woman called Metro, anxious to discover from a friend where she recently acquired a dildo.

METRO
I beg you, don't lie,
dear Corrioto: who was the man who stitched for you this bright red dildo?[37]

She eventually discovers the maker to be a man called Kerdon, who hides his trade by the front of being a cobbler, and leaves to seek him out. Metro and Kerdon are main characters in the next play in the sequence, Mime VII, when she visits his shop.

Talmud

The Talmud's Avodah Zarah Tractate records the interpretation which Rav Yosef bar Hiyya gave to the Biblical reference of King Asa of Judah having "deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as Queen Mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley" ( Kings 15:13, 2 Chronicles 15:16). According to Rav Yosef, Maakah had installed "the likeness of a male organ" on her Asherah image "and she would engage in sexual activity with it daily".[38]

Early modern period

In the early 1590s, the English playwright Thomas Nashe wrote a poem known as The Choise of Valentines, Nashe's Dildo or The Merrie Ballad of Nashe his Dildo. This was not printed at the time, due to its obscenity[39] but it was still widely circulated and made Nashe's name notorious.[26] The poem describes a visit to a brothel by a man called "Tomalin"; he is searching for his sweetheart, Francis, who has become a prostitute. The only way he can see her is to hire her. However, she resorts to using a glass dildo as he finds himself unable to perform sexually to her satisfaction.[40]

Dildos are humorously mentioned in Act IV, scene iv of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. This play and Ben Jonson's play The Alchemist (1610) are typically cited as the first use of the word in publication (Nashe's Merrie Ballad was not published until 1899).[39]

In 1673, the parliament of the United-Kingdom refused the marriage between the presumed heir of the throne, James of York, and the Catholic Maria d'Este of Modena. The same year, John Wilmot, the seventeenth-century English libertine, published the poem Signor Dildo parodying the situation, stating the coming of Maria d'Este would provoke a great import of dildoes; the poem among other things states:[41][42]

You ladies all of merry England
Who have been to kiss the Duchess's hand,
Pray, did you not lately observe in the show
A noble Italian called Signor Dildo?

This ballad was subsequently added to by other authors, and became so popular that Signor became a term for a dildo.[43] In the epilogue to The Mistaken Husband (1674), by John Dryden, an actress complains:

To act with young boys is loving without men.
What will not poor forsaken women try?
When man's not near, the Signior must supply.[43]

Many other works of bawdy and satirical English literature of the period deal with the subject. Dildoides: A Burlesque Poem (London, 1706), attributed to Samuel Butler, is a mock lament to a collection of dildos that had been seized and publicly burnt by the authorities. Examples of anonymous works include The Bauble, a tale (London, 1721) and Monsieur Thing's Origin: or Seignor D---o's Adventures in London (London, 1722).[44] In 1746, Henry Fielding wrote The Female Husband: or the surprising history of Mrs Mary, alias Mr. George Hamilton, in which a woman posing as a man uses a dildo. This was a fictionalized account of the story of Mary Hamilton.[45]

Dildos are obliquely referred to in Saul Bellow's novel The Adventures of Augie March (1953): "he had brought me along to a bachelor's stag where two naked acrobatic girls did stunts with false tools".[46] A dildo called Steely Dan III from Yokohama appears in the William S. Burroughs novel The Naked Lunch (1959).[47][48] The rock band Steely Dan took their name from it.

Health, safety, and privacy concerns

Standards set for sex toys are set in ISO 3533:2021. The sex toys are sold as novelty items so they do not need to adhere to certain regulations such as reporting the chemicals and materials used in a product. Due to this status, manufacturers are not responsible if their toys are used for any other purpose than being a novelty.[49] Regulations such as REACH[50] do exist, and some sex toys may be compliant to this though, despite that there is no obligation for manufacturers on attaining compliance. A 2006 study conducted by the Greenpeace Netherlands office found high level of phthalates in seven out of eight plastic sex toys tested.[51] Phthalates are chemical plasticizers that are added as softeners, to create the malleable and soft effect that many look for in sex toys.[52]

Sex toys are classified as novelties in the United States because the Food and Drug Administration has extensive testing and financial requirements in order for sex toys to be classified as medical devices. Therefore, sex toy manufacturers more often choose less complex production by labeling them a novelty, where their listed ingredients do not have to be accurate in chemical composition or percentage of ingredients. Due to the novelty classification, sex toys may contain toxins such as phthalates, which have been banned in children's toys by the CPSC.[52][53]

Before using a sex toy, owners should take precautions. One should check for tears, rough seams or cracks that could harm the inside of the vagina or anus. Condoms should also be used on porous sex toys and sex toys that are being shared between two or more partners. They should also use appropriate lubricants; silicone lube will break down silicone toys, and oil-based lubes will break down latex condoms.[54]

With the rise of smart sex toys, so did concerns surrounding unwanted tracking or hacking that could occur due to database and API issues.[55] In 2016, the security software company Trend Micro demonstrated that some Internet-connected electronic sex toys are vulnerable to cyberattacks,[56] thus creating the field of onion dildonics.[55] The ethical, legal, and privacy concerns are an area of active research by Sarah Jamie Lewis, amongst others. She warns that sex toys are just as vulnerable to malware as any other device, so manufacturers and companies should be more transparent about their data collection policies in order to protect users.[57]

Care

Cleaning sex toys is also very important for sexual health and sex toy safety. Cleaning them will avoid the potential of bacterial infection, transmission of STIs (if shared), or pregnancy (if sperm is present on the toy). Porous sex toys (ridged, flexible, soft and squishy) are difficult to clean and can hide bacteria that multiply and harm the human body. Non-porous toys are easier to clean, making them less potentially harmful.[52] When cleaning sex toys, always use warm water and unscented anti-bacterial soap.[54]

Anal toys (butt plugs, small dildos, etc.)
  • When used in the anus, sex toys can easily get lost as rectal muscles contract and can suck an object upward, potentially obstructing the colon; to prevent this serious problem, it is recommended that individuals use sex toys with a flared base or a string.[58]
Non-porous toys[54]
  • Hard plastic toys: do not boil the toy, and wash with soap and water.
  • Silicone toys: put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher, boil for 5–10 minutes, or wash with water and soap.
  • Stainless steel toys: boil or soak them in 1:10 bleach-water solution for ten minutes, put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher, or use soap and water (if there are electrical components to the toy).
Porous toys[54]
  • Cyberskin and vinyl toys: clean with warm water, air dry, and sprinkle it with a small amount of cornstarch (to keep them dry and not sticky).
  • Nylon toys: put it in the top rack of the dishwasher or wash with soap and water.
  • Rubber toys: cannot be properly cleaned because bacteria is absorbed into the material, so it is recommended to always use a condom.

India

Sex toys are illegal in India.[59] Selling sex toys is a punishable offense under section 292 of the Indian penal code, as sex toys are considered an "obscene" product. Besides sex toys, any book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure or any other object, is also considered obscene by section 292 if it is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest.[60] The punishment for the offense is up to two years in prison.[61][62]

Japan

In Japan, many dildos are created to resemble animals or cartoon characters, such as Hello Kitty, rabbits or dolphins, so that they may be sold as toys, thus avoiding obscenity laws.[citation needed]

Malaysia

In Malaysia, the sale and importation of sex toys is illegal.[63]

South Africa

Section 18A of the Sexual Offenses Act, 1957, inserted by the Immorality Amendment Act, 1969, prohibited the manufacture or sale of any item "intended to be used to perform an unnatural sexual act". The term "unnatural sexual act" referred to any sex other than vaginal heterosexual sex, and this prohibition was ostensibly aimed at preventing the use of dildos by lesbians.[64] No longer enforced, the section was repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007.[65]

United States

See also: Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act and Texas obscenity statute

Sex toys and lubricants have become increasingly available in major commercial outlets in the United States. On-shelf displays tend to be more discreet than the offerings on web sites. These items tend to be displayed in the "sexual health" sections of stores.[66]

Until recently, many Southern and some Great Plains states banned the sale of sex toys completely, either directly or through laws regulating "obscene devices".[67] In 1999, William H. Pryor, Jr., an assistant attorney general in Alabama commenting on a case involving sex toys and discussing to what end the devices are used, was quoted as saying there is no "fundamental right for a person to buy a device to produce orgasm". A federal appeals court upheld Alabama's law prohibiting the sale of sex toys on Valentine's Day, 2007.[68]

In February 2008, a federal appeals court overturned a Texas statute banning the sales of sex toys, deeming such a statute as violating the Constitution's 14th Amendment on the right to privacy.[69] The appeals court cited Lawrence v. Texas, where the U.S. Supreme Court in 2003 struck down bans on consensual sex between gay couples, as unconstitutionally aiming at "enforcing a public moral code by restricting private intimate conduct". Similar statutes have been struck down in Kansas and Colorado.

Marty Klein, author of America's War on Sex and an advocate for the moral value of sex toys, has described the sex toy bans as a form of erotophobia and genophobia, claiming the "extraordinary erosion of personal liberty, coupled with the massive disrespect of and fear of sexuality is no joke" and that the "Supreme Court [of the United States] has declared our orgasms a battlefield, and sex toys another casualty."[70]

Zimbabwe

A portion of the "censorship and entertainments control" law in Zimbabwe illegalizes the possession and importation of sex toys, because they are considered "obscene" or "indecent", and harmful to public morals.[71] Being in possession of a sex toy or other prohibited and indecent material can result in a fine (maximum level 6 or $300 USD[72]) and/or imprisonment not exceeding one year. [73]

Industry

As of 2023, the sex toy industry is estimated to be valued at $35.2 billion worldwide. By 2030, the predicted value of this industry may rise to $62.7 billion.[31] Seventy percent of sex toys are manufactured in China.[74][75][76] Sex toys are sold in various types of local and online sex shops,[77] at conventions associated with the adult industry,[78][79] and at parties. However, some items, such as "hand-held massagers", are sold in mainstream retail outlets such as drugstores.[78] The rise of online shopping/retailers contributed to the rapid growth of the sex toy industry, making them easy and discreet to buy. After COVID-19 lockdowns, sex toy sales increased by 60%.[31]

Research

Sex toys have been the subject of scientific research in different disciplines (e.g., medicine, clinical psychology, sexology, queer studies) for decades.[82] However, in comparison to other sexual aids such as pornography they are regarded as relatively under-researched.[83]

Prevalence and types of sex toy use

Some questionnaire and interview studies on the prevalence of sex toy use are available. They show that people of all genders and all sexual identities use sex toys during solo sex (masturbation) and - somewhat less frequently - during partner sex. In various countries (e.g., Australia, China, Germany, USA) sex toys are normalized according to empirical studies, i.e. they are already used by large sections of the population, sometimes by the majority of the population.[84][85][86][87]

The Internet has made an important contribution to the popularization of sex toys, since information searches about and the purchase of sex toys can now be carried out discreetly online.[88][89][90]

Studies demonstrate that sex toy uses are very diverse. For example, many women do not insert vibrators, but use them externally for direct clitoral stimulation, either during masturbation or during intercourse.[91] Homosexual identified men, on the other hand, report much more frequently that they use vibrators for anal insertion.[87]

Positive and negative effects of sex toy use

The meanings and implications of sex toys are controversially discussed in academia. Many authors endorse them for fostering sexual empowerment, while some criticize sex toys for pushing the commercialization of sex.[92]

Most empirical studies show that people of all genders and sexual identities experience the use of sex toys predominantly positively. In questionnaires and interviews, they report an increase in sexual arousal and satisfaction, the facilitation of orgasms (especially for women), the exploration of new preferences, a playful approach to sex and the fun of something new during sex.[91][93] There are decidedly feminist or women-oriented sex toy stores and sex toy party organizations that link the sale of sex toys with sexual education and aim to support women's sexual empowerment.[94][95][96] Further positive effects are reported from clinical settings: Sex toys are used therapeutically, for example, in the context of therapy for orgasm disorders.[97] They can also enable people with disabilities to have more sexual self-determination.[98]

Some empirical research has demonstrated negative effects of sex toy use such as sexually transmitted infections (when sex toys are shared without proper cleaning or without barrier methods such as condoms), injuries (e.g., from anal insertion of toys unsuitable for anal use), or allergies.[99] Some women also report that they are urged by their partners to use sex toys even though they do not want to. The literature also discusses whether sex toys contribute to performance pressure.[100]

See also

References

  1. ^ Döring, Nicola (2020). "Sex Toys". Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. pp. 1–10. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_62-1. ISBN 978-3-319-59531-3.
  2. ^ Leung, Isaac (2009). "The Cultural Production of Sex Machines and the Contemporary Technosexual Practices". In Grenzfurthner, J. et al., eds. Do androids sleep with electric sheep? Critical perspectives on sexuality and pornography in science and social fiction. RE/SEARCH, ISBN 978-1-889307-23-7
  3. ^ "Sex and The City Episode Guide". HBO.com. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  4. ^ Drillinger, Meagan (2018-06-21). "The 10 Best Sex Toys for Men, Because Sometimes Your Hand Just Gets Tired". Men's Health. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  5. ^ Browne, Ray Broadus (1982). Objects of special devotion: fetishism in popular culture. Popular Press. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-87972-191-6.
  6. ^ "Extreme Sex Toys, Bondage, & Fucking Machines | ExtremeRestraints". eXtreme Restraints.
  7. ^ Fischer, Albert G (1994). "United States Patent 5,439,007 "Suspensory"". Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  8. ^ MacMillen, Hayley (2016-10-03). "Introducing the First Sex Toy for Trans Men". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  9. ^ "Would you push a rod down your penis for sexual pleasure?". Metro. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  10. ^ a b c Trout, Christopher (28 August 2014). "The 46-year-old sex toy Hitachi won't talk about". Engadget. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  11. ^ "News & Commentary". Valley Advocate. Easthampton, Massachusetts: Accessed via NewsBank. 4 November 2010. The Hitachi Magic Wand, with a reputation for releasing even the most stubborn orgasm, brings a powerful buzz to all the right places (instead of uncomfortably rattling the handle). Separately sold removable silicone tops add extra texture or penetration options
  12. ^ Knapp, Mary Frances (31 March 2022). "A Guide to Every Kind of Sex Toy". Vice.
  13. ^ Neville, Lucy (2020-12-29). ""I've made literally all of my friends buy it." Mamamia reviews 'The Womanizer' sex toy". Mamamia. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  14. ^ Reid, Rebecca (2020-10-29). "We put Lily Allen's new sex toy to the test". The Independent. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
  15. ^ Sullivan, Corinne (9 December 2021). "9 Clit Clamps Guaranteed to Take Orgasms to the Next Damn Level". Cosmopolitan.
  16. ^ Wallace, Megan (8 February 2022). "Everything you need to know about pussy pumps". Cosmopolitan.
  17. ^ Sloan, Kate (2022-09-19). "The Best Suction Sex Toys Go Beyond the Vibrator". Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  18. ^ Marshack, A. 1972 The Roots of Civilization McGraw-Hill New York: 333
  19. ^ Taylor, T. 1996. The Prehistory of Sex. New York: Bantam. p. 128.
  20. ^ Paul L. Vasey, Intimate Sexual Relations in Prehistory: Lessons from the Japanese Macaques. World Archaeology, Vol. 29, No. 3, Intimate Relations (Feb., 1998), pp. 407-425
  21. ^ a b c d e f Lieberman, Hallie (2017). Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy. Pegasus Books. ISBN 978-1-68177-543-2.
  22. ^ Amos, Jonathan (2005-07-25). "Ancient phallus unearthed in cave". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  23. ^ ὀλισβοκόλλιξ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
  24. ^ Belardes, Nick (2009). Random obsessions : trivia you can't live without. San Francisco: Viva Editions. p. 97. ISBN 978-1573443609.
  25. ^ "The History Of Female Sex Toys: From Early Dildos To Rampant Rabbits". Huffington Post UK. 10 February 2014.
  26. ^ a b Haynes, Alan (1997). Sex in Elizabethan England. Sutton Publishing. p. 140. ISBN 0750910712.
  27. ^ Haberlandt, M. 1899. "Conträre Sexual-Erscheinungen bei der Neger-Bevölkerung Zanzibars", Zeitschrift für Ethnologie, 31: 668–670
  28. ^ "More Historical Facts on Sex Toys" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  29. ^ a b duBois, Paige (2003). Slaves and other objects. University of Chicago Press. p. 85. ISBN 0-226-16787-9.
  30. ^ Boardman, John (1975). Athenian Red Figure Vases: the Archaic Period. Thames & Hudson. p. 85. ISBN 0-500-20143-9.
  31. ^ a b c d Lieberman, Hallie (2016). "Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America". Enterprise & Society. 17 (2): 393–433. ISSN 1467-2227. Cite error: The named reference ":3" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  32. ^ Maines, Rachel (June 2000). "The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction". Journal of American History. 87 (1): 244.
  33. ^ Lieberman, Hallie (August 2018). "A Failure of Academic Quality Control: The Technology of Orgasm" (PDF). Journal of Positive Sexuality. 4 (2): 25.
  34. ^ Sutton, Emily (2024-01-01). "Pedagogy, Politics, and Betty Dodson's Liberating Masturbation". Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society. 49 (2): 311–331. doi:10.1086/727205. ISSN 0097-9740.
  35. ^ "The new Star Wars: Skeleton Crew trailer is heavy on Spielberg vibes". Engadget. 2024-11-01. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  36. ^ "Aristophanes' Lysistrata, Translated by George Theodoridis". 2000. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  37. ^ Johnson, Marguerite; Ryan, Terry (2005). Sexuality in Greek and Roman society and literature. Routledge. p. 176. ISBN 0-674-01379-4.
  38. ^ "Avodah Zarah 44a:5". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  39. ^ a b Coulthart, John (Feb 14, 2011). "The Choise of Valentines, Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo". www.johncoulthart.com. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  40. ^ Linnane, Fergus (2005). Madams - Bawds & Brothel-Keepers of London. The History Press Ltd. p. 16. ISBN 0-7509-3306-2.
  41. ^ "Rochester, "Signor Dildo"". andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch. 2003-10-15. Archived from the original on 15 October 2003. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  42. ^ Pritchard, R. E. (2012-04-26). "IV. Ambiguous Love". Passion For Living: John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester. ISD LLC. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7188-4066-2.
  43. ^ a b Wilson, John (1976). Court satires of the Restorationd. Ohio State University Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-8142-0249-4.
  44. ^ Wagner (1987), p.53
  45. ^ Wagner (1987), p.54
  46. ^ Bellow, Saul The Adventures of Augie March New York: Penguin, 1953, 2001 . p. 252
  47. ^ "The Return of Steely Dan". Mojo Magazine. October 1995. Retrieved December 15, 2006.
  48. ^ "Official Steely Dan FAQ". Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  49. ^ "The Safety Dance: Sex Toy Safety for a New Generation". www.kinseyconfidential.org. 12 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  50. ^ "REACH - ECHA". Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  51. ^ Bad vibrations? We expose an EU sex scandal Archived 2008-05-14 at the Wayback Machine Posted by bex (8 September 2006)Greenpeace UK
  52. ^ a b c "The Safety Dance: Sex Toy Safety for a New Generation - Kinsey Confidential". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  53. ^ "Phthalates". www.cpsc.gov. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  54. ^ a b c d "Sex Toys". Brown University. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  55. ^ a b Burgess, Matt (2018-02-03). "Smart dildos and vibrators keep getting hacked – but Tor could be the answer to safer connected sex". Wired UK. Retrieved 2018-02-09. Connected sex toys are gathering huge amounts of data about our most intimate moments. Problem is, they're always getting hacked. Welcome to the emerging field of Onion Dildonics.
  56. ^ Caroline Copley (15 March 2016). "Your Sex Toys Could Be Vulnerable To Cyberattack". Huffington Post. Hanover, Germany. Reuters.
  57. ^ Cooper, Daniel (2017-05-24). "The law isn't ready for the internet of sexual assault". Engadget. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  58. ^ "Good Vibrations: U.S. Consumer Web Site Aims to Enhance Sex Toy Safety". Scientific American. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  59. ^ Singh, Jyotsna (20 June 2007). India rattled by vibrating condom. BBC News
  60. ^ Rati Chaudhary (1 July 2007). "Big market for sex toys despite ban". The Times of India.
  61. ^ Staff report (February 2, 2011). Sex toys recovered from shop in Rajkot. Times of India
  62. ^ "Who buys the most number of sex toys in India? Punjabi women". IndiaToday. August 10, 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  63. ^ Chin, Christina (28 July 2013). "Shop online but don't break the law". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  64. ^ Botha, Kevan; Cameron, Edwin (1997). "South Africa". In West, Donald J.; Green, Richard (eds.). Sociolegal Control of Homosexuality: A Multi-Nation Comparison. New York: Plenum Press. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-0-306-45532-2.
  65. ^ "Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007 | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  66. ^ "Sex Aids on Retail Shelves". Newsweek. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  67. ^ "Lingere Store Accused of Violating State Obscenity Laws". KBCD.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-04. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  68. ^ Rawls, Phillip. Court leaves Ala. sex toy ban intact, USA Today, Oct 1, 2007
  69. ^ "Appeals court overturns Texas ban on sex toys". NBC News. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-14.
  70. ^ Holthouse, David. "Alabama vs. Dildos: Attorney General Troy King stands hard against stimulators". Dame Magazine. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  71. ^ "A law that bans sex toys as obscene and morally harmful is being challenged by women in Zimbabwe". AP News. June 25, 2023.
  72. ^ "Zimbabwe Revenue Authority". www.zimra.co.zw. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  73. ^ Censorship and Entertainments Control Act. 2016-12-31.
  74. ^ Sethi, Atul (2008-11-26). "Palika a haven for adult toys". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  75. ^ "China Manufacturing". The China Perspective. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  76. ^ Gordon, Claire (March 14, 2012). "How To Make $39,000 By Testing Sex Toys At Home". AOL.com Jobs.
  77. ^ Amanda Hess (January 16, 2013). "Vibrator of the Future". Slate.
  78. ^ a b Amanda Hess (January 16, 2013). "Vibrator of the Future". Slate.
  79. ^ "Sex Toys Of The Future, According To The Adult Entertainment Expo (NSFW)". Huffington Post. January 20, 2014.
  80. ^ "Dave Levine & Shauna Raisch: Book releases and hot-headed clients!". BravoTV.com. March 19, 2009.
  81. ^ Naughty But Nice Rob (January 5, 2012). "Kandi Burruss Launches Sex Toy Line 'Bedroom Kandi'". Huffington Post.
  82. ^ Lieberman, Hallie (2017). Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy (1 ed.). New York: Pegasus Books. ISBN 978-1-68177-543-2. OCLC 975366290.
  83. ^ Döring, Nicola; Pöschl, Sandra (2018). "Sex toys, sex dolls, sex robots: Our under-researched bed-fellows". Sexologies. 27 (3): e51–e55. doi:10.1016/j.sexol.2018.05.009. ISSN 1158-1360. S2CID 150027875.
  84. ^ Döring, Nicola; Poeschl, Sandra (2020). "Experiences with diverse sex toys among German heterosexual adults: Findings from a national online survey". The Journal of Sex Research. 57 (7): 885–896. doi:10.1080/00224499.2019.1578329. ISSN 0022-4499. PMID 30806076. S2CID 73471746.
  85. ^ Herbenick, Debra; Reece, Michael; Sanders, Stephanie A.; Dodge, Brian; Ghassemi, Annahita; Fortenberry, J. Dennis (2010). "Women's vibrator use in sexual partnerships: Results from a nationally representative survey in the United States". Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 36 (1): 49–65. doi:10.1080/00926230903375677. ISSN 0092-623X. PMID 20063237. S2CID 40761684.
  86. ^ Jing, Shen; Lay, Alixe; Weis, Laura; Furnham, Adrian (2018). "Attitudes toward, and use of, vibrators in China". Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 44 (1): 102–109. doi:10.1080/0092623X.2017.1321600. ISSN 0092-623X. PMID 28430028. S2CID 38421982.
  87. ^ a b Rosenberger, Joshua G.; Schick, Vanessa; Herbenick, Debby; Novak, David S.; Reece, Michael (2012). "Sex toy use by gay and bisexual men in the United States". Archives of Sexual Behavior. 41 (2): 449–458. doi:10.1007/s10508-010-9716-y. ISSN 1573-2800. PMID 21203811. S2CID 24991850.
  88. ^ Daneback, Kristian; Mansson, Sven-Axel; Ross, Michael W. (2011). "Online sex shops: purchasing sexual merchandise on the Internet". International Journal of Sexual Health. 23 (2): 102–110. doi:10.1080/19317611.2011.565112. ISSN 1931-7611. S2CID 143720140.
  89. ^ Döring, Nicola (2009). "The Internet's impact on sexuality: A critical review of 15 years of research". Computers in Human Behavior. 25 (5): 1089–1101. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2009.04.003. ISSN 0747-5632.
  90. ^ Fisher, William A.; Barak, Azy (2000). "Online sex shops: Phenomenological, psychological, and ideological perspectives on Internet sexuality". CyberPsychology & Behavior. 3 (4): 575–589. doi:10.1089/109493100420188. ISSN 1094-9313.
  91. ^ a b Fahs, Breanne; Swank, Eric (2013). "Adventures with the "Plastic Man": Sex toys, compulsory heterosexuality, and the politics of women's sexual pleasure". Sexuality & Culture. 17 (4): 666–685. doi:10.1007/s12119-013-9167-4. ISSN 1936-4822. S2CID 144190614.
  92. ^ Döring, Nicola (2021). "Sex Toys". In Lykins, Amy (ed.). Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender (Living ed.). New York: Springer. pp. 1–10. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_62-1. ISBN 978-3-319-59531-3. OCLC 1109843175. S2CID 243724996.
  93. ^ Waskul, Dennis; Anklan, Michelle (2019). "'Best invention, second to the dishwasher': Vibrators and sexual pleasure". Sexualities. 23 (5–6): 849–875. doi:10.1177/1363460719861836. S2CID 197696589.
  94. ^ Comella, Lynn (2017). Vibrator nation: how feminist sex-toy stores changed the business of pleasure. Durham: Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-6854-0. OCLC 963793523.
  95. ^ Herbenick, Debra; Reece, Michael; Hollub, Ariane (2009). "Inside the ordering room: characteristics of women's in-home sex toy parties, facilitators and sexual communication". Sexual Health. 6 (4): 318–327. doi:10.1071/SH08086. ISSN 1449-8987. PMID 19917201.
  96. ^ Huff, April (2018). "Liberation and pleasure: Feminist sex shops and the politics of consumption". Women's Studies. 47 (4): 427–446. doi:10.1080/00497878.2018.1454923. ISSN 0049-7878. S2CID 149662437.
  97. ^ Laan, Ellen; Rellini, Alessandra H.; Barnes, Tricia (2013). "Standard operating procedures for female orgasmic disorder: Consensus of the International society for sexual medicine". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 10 (1): 74–82. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02880.x. ISSN 1743-6095. PMID 22970851.
  98. ^ Morales, Ernesto; Gauthier, Véronique; Edwards, Geoffrey; Courtois, Frédérique; Lamontagne, Alicia; Guérette, Antoine (2018). "Co-designing sex toys for adults with motor disabilities". Sexuality and Disability. 36 (1): 47–68. doi:10.1007/s11195-017-9506-8. ISSN 1573-6717. S2CID 149352882.
  99. ^ Dahlberg, Martin; Nordberg, Martin; Pieniowski, Emil; Boström, Lennart; Sandblom, Gabriel; Hallqvist-Everhov, Åsa (2019). "Retained sex toys: an increasing and possibly preventable medical condition". International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 34 (1): 181–183. doi:10.1007/s00384-018-3125-4. ISSN 1432-1262. PMC 6318238. PMID 30030606.
  100. ^ Frith, Hannah (2015). Orgasmic bodies: the orgasm in contemporary Western culture (1 ed.). Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-30437-7. OCLC 911265756.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sex toys.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sex_toy&oldid=1258507268"