The history of sex toys

History of erotic toys (part II.)

From XVIII. do XXI. Century: It's about health!

Records from XVIII. century testify about a disease that has spread between members of the European and American elite, hysteria. Doctors suggested pelvic massages to cure symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, lack of appetite, and cramps. Although some experts claimed that these were false findings that still create agitation, others advocated healing by reaching an orgasm. For women to be able to help themselves at home, doctor George Taylor made the first steam vibrator in 1869 called Manipulator. Fifteen years later, it was replaced by Mortimer Granville's first real electric vibrator. 

Just before the beginning of the twentieth century, they started selling dilators in the United States. Young invented a set of four rectal rubber dilators of various sizes and advertised them in health and professional medical magazines. Besides the rectal ones, they were also selling vaginal dilators. They were meant to treat women with vaginismus, vaginal spasm, or, like ordinary people would say, closure of the vaginal opening that prevented sexual intercourse. 

Even though sex toys were advertised as medical devices, groups of opponents of their sale, pornographic magazines, and books have emerged. The New York Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), one of the movement's leading groups, even claimed that the use of erotic toys and condoms caused a higher rate of crime. Masturbation was dangerous, and sex for pleasure was a sin. Although many still find it hard to believe, they have succeeded. America has banned the sale of erotic toys by law. The only lucky ones who avoided it were the vibrators, as they were used for pain relief and massage. 

The entertainment business and the first serious attempt of making a dildo in the USA

The idea of ​​making the first erotic toys came from ventriloquist Marche, or, to tell the truth, his friend John Francis. It happened in the year 1965 when sex toys in America were obscene and illegal unless they had the status of a medical device. Francis wanted to sell prosthetic penises for impotent men to meet women's needs during sex. Not being an engineer himself, he was more than pleased when Marche and his entire family took over the production. Marche was impressed by the products' purpose and their creation so much he needed to open his own business. After several surveys, Marche decided on four sizes of artificial penises, which also differed in color. They were made of plastisol, a liquid form of polyvinyl chloride. The material was considered of high quality at the time, as it was harmless. 

At the same time, the doctors, Masters and Johnson, who are well known to the female population, began researching how many orgasms and what kind of an orgasm woman experiences during intercourse. They found out that women achieve more, even consecutive orgasms during masturbation than during sex. Of course, this information upset men, and they have unknowingly condemned the use of erotic toys among women.

Even though the use of vibrators was illegal, the Masters and Johnson's research helped Marche and his business. However, not everything was strewed with roses. Soon, Malorrus, an entertainer who sold poor quality erotic toys as fun and prank items, also got into the business. 

Marche had to offer something new as his competition was hot on his heels. He started manufacturing artificial vaginas. Despite all his attempts, Marche lacked advertising. Malorrus was better, and although his products were of poor quality, their sales continued to grow. 

Dodson and Williams: When single women reach for a vibrator

When Marche started making the first dildos, painter Betty Dodson discovered feminism that considered women as sexual human beings. Dodson, ever since she, as a teenager, became aware of the first tingle between her legs, was torn between masturbation and society's attitude towards it at the time. Women back then had the role of the housewife and "loyal husband servent."

Unsatisfied with her sex life, she turned the other way and, for the first time, shook off the fear of her intimacy. The lover who came after her husband was the first to encourage her to masturbate. What's more, he loved watching her. The very open-minded relationship made her purchase the first vibrator, called Ostra. Betty Dodson was impressed with it, and her enthusiasm for female masturbation began to show in her paintings. She first exhibited them in 1968 in New York. The masturbation show was an immediate success.

Despite her success and public speaking of masturbation, some feminists were not very happy about it. They even thought that by experiencing orgasms and satisfying her desire, Betty Dodson was working against feminism. However, this did not frighten Dodson in her mission. She soon began organizing masturbation sessions, where she thought women about the anatomy of the vagina and how to reach an orgasm. Of course, she also introduced them a vibrator Hitachi Magic Wand. Williams also joined. In these classes, she recognized the potential for success.

To be continued!