![Sexy Three](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Sexy_Three.jpg)
A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate
human sexual pleasure, such as a
dildo,
artificial vagina or
vibrator. 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
Erotic furniture, also known as sex furniture, is any form of furniture that is designed to act as an aid to sexual activity. Some examples function as a positioning tool, assisting with comfort, penetration level and stimulation. Others are con ...
such as
slings; however, it is not applied to items such as
birth control
Birth control, also known as contraception, anticonception, and fertility control, is the use of methods or devices to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Birth control has been used since ancient times, but effective and safe methods of birth contr ...
,
pornography
Pornography (often shortened to porn or porno) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the exclusive purpose of sexual arousal. Primarily intended for adults, , or
condom
A condom is a sheath-shaped barrier device used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are both male and female condoms. With proper use—and use at every act of in ...
s. 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
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
Erotic furniture is furniture specially shaped for comfort, penetration levels, and stimulation. Also known as sex furniture, it is any form of
furniture
Furniture refers to movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating (e.g., stools, chairs, and sofas), eating (tables), storing items, eating and/or working with an item, and sleeping (e.g., beds and hammocks). Fu ...
that can act as an aid to
sexual activity. While almost anything can be used for this purpose, the most common form of furniture employed for sexual activity is the
bed, but couches and sofas come a close second. These are not strictly
erotic
Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, scul ...
furniture, as their primary use is not erotic.
![Spanking Bench](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Spanking_Bench.png)
Specifically designed furniture for erotic purposes can include:
* Devices for
spanking and
flagellation such as the
Berkley Horse
* Devices for using gravity to aid in lovemaking without the use of complicated slings
*
Fisting slings
* Sex gliders
*
Sex swings
* Various types of angled foam wedges or specially designed pillows that support various
sex positions, e.g.,
Liberator Shapes or the ergonomically based Lovebumpers
General penetrative toys
*
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
Prostate massage is the massage or stimulation of the male prostate gland for medical purposes or sexual stimulation.
The prostate takes part in the sexual response cycle, and is essential for the production of semen. Due to its proximity to th ...
stimulation.
** A
double penetration dildo
A double penetration dildo or double dildo is a type of sex toy used for double penetration, the simultaneous entry of two bodily orifices at the same time, belonging to either one or two people. It is a dildo designed in the form of two penet ...
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
A strap-on dildo (also strap-on) is a dildo designed to be worn, usually with a harness, during sexual activity. Harnesses and dildos are made in a wide variety of styles, with variations in how the harness fits the wearer, how the dildo attach ...
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
A horseshoe is a fabricated product designed to protect a horse hoof from wear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface (ground side) of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall that is anatomically akin to the human toen ...
, 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
A sex machine is a mechanical device used to simulate human sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.Leung, Isaac (2009). The Cultural Production of Sex Machines and the Contemporary Technosexual Practices. In Grenzfurthner, J. et al., eds. ...
is a motor-driven device that combines penetration with rotational or reciprocal movement, or both.
[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, ]
Anal toys
*
Anal beads
*
Butt plug
A butt plug is a sex toy that is designed to be inserted into the rectum for sexual pleasure. They are similar to a dildo in some ways but tend to be shorter and have a flanged end to prevent the device from being lost inside the rectum.
Histor ...
s 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 massage
Prostate massage is the massage or stimulation of the male prostate gland for medical purposes or sexual stimulation.
The prostate takes part in the sexual response cycle, and is essential for the production of semen. Due to its proximity to th ...
rs are devices designed to stimulate a man's
prostate for health and pleasure.
Glass sex toys
![Glass Dildo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Glass_Dildo.JPG)
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. The highest quality glass toys can even be put in the dishwasher making them easier to keep clean. 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
![Love Ring Vibrator](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Love_Ring_Vibrator.jpg)
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.
*
Anal vibrator file:Unisex Superslim Buttplug - Flickr - stnu.jpg, Unisex Superslim Buttplug - Flickr - stnu.
{{unsourced, date=June 2018
An anal vibrator is a vibrator (sex toy), vibrator designed for sexual stimulation of the anus of both men and women. All ana ...
s 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
Prostate massage is the massage or stimulation of the male prostate gland for medical purposes or sexual stimulation.
The prostate takes part in the sexual response cycle, and is essential for the production of semen. Due to its proximity to th ...
.
* 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
A rabbit vibrator (also known as a Jack Rabbit vibrator or Jessica Rabbit vibrator) is a vibrating sex toy, usually made in the shape of a phallic shaft for vaginal stimulation with a clitoral stimulator attached to the shaft. The name of the dev ...
, of which there are several variations, is a popular female sex toy popularized by the television series ''
Sex and the City''.
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
The clitoris ( or ) is a female sex organ present in mammals, ostriches and a limited number of other animals. In humans, the visible portion – the glans – is at the front junction of the labia minora (inner lips), above the ope ...
.
*
Sybian
A Sybian (), or Sybian saddle, is a type of masturbation device. It consists of a hollow saddle-like seat containing two electric motors, motor speed controller boards, gearing, pulleys, and a platform on cranked axles such that a ridge on the ...
s 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
A nipple clamp is a type of sex toy that is applied to a person's nipples to pinch them. Varieties of nipple clamp include clothes-pin-style, tweezer and clover. Nipple clamps are used to cause pain in the nipples as part of certain BDSM ac ...
are clamps used to stimulate the nipples by applying varying degrees of pressure.
* Suction devices are generally either rubber or glass.
Penile toys
*
Artificial vaginas, also known as "pocket pussies", "male masturbators", or "strokers",
are tubes made of soft material to simulate
sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the penis into the vagina for sexual pleasure or reproduction.Sexual intercourse most commonly means penile–vaginal penetrat ...
. 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
A sex machine is a mechanical device used to simulate human sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.Leung, Isaac (2009). The Cultural Production of Sex Machines and the Contemporary Technosexual Practices. In Grenzfurthner, J. et al., eds. ...
options that work similar to
milking machines
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting or processing (or both) of animal milk – mostly from cows or buffaloes, but also from goats, sheep, horses, or camels – for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on ...
.
* 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
Vibrator may refer to:
Technology
* Vibrator (sex toy), a device for massage or sexual pleasure used by both men and women
* Vibrator (mechanical), a class of devices which create mechanical vibrations for uses such as signaling annunciators, d ...
attached which can be worn to stimulate a partner during
sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse (or coitus or copulation) is a sexual activity typically involving the insertion and thrusting of the penis into the vagina for sexual pleasure or reproduction.Sexual intercourse most commonly means penile–vaginal penetrat ...
, especially in the
scrotum or
perineum. Yet other cock rings have arms that rub and apply pressure to the perineum of the wearer.
** 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
A dock (from Dutch language, Dutch ''dok'') is the area of water between or next to one or a group of human-made structures that are involved in the handling of boats or ships (usually on or near a shore) or such structures themselves. The ex ...
, a form of
mutual masturbation.
* An FTM stroker is a pocket-pussy-style toy designed "for
het-cock/enlarged clitoris" of a
transgender man on
hormone replacement therapy. In 2016,
Buck Angel released the first such device, the Buck-Off.
* 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 rod
Depth sounding, often simply called sounding, is measuring the depth of a body of water. Data taken from soundings are used in bathymetry to make maps of the floor of a body of water, such as the seabed topography.
Soundings were traditional ...
s" that measure water depth, — usually silicone or metal, often with a ball at one end — inserted into the urethra for sexual stimulation. There are sounding rods for women, but they are used far less.
Vulva 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.
They are able to produce far more powerful vibration than most battery-powered vibrators.
Various attachments made of silicone or a rubber material allow the toy to be used penetratively, or give the toy more interesting texture.
*
Clitoral vibrator
Clitoral vibrators are vibrators designed to externally stimulate a woman's clitoris for her sexual pleasure and orgasm. They are sex toys created for massaging the clitoris, and are not penetrating sex toys, although the shape of some vibrator ...
s are designed to stimulate the clitoris by direct contact.
* The Womanizer is a clitoral stimulator that uses air vibrations and suction.
* Clitoral clamps are used to stimulate the clitoris by applying pressure and restricting blood flow.
* Pussy pumps and
clitoral pumps are used to sensitize the genital area prior to masturbation or sex with a partner.
* Clitoral suction toys consist mainly of a small tunnel that when placed around the clitoris and powered on, creates a feeling of suction.
History
Dildos in one form or another have existed widely in history.
Artifacts from the
Upper Paleolithic of a type called
bâton de commandement
Perforated baton, bâton de commandement or bâton percé are names given by archaeologists to a type of particular prehistoric artifact from Prehistoric Europe, whose function remains debated. The name ''bâtons de commandement'' ("batons of ...
have been speculated to have been used for sexual purposes. 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."
[Taylor, T. 1996. ''The Prehistory of Sex.'' New York: Bantam. p. 128.][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]
The first dildos were made of stone, tar, wood, bone, ivory, limestone, teeth,
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
A phallus is a penis (especially when erect), an object that resembles a penis, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. In art history a figure with an erect penis is described as ithyphallic.
Any object that symbolically—or, more precisel ...
from the Upper Palaeolithic period 30,000 years ago, found in
Hohle Fels
The ''Hohle Fels'' () (also ''Hohlefels'', ''Hohler Fels'', German for "hollow rock") is a cave in the Swabian Jura of Germany that has yielded a number of important archaeological finds dating from the Upper Paleolithic. Artifacts found in the ...
Cave near Ulm,
Germany, may have been used as a dildo. 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.
Dildo-like
breadsticks, known as ''olisbokollikes'' (sing. ''olisbokollix''),
were known in Ancient Greece prior to the 5th century BC. In Italy during the 1400s, dildos were made of leather, wood, or stone.
Chinese
Chinese can refer to:
* Something related to China
* Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity
**''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation
** List of ethnic groups in China, people of va ...
women in the 15th century used dildos made of lacquered wood with textured surfaces, and were sometimes buried with them.
Nashe's early-1590s work ''
The Choise of Valentines
''The Choise of Valentines Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo'', which alternatively acquired the label "Nashe's Dildo", is an erotic poem by Thomas Nashe, thought to have been composed around 1592 or 1593. The poem survives in three extant man ...
'' mentions a dildo made from glass.
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.
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
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
rituals.
Many references to dildos exist in the
historical
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
and
ethnographic literature. Haberlandt, 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.
Ancient Greece
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.
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.
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
The anus (Latin, 'ring' or 'circle') is an opening at the opposite end of an animal's digestive tract from the mouth. Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, the residual semi-solid waste that remains after food digestion, which, d ...
.
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.
In literature
Dildoes 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?''
Herodas
The first column of the Herodas papyrus, showing ''Mimiamb'' 1. 1–15.
Herodas or Herondas (Greek: or - the name is spelt differently in the few places where he is mentioned), was a Greek poet and the author of short humorous dramatic sc ...
' 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?''
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
''Avodah Zarah'' (Hebrew: , or "foreign worship", meaning " idolatry" or "strange service") is the name of a tractate of the Talmud, located in ''Nezikin'', the fourth Order of the Talmud dealing with damages. The main topic of the tractate is ...
Tractate records the interpretation which
Rav Yosef bar Hiyya
Rav Yosef bar Hiyya ( he, רב יוסף בר חייא), or simply Rav Yosef, was a Babylonian rabbi of the third generation of amoraim.
Biography
He was a student of Judah bar Ezekiel and was Abaye's teacher, and a scholarly disputant (''bar plug ...
gave to the Biblical reference of King
Asa of Judah having "(...) deposed his grandmother
Maakah
Maacah (or Maakah; he, ''Maʿăḵā'', "crushed"; Maacha in the Codex Alexandrinus, Maachah in the KJV) is a non-gender-specific personal name used in the Bible to refer to a number of people.
*A child of Abraham's brother Nachor, evidently a ...
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". According to Rav Yosef, Maakah had installed "a kind of male organ" on her Asherah image "in order to fulfill her desire", and was "mating with it every day". Rav Yosef's words are quoted by
Rashi in his own interpretation of 2 Chronicles 15:16. Whether or not Rav Yosef was right in attributing this practice to the Biblical Queen, his speaking of it indicates that Jews in 3rd Century
Mesopotamia were familiar with such devices.
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
but it was still widely circulated and made Nashe's name notorious.
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.
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).
John Wilmot
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1 April 1647 – 26 July 1680) was an English poet and courtier of King Charles II's Restoration court. The Restoration reacted against the "spiritual authoritarianism" of the Puritan era. Rochester embodie ...
, the seventeenth-century English
libertine
A libertine is a person devoid of most moral principles, a sense of responsibility, or sexual restraints, which they see as unnecessary or undesirable, and is especially someone who ignores or even spurns accepted morals and forms of behaviour ob ...
, published his poem ''Signor Dildo'' in 1673. During the Parliamentary session of that year, objections were raised to the proposed marriage of
James, Duke of York
James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...
, brother of the King and heir to the throne, to
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena ( it, Maria Beatrice Eleonora Anna Margherita Isabella d'Este; ) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of James II and VII. A devout Roman Catholic, Mary married the widower James, who was then the young ...
, an Italian Catholic princess. An address was presented to
King Charles
King Charles may refer to:
Kings
A number of kings of Albania, Alençon, Anjou, Austria, Bohemia, Croatia, England, France, Holy Roman Empire, Hungary, Ireland, Jerusalem, Naples, Navarre, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sardinia, Scotland, Sicily, Sp ...
on 3 November, foreseeing the dangerous consequences of marriage to a Catholic, and urging him to put a stop to any planned wedding '...to the unspeakable Joy and Comfort of all Your loyal Subjects." Wilmot's response was
Signior Dildo (You ladies all of merry England)'', a mock address anticipating the 'solid' advantages of a Catholic marriage, namely the wholesale importation of Italian dildos, to the unspeakable joy and comfort of all the ladies of England:
:''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? ...''
:''A rabble of pricks who were welcomed before'',
:''Now finding the porter denied them the door,''
:''Maliciously waited his coming below''
:''And inhumanly fell on Signor Dildo ...''
This ballad was subsequently added to by other authors, and became so popular that ''Signor'' became a term for a dildo.
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.''
''Signor Dildo'' was set to music by
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, Order of the British Empire, CBE (born 23 March 1944) is an English composer, pianist, libretto, librettist, musicologist, and filmmaker. He is known for numerous film soundtrack, scores (many written during his length ...
for the 2004
biopic
A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...
, ''
The Libertine.''
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). 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
"Mary Hamilton", or "The Fower Maries" ("The Four Marys"), is a common name for a well-known sixteenth-century ballad from Scotland based on an apparently fictional incident about a lady-in-waiting to a Queen of Scotland. It is Child Ballad 1 ...
.
Dildos are obliquely referred to in
Saul Bellow's novel ''
The Adventures of Augie March
''The Adventures of Augie March'' is a picaresque novel by Saul Bellow, published in 1953 by Viking Press. It features the eponymous Augie March, who grows up during the Great Depression, and it is an example of ''Bildungsroman'', tracing the de ...
'' (1953): "....he had brought me along to a bachelor's stag where two naked acrobatic girls did stunts with false tools". A dildo called ''Steely Dan III from Yokohama'' appears in the
William S. Burroughs novel ''
The Naked Lunch'' (1959). The rock band
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band founded in 1971 in New York by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Initially the band had a stable lineup, but in 1974, Becker and Fagen retired from live ...
took their name from it.
Health, safety, and privacy concerns
Standards set for sex toys are set in
ISO 3533
The International Organization for Standardization, ISO 3533 standard defines the safety requirements for sex toys.
History
The standard stems from efforts from the Swedish standards agency Swedish Institute for Standards, SIS to introduce a qua ...
: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. Regulations such as
REACH
Reach or REACH may refer to:
Companies and organizations
* Reach plc, formerly Trinity Mirror, large British newspaper, magazine, and digital publisher
* Reach Canada, an NGO in Canada
* Reach Limited, an Asia Pacific cable network company
* ...
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
Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network, founded in Canada in 1971 by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, immigrant environmental activists from the United States. Greenpeace states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth t ...
Netherlands office found high level of
phthalates in seven out of eight plastic sex toys tested. Phthalates are chemical plasticizers that are added as softeners, to create the malleable and soft effect that many look for in sex toys.
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.
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.
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.
When cleaning sex toys, always use warm water and unscented anti-bacterial soap.
;Anal toys (
butt plug
A butt plug is a sex toy that is designed to be inserted into the rectum for sexual pleasure. They are similar to a dildo in some ways but tend to be shorter and have a flanged end to prevent the device from being lost inside the rectum.
Histor ...
s, 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.
;Non-porous toys
* Glass toys: some can be put in the dishwasher, but it is recommended not to expose them to extreme temperatures and to wash them with soap and water.
* Hard plastic toys: do not boil the toy, and wash with soap and water.
*
Silicone
A silicone or polysiloxane is a polymer made up of siloxane (−R2Si−O−SiR2−, where R = organic group). They are typically colorless oils or rubber-like substances. Silicones are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medicine, cooking ...
toys: put it on the top shelf of the dishwasher, boil for 5–10 minutes, or wash with water and soap.
*
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's corros ...
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
* 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.
In 2016, the
security software company
Trend Micro demonstrated that some Internet-connected electronic sex toys are vulnerable to
cyberattack
A cyberattack is any offensive maneuver that targets computer information systems, computer networks, infrastructures, or personal computer devices. An attacker is a person or process that attempts to access data, functions, or other restricted ...
s, thus creating the field of
onion dildonics.
The ethical, legal, and
privacy
Privacy (, ) is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively.
The domain of privacy partially overlaps with security, which can include the concepts of a ...
concerns are an area of active research by
Sarah Jamie Lewis, amongst others.
Legal issues
India
Sex toys are illegal in India.
[Singh, Jyotsna (20 June 2007)]
India rattled by vibrating condom.
BBC News Selling sex toys is a punishable offense under section 292 of 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. The punishment for the offense is up to two years in prison.
[Staff report (February 2, 2011)]
Sex toys recovered from shop in Rajkot.
'' Times of India''
Japan
In
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, 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.
Malaysia
In
Malaysia, the sale and importation of sex toys is illegal.
South Africa
Section 18A of the
Sexual Offenses Act, 1957, inserted by the
Immorality Amendment Act, 1969
The Sexual Offences Act, 1957 (Act No. 23 of 1957, originally the Immorality Act, 1957) is an act of the Parliament of South Africa which, in its current form, prohibits prostitution, brothel-keeping and procuring, and other activities related ...
, 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
lesbian
A lesbian is a Homosexuality, homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate n ...
s. No longer enforced, the section was repealed by the
.
United States
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.
Until recently, many
Southern
Southern may refer to:
Businesses
* China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China
* Southern Airways, defunct US airline
* Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US
* Southern Airways Express, M ...
and some
Great Plains states banned the sale of sex toys completely, either directly or through laws regulating "obscene devices". In 1999,
William H. Pryor, Jr.
William Holcombe Pryor Jr. (born April 26, 1962) is an American lawyer serving as the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He is a former commissioner of the United States Sentencing Commission. Previously, ...
, 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.
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. The appeals court cited ''
Lawrence v. Texas
''Lawrence v. Texas'', 539 U.S. 558 (2003), is a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court ruled that most sanctions of criminal punishment for consensual, adult non- procreative sexual activity (commonly referred to as so ...
'', 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
Genophobia or coitophobia is the physical or psychological fear of sexual relations or sexual intercourse. The word comes from the Greek nouns (), meaning "offspring", and ' (), meaning "fear". This word is also formed from the Greek noun and ...
, 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
f the United States
F, or f, is the sixth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''ef'' (pronounced ), and the plural is ''efs''.
Hist ...
has declared our orgasms a battlefield, and sex toys another casualty."
Industry
As of 2008, the sex toys industry was valued at US$15 billion worldwide, with a growth rate of 30%.
Seventy percent of sex toys are manufactured in China.
Sex toys are sold in various types of local and online
sex shops, at conventions associated with the adult industry,
and at
parties. However, some items, such as "hand-held massagers", are sold in mainstream retail outlets such as drugstores.
In popular culture
* On ''
Millionaire Matchmaker'', "Sex Toy Dave" Levine - who earned a fortune selling adult toys and wanted Patti to find him a mate, preferably bisexual, who would accept him as he is - was featured as one of
Patti Stanger's clients.
*On ''
Real Housewives of Atlanta'',
Kandi Burruss frequently discusses, displays, and gives other cast members gifts from her sex toy line, "Bedroom Kandi", which she also promotes via her online show, ''
Kandi Koated Nights''.
Research
Sex toys have been the subject of scientific research in different disciplines (e.g.,
medicine,
clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of social science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and persona ...
,
sexology
Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behaviors, and functions. The term ''sexology'' does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social criticism.
Sexologists app ...
,
queer studies
Queer studies, sexual diversity studies, or LGBT studies is the education of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity usually focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender dysphoria, asexual, queer, questioning, inte ...
) for decades. However, in comparison to other sexual aids such as pornography they are regarded as relatively under-researched.
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.
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.
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.
Homosexual identified men, on the other hand, report much more frequently that they use vibrators for anal insertion.
Negative and positive effects of sex toy use
The meanings and implications of sex toys are controversially discussed in academia. Some authors criticize sex toys for pushing the commercialization of sex, others endorse them for fostering sexual empowerment.
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. 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.
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.
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. Further positive effects are reported from clinical settings: Sex toys are used therapeutically, for example, in the context of therapy for orgasm disorders. They can also enable people with disabilities to have more sexual self-determination.
See also
References
Further reading
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*
*
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sex Toy
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