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Sex Toys in the Media

Sitcoms and Movies

• Showtime has a new series: The L Word! ... and yours truly Womyns'Ware has been the provider of all of the, errrrr, props!

• Well, we don't know about you, but we're big fans of Sex and the City. And we became even bigger fans when we started spotting sex toys! So what's the latest on Sex and the City?

The gals are getting the "Brazilian wax", a complete muff wax. While we don't have that service to sell, we have the no-pain muff trimmers to get one closer to the Carrie and Charlotte experience. Charlotte was the Rabbit Pearl addict (the other gals had the toy too, but an intervention had to be imposed on Charlotte as she kept cancelling prior engagements to stay home with her Rabbit). Samantha rode the Swing and brought up the need for the Kegilscisor. Miranda had the Gigolo and Astroglide in her bedside drawer (her judgmental housekeeper found them).

The writers at Sex and the City are pretty savvy when it comes to a good sex toy punch line. In a recent episode, poor Samatha lost her orgasm. Even an all day session with an Hitachi Magic Wand and G-Spotter attachment produced nothing more than a quivering jaw. Recently on Sex and the City Samantha gave her male partner of the week a pubic hair trim. She appeared to be using the Wahl beard trimmer...a good choice, we think! Sex in the City tickled the funny bone with a segment demonstrating why it's easier (in the absence of Samantha offering unsolicited advice) to shop for a vibrator at a shop that proudly acknowledges selling vibes over those *gadget stores* that offer muscle massagers. Samantha had to put the salesman in his place in the "It's a muscle massager, Ma'am." "Noooo, it's a vibrator." debate before she could deal with her warranty issue on her Wand Style plug in vibe … errrr, muscle massager ;)

• The film, Better Than Chocolate, featured lots of sex toys! The Clit Lane and the Rabbit Pearl for sure. The Clit Lane was on display in the Feminist Book Shop that Maggie worked in and it was also on the toy shelf in the loft apartment where she was house sitting. The Rabbit Pearl was discovered and test driven by Maggie's mom while she was hunting around under the bed for a chocolate that she dropped, hence "better than chocolate"!

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Happy Sex News

•It's so nice to see that those folks with spinal cord injuries (or similarly, anyone who experiences a loss in genital sensation) will soon have more options in the world of sex toys. Researchers from our fair city's BC Institute of Technology have developed eight vibrator prototypes for clinical trials that the BC Centre for Sexual Medicine will oversee. We're happy to see the progression in the world of vibrators and look forward to the day when we can start offering them to customers!

•On Wednesday, March 1st, 2006, in Annapolis, [Maryland] at a hearing on the proposed Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gay marriage, Jamie Raskin, professor of law at AU, was requested to  testify.

At the end of his  testimony, Republican Senator Nancy Jacobs said: "Mr. Raskin, my Bible says marriage is only between a man and a woman. What do you have to say about that?"

Raskin replied:  "Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You did not place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

The room erupted into applause.

•In two recent cases (R. v. Kouri and R v. Labaye) the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that partner swapping and group sex, among consenting adults, with spectators, in the confines of a private club is not a criminal act. Crucial to the Majority decision in both cases was the Crown's lack of any evidence that participants, spectators, or anyone entering either establishment was ignorant as to what to expect. Within context, control mechanisms to restrict access to informed individuals were adequate to establish a blanket willingness to observe or participate. In the Court's words: "On the evidence, only those already disposed to this sort of sexual activity were allowed to participate and watch. There is also no evidence of antisocial acts or attitudes toward women, or for that matter men. No one was pressured to have sex, paid for sex, or treated as a mere sexual object for the gratification of others." Having made this determination on the evidence, the Court declined to consider whether there was a broader risk of harm that would be incompatible with the proper functioning of society, though in obiter the Chief Justice opined that if one did consider this second branch test of harm, that "there seems to be no evidence that the level of alleged harm rose to the level of incompatibility with the proper functioning of society." This may seem like a "DUH!!" type of decision until you read the dissenting judgments where the two justices in dissent are unable to grapple with the distinction between their moral views on partner swapping and group sex and harm to society. It's a round about type of logic that says what is indecent is anything I find immoral. Anything I find immoral is something that harms society. If it harms society, it's criminally indecent. Thankfully, the dissent has become the minority both on the Bench and in Canadian Society as a whole.

•Good ol' Sue Johanson! She sang the praises again of sex toys as a means to keep your sex life happy and healthy. She was responding in The Globe and Mail's feature on testosterone treatments for women and their effects "as a potent panacea for low sex drive in post-menopausal women". ("Does your libido need a boost?", October 1, 2005) Sue's advice: "Buy yourself a good sex toy. You'd be amazed at how much that does." We heartily agree!

• "Safe, Sane and Consensual" BDSM Gains Judicial Sanction
The Honourable Judge Raymond Low (of the Provincial Court of British Columbia) dismissed Criminal Code obscenity charges against an adult SM porn video manufacturer on the basis that the Canadian community standard of tolerance is likely to tolerate consensual BDSM as a "normal and acceptable" form of adult, human sexuality. Of note, defense counsel went to great lengths to present evidence on the key elements of BDSM (ie. Safe, sane, and consensual) and satisfied the Judge that BDSM events take place "throughout Canada" and that "BDSM is not an obscure practice." For a full transcript of the findings of fact: click here

• Greenpeace now has a guide to environmentally friendly sex! Read 'Getting it on for the good of the planet'!

• Our favourite skit comedy show recently touched on two sex toy related themes. First, the Queen (that's right, HRH Elizabeth II) was seen receiving a vibrating gift "ordered from a discrete ad in the back of a magazine", prompting a revision in protocol from the changing of the guards to the changing of the batteries. Very funny! Particularly how the writers zeroed in on how the Queen's mace looks like a vibrator, thus utilizing actual film footage to punctuate the joke. In another segment, they parodied the Sex With Sue Show as the Sex With Lou show. We could really emphasize with this skit, as the host cut-off and hung up on caller after caller, apparently having exceeded his sexual question quota for a lifetime (really, some times you do want to take just 10 minutes off in the day to think about something else). Ending the skit with "Even our sponsors are perverted!" Thanks for the nod, This Hour Has 22 Minutes!

• In the March 14, 2001 edition of The Globe and Mail, a delightful story entitled "My Children Meet Mr. Purple" about how a mom explained her vibrator to her kids.

• Phew! In Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Texas penal code (and a host of similar so-called sodomy laws through out the States) on privacy grounds, specifically overturning a past opinion in Bowers v. Hardwick that had been based on "traditional morality". The common sense of six prevails over the idiocy of two (while a 6-3 decision, Justice O'Connor's dissent concurred with the outcome of the majority though she would have reached the decision on a different basis), writing for the majority, Justice Kennedy found - "The petitioners are entitled to respect for their private lives. The state cannot demean their existence or control their destiny by making their private sexual conduct a crime. … laws once thought necessary and proper in fact serve only to oppress. As the Constitution endures, persons in every generation can invoke its principles in their own search for greater freedom."

• Same sex couples can now marry in Canada! More info available at Same Sex Marriage.ca

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Sad Sex News

•From the Harper's weekly index:  The Supreme Court refused to consider the constitutionality of Ignacio Sergio Acosta v. state of Texas, a case that challenged the Texas law that makes it illegal to promote genitalia-shaped sex toys. Iranian Supreme Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei announced that intentional masturbation during Ramadan breaks the Fast…

•Shoddy sex toys (and the generally shoddy sex toy industry) were the topic of conversation in a China Daily article, starting with the no-win story of a poor chap who tried to seek redress for his poorly manufactured 'love doll', the article goes on to discuss the unprotected state of the sex toy retail consumer: "many… users of sex products who either regard the shoddy goods they have bought as bad luck and don't say anything or who quickly surrender after an initial argument with the sex shop - the lack of oversight of the market by consumer protection administrators because most products are merely sold as 'entertainment tools', lack of any specific regulations covering the quality standards, and the result:" All this has contributed to a mushrooming in the number of factories manufacturing sex products with some 10,000 now competing in the market, making China the world's major producer and giving the country 70 per cent of total world sales. … But a large percentage [of] companies are not qualified to develop and produce adult products," Professor Tong said. "They earn big money by imitation and producing counterfeit products," … The China Youth Daily reported that a sex toy in China priced at around 500 yuan (US$60) costs only 40 yuan (US$5) to produce and keeping costs down was a major reason for poor quality."

• Reputable sexpert Josey Vogels of mymessybedroom fame has her column yanked from the Halifax Daily News in a shameful act of censorship and misplaced puritan reactionism. Womyns'Ware wrote in our support for the reintroduction of Josey's column: "Josey Vogel's candor and intelligence provides a refreshing antidote to the alarmist and regressive attitudes that surround sex education, and women's sexuality in particular. That her recent column has created such a stir that she would be dropped from the Halifax Daily News (after ten years of regularly publishing on all manner of sexual issues) speaks to the importance of sex education for youth AND for adults, and the lengths to which some will go to deny it." We encourage womynsware.com visitors to write in your support as well. Email the Halifax Daily News, and "Marilyn Smulders".

• A new essay by the newest addition to our staff: Lubricating Liberties

• The current issue (April) of Marie Claire has an article on dry sex in South Africa. Apparently, men want 'dry' women because if a woman is wet, it's a sign that she's promiscuous. The men even admit that dry sex isn't as pleasant. And it's adding to the rise of AIDS. And here we are in North America creating products to perpetuate a similar multi-level harm!

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Sex Educators

We at Womyns'Ware are proud to sponsor Canada's Own Sunday Night Sex Show (airing across Canada on the Women's Television Network (now called simply "W") and in the United States on Oxygen). We support host Sue Johanson's frank approach to sex ed with the goal of arming women with *hutzbah* so that they can make good decisions for themselves.

Sue Johanson made sex toys during two episodes of the Sunday Night Sex Show (February 4 and 11, 2001). Some of the suggestions are pretty odd, but hey, everyone needs a hobby. All of Sue's ideas have come from the book Kinky Crafts, if folks want to cast down their knitting needles and take up a new crafty endeavour.

On the April 1, 2001 show, Sue recommended the book The Ethical Slut.

On the Sunday, October 14, 2001 show, Sue Johanson reviewed "The Mother's Guide to Sex" (now retitled "Sexy Mamas"). She had nothing but positive feedback: "Worth every cent", some chapters are just "fantastic".

Sue Johansen reviewed the Impulse Micro Massager on the Sunday, October 21st show and gave it a "Treasure" rating. "Neat little gizmo" "Great little toy" were her comments. We agree! It's unfortunately no longer available, but we will keep you updated!

Sue Johansen is featured in the January 2003 issue of 'O' (the Oprah Winfrey magazine)! She's got an American version of her famous Sunday Night Sex Show in the works. Go Sue!

Not only did Sue come through with her American version of the Sunday Night Sex Show (named Talk Sex), but she's been recognized by Nerve magazine as "refreshingly non-judgmental and preach-free". Yay, Sue!

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Magazines and the News

• The Healthy Living section of Homemaker's Magazine April 2002 issue has an article called "Not Tonight, Dear" by Marcia Kaye. We've come so far in women's magazine content when a writer can publish such a well researched, thoughtful and balanced article on the complexities of women's sexuality, recognizing that "we're not guys. We can become aroused without feeling the desire to act on it. We can stop lubricating even as we become more excited. We can experience desire and arousal but not necessarily have an orgasm. Even if we never have orgasms, we can still be satisfied with our sex life. And even if we're pretty sure we'll have an orgasm, we won't necessarily want to have sex." And then demonstrating that these differences and complexities don't mean that women's sexuality should be pathologized or labelled dysfunctional but rather offering the wise advice that "perfect sex is an unattainable goal, but fulfilling sex is worth pursuing."

• There was an article in the Vancouver Sun on Saturday, January 12, 2002 titled, “Why Good Sex is a Religious Experience”, written by Douglas Todd.

• We convinced the consumer protection program, MarketPlace, to take a look at toxic toys. Following their investigations, we can agree that with the substandard materials so common in the sex toy industry, perhaps the government does have "business in the bedrooms of the nation. Helping make it safe [.]" Chemist Ulrich Krieg, of the German research lab Eco-Umweltinstitut found that some sex toys contain a "toxic soup of chemicals" mandating that "consumers must be concerned with toys of this kind[.]" Links for more information: Rachel's Environment and Health Weekly and CBC's Marketplace.

• Dr. Cheryl Fraser of local Vancouver talk radio station CFUN gave the Clit Lane Vibe a great review on her Friday, December 21, 2001 broadcast. She convinced her friends ("field researchers") to try the Clit Lane and they raved about it! She appreciated how helpful our staff are. She also stressed how comfortable a place we are to shop and how welcoming we are to male shoppers (especially those looking for Christmas gifts for their wives). She read 2 emails from her listeners: one a male who had followed her advice to check out the store and was writing to say he was very happy with how wonderful we are and another from a 17 yr. old female who was afraid she wouldn't be allowed in Womyns'Ware (to which Cheryl replied that she'd of course be welcome and it would be a great place to "start out"). She prefaced all of this by stating that we don't pay her to say these things-- she just loves the store. We stand for the same healthy, open sexual philosophy that she does. Wow! It's nice to be appreciated!

• Cass King's Organ Grinder column has focused recently on the International Month of the Dildo. Read all about it!

A Brief History of the Dildo
How Much is that Dildo in the Window?
Girls will be Boys
Rome wasn't Reamed in a Day
When is a Dong not a Dong?

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Strange But True

• "Sex toys chain wins legal fight" Sex toys and lingerie chain Ann Summers wins its legal fight against a ban on advertising in job centres. The British Department for Work & Pensions (the UK equivalent of Canada's Human Resources Development offices) came up with the silly idea that a renowned sex toy business ought not to be allowed to post job openings at the Department's job centres. The Department even went so far as to describe the type of banned job postings with reference to the business' name! Thanks to deep pockets and a litigious bent, the business was able to have the ban overturned by the Courts.

• Pinch yourself, Dorothy, you ain't in Kansas anymore … but you're still in the good 'ol U.S. of A. where the Supreme Court is soon to decide the constitutionality of the Texas Penal Code provisions that continue to codify "crimes against nature" by providing, in part, that "Deviate Sexual intercourse means (a) any contact between any part of the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another person; or (b) the penetration of the genitals or the anus of another person with an object." Why are the Justices ready to proceed? Because currently otherwise law abiding citizens of the State stand charged and convicted under this provision and the full sitting appeals court declined to overturn the conviction in a challenge to the legislation. For a thoughtful "Talk of the Town" on the case background, see the December 16, 2002 issue of The New Yorker "Comment Unnatural Law" synopsis.

• After several court battles, for the time being, Vibrators remain above the reach of the law in the State of Alabama. More than a dozen states have similar legislation outlawing personal use of vibrators and/or dildos. For more, see www.vday.org

• A reminder to remove batteries from your sex toys before traveling: Woman alleges humiliation in airline sex toy suit

• San Francisco State University student publication's dildo cover artwork has journalism faculty debate censorship…it's funny how bent out of shape some people can still get over even the depiction of a sex toy.

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Sex Toy Reviews

• Independent reviews of three of the products we carry: Gripper, Smartballs, Gigolo (water resistant). This review concurs with our thumbs-down assessment of Sensual Touch and the Audi-Oh vibes. McGill Student Newspaper.

• Reviews of the Ring-A-Ding, Gripper, Grrly Grrl Harness and Hathor Lube by Elaine Miller of Xtra West!
• Review of the Ring-a-Ding by Josey Vogel!
• Review of the WetSpots CD by Heather K Larsen
• Campus.ca review of the Strapper
• Campus.ca review of the Stimulator dill
• Campus.ca review of the Clit Lane
• Campus.ca review of the Butt Really…
• Campus.ca review of the Clit Berry
• Campus.ca review of the Mini Pearl
• Campus.ca review of the Vibe-A-Guy
• Campus.ca review of the Eggstasy Pouch
• Campus.ca review of the G-Force
• Moxie Canoe review of our Sex Toy Guide

Have you spotted a Sex Toy in the media? Tell us all about it!