A brief history of vibrators

This is a true story.

Once upon a time stressed out house-wives across America were treated by their doctor for a condition known as 'congestion of the genitalia' or 'female hysteria'. The treatment of this condition was a 'hysterical paroxysm of relief' (a medical term for an orgasm) via manual stimulation of the vulva and clitoris. Yes, that's right. The good ol' doc would use his fingers.

I'm not kidding.

In case you're wondering if it actually works, you should try it! An orgasm a day keeps the doctor away!

This was all well and good, but those poor old doctors' hands would get very tired. Eventually, in the late 1800s - after centuries of medical hand 'jobs' - the first motorized vibrator was invented  for doctors to treat hysteria patients more quickly and efficiently without getting their hands dirty.

In 1902 Hamilton Beach ~ those same guys who designed my wonderful coffee maker ~ were the first company to patent the electric vibrator in America making it available for the general public. Vibrator ads soon became common in everyday womens mags like Needlecraft and the Woman's Home Companion.

It wasn't until these household vibrators popped up in very early porn movies in the 1920s, that the real hysteria set in. How had everyone missed the fact that this was simply masturbation?

"Now, hang on a minute Doris..... you let Dr. Phil Yupright do 'what' with your lady bits?"

A decade later and these ads were gone. Suddenly 'hysteria' a centuries old recognized medical condition noted as early as 200AD disappeared from medical books all together.

Funny that.

Vibrators in the home (disguised as beauty products or weight loss implements) only grew in popularity, until finally, in the late 1960s, they appeared in a sex shop.

Outrageous, I know.

As recent as the 90s, anti-obscenity laws were passed in states such as Alabama, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia banning the distribution of "any device designed or marketed as useful primarily for the stimulation of human genital organs for anything of pecuniary value."

In Texas these laws were put to the test in 2006, when a Texas Passion Parties Consultant, went on trial for selling sex toys. Passion Parties covered her legal fees and eventually the case was dismissed. It was a victory for women everywhere. Who is anybody to tell us what we can or can't do in the privacy of our bedrooms? 

In 2008 a US Federal Appeals court ruled that banning sex toys violated the Constitution's Fourth Amendment on the right to privacy.

Thank the Lord for that.

But even today Texas vibrators must be sold as 'novelty' items - as opposed to 'medical devices' designed for stimulating the genitals. According to the state's obscenity code (still in existence today), an obscene device is a simulated sexual organ or item designed to stimulate the genitals. It specifically refers to dildos, vibrators, and vaginal shaped toys.

It's amazing to me that our own body parts can be classed as obscene.

Much more proper to use this medical monstrosity with the potential of
blowing up (not in a good way) your vagina if it were to malfunction!!!

I'm just relieved Texas is so forward thinking. Apparently in Alabama you're only allowed to have one if you have a doctors note.