The History of Sex Toys
The market for adult entertainment is thriving and diversified. A subset of this market diversification is the sex toys and pleasure product category. In contemporary conversations about sexual health, pornography, and sex in general, sex toys are more significant than ever. How came we to be here? Similar to the histories of pornography and the internet, the history of sex toys is not only intriguing but also has an ongoing effect on the retail market for pleasure items today. In this post, Adult B2B Marketing will briefly go through the history of sex toys and why it’s relevant now. We are particularly pleased of this blog post since Adult B2B Marketing has experience with a variety of adult enterprises, such as dropshipping and e-commerce sites selling sex toys.
History of Sex Toys
Evidence of the usage of sex toys dates back many centuries, to ancient societies. It was common knowledge that ancient societies, such as the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, used a range of objects for sex. For example, dildos were made by the ancient Egyptians from readily available materials such as stone and wood. These primitive sexual items sometimes bore similarities to the phallus, or penis, a symbol of sexual prowess and procreation.
Ancient Greeks used dildos and other sex toys extensively; they were often made of wood, leather, or even bread dough. These particular items were believed to be used for intercourse by both men and women, as seen in artwork. In the Middle Ages, as the Roman Catholic Church’s influence grew, the prevalence of sex toys decreased.
Opposing Paternalistic Rule
The Church believed that it was wrong to have sex for pleasure with a spouse or anybody else who wasn’t in a specified marital relationship. Priests categorically rejected any sexual behavior that did not encourage procreation and family growth. Because of this, using sex toys was frowned upon, and there were restrictions on both their manufacture and distribution. Changes in attitudes on sexuality and sex began at the start of the 18th century. An attitude to sexual pleasure that was significantly more libertine was established by the Enlightenment because of its greater emphasis on the individual. This newly found openness led to a rise in the usage of sex toys. The industrial revolution of the 19th century made it possible to create sex toys on a far larger scale than in the past. The market for “medical devices” grew as a result of this finding. For example, Victorian England saw the emergence of a growing distinct market in this. Sex toys were advised by doctors at the time to alleviate “female hysteria.” While many of these early vibrators were powered by steam or a hand crank, others of them were mechanical. Eventually, the creation of new products was aided by electricity.
Early in the 20th century, sex toy technology made even further strides. For example, electric vibrators were invented and went on to become popular, pricey home products. Early electric vibrators were advertised as massagers and remedies for a variety of ailments, such as worry and fatigue. This sort of marketing provided the orgasmic catharsis, even if it was reminiscent of the old-fashioned snake-oil salesman tactic. Despite this “covert” marketing, it was a well-kept secret that people used “personal massagers” for much more than just medical treatments.
Sexual Toys in the US
Sex toys and pleasure items continued to be invented, especially in the United States, in spite of laws and cultural standards that considered some products to be immoral and illegal.
Congress in the United States created the Comstock Act of 1873 to outlaw the sending of materials the government considered pornographic at the time, including birth control and contraceptive information. Eventually, this was expanded to include catalogs of sex toys, pornographic films, and booklets on reproductive health and education.
Thankfully, the Comstock Act and other like federal and state bans were ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. The feminist movement and the sexual liberation movement brought out a new period of openness and acceptance of sexuality in the 1960s and 1970s.
These shifts led to an expansion of the sex toy business, which finally catered to a wide range of sexual proclivities, genders, and identities. The emergence of the pornographic film industry, which would later be further accelerated by the internet, drove the growth of the sex toy business during the following decades.
Technology Shifts
The early and modern internet altered the rules of the game for everyone.
Thanks to e-commerce, people may now more simply and covertly get a range of sex toys from the comfort of their own homes. As a result, sex toys gained popularity and were more readily accessible, with a vast array of products made for different purposes and preferences.
The growing sex toy and retail business today offers a plethora of alternatives to suit every taste and desire. Technology, design, and material advancements drive industry innovation. For example, the internet of things and teledildonics are considered the future frontier.
We’ve written about these topics previously, but modern smart sex toys are so advanced and easy to use that they integrate seamlessly with cam sites, explicit sexual games, and the inclusion of virtual and augmented reality gadgets.
One of the most exciting developments in the world of smart sex toys is the ability to use readily accessible smart sex toy gadgets to control famous video games. As we previously said, open-source software development kits are being made by individuals to link the operating systems of smart sex toy gadgets with PCs, Macs, Xboxes, and PlayStation consoles. Players may play games, control their characters, engage in combat, and enjoy haptic feedback by using the muscles and biofeedback of the anus or vagina. This provides a fresh sensation linked with sexual pleasure.
The development of sex toys is evidence of people’s need for sex. From prehistoric times to the postmodern era, sex toys have evolved and adjusted to social norms and technological advancements, providing individuals with new chances to discover and embrace their sexuality. Innovation is presently being facilitated by improvements in virtual and augmented reality.
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