freeamfva: Female-founded companies are making better sex toys

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In an industry traditionally dominated by men, women are now making more sex toys than ever beforeTo get more news about 日本人妖网站, you can visit our official website.

The lack of female influence in the creation and production of sex toys over time has led to sexist and objectifying industry marketing and an occlusion of female sexuality in the toy design, something many refer to as having a “male gaze.”

We’re seeing new female-centric technologies emerge that not only focus on female stimulation but also address issues that have been swept under the rug for decades.Stephanie Alys, co-founder of MysteryVibe, a company that invents personalized pleasure products told TNW: “It’s a feminist movement both behind-the-scenes and in the changing effects on the sex toy market.”

“To start, because of long-held, gendered stigmas, women often have more to risk when entering this industry. I think every woman in sex tech has a story about being slut-shamed for their profession.”
Evolution of sex toys
When sex toys became popular in the ’70s, most companies were owned by men. Polly Rodriguez, CEO of Unbound, a feminist sex toy subscription service, told the TNW: “Sex toys have always been phallic in shape, with an emphasis on size. This design approach makes no sense when you look at the biology behind arousal for clitoris owners.”

They were made to look like penises, something the industry assumed women wanted to have. They were typically flesh colored and focused more on penetration than stimulation, something that’s a focus for female-led companies.

Although vibrators existed, they were marketed as health products rather than sex toys. Female entrepreneurs and sex educators like Dell Williams (the first woman to own and operate a sex toy company) and Betty Dodson (a sex educator from the 60s) were behind the popularization of toys.

They focused on stimulating vibrators that came in a variety of shapes and colors — something that proved popular to women.

Alys added: “Most people with vulvas need clitoral stimulation to achieve orgasm. Women-led companies are often more equipped to ensure the final design is one that accommodates to be pleasurable for bodies with vulvas.”

Sex toys continued to evolve in the ’80s with home sale parties which gave women living in rural areas access. By the ’90s, the use of silicone became more popular, but the majority were controlled and distributed by one man, Reuben Sturman. He was known as “The Walt Disney of Porn,” his business focused on pornography and pleasure toys.
Despite sex toys becoming more popular, it’s been a hard industry for women to break into the business side of things. According to a study by Unbound in 2017, around 70 percent of sex toy companies are run by men, but the tables are starting to turn.

“I think we’ve come a long way since a completely male-dominated industry, and woman’s influence can be seen in all aspects of the category now, from how products are designed, to the materials we use, and how they’re marketed,” Alys said.