‘Dildos have been around since prehistoric times, but it is only in the last decade that their design has been in the hands of women
Hey, don’t mock masturbation,’ quipped Woody Allen. ‘It’s sex with someone I love.’
And so it is. Self-gratification is also healthy and natural, but only recently have we felt comfortable enough to talk about it. And women should dispel what moralising religious busybodies have to say on the topic. The clitoris is the only human body part whose sole function is pleasure – if God didn’t want you to have fun, He wouldn’t have given it to you.
For women there are a dazzling array of masturbatory sex toys available; with the dildo being the most popular. These have been around since prehistoric times, but it is only in the last decade that their design has been in the hands of women.
Prehistoric and Ancient Dildos
Archaeologists have found a siltstone dildo in a cave in
There is some debate as to how these sex-toys got their name. The most popular theory is that it comes from the Latin dilatare (open wide) or Italian diletto (to delight). Others have it that it came from the old English phrase dil doul, which is a reference to penis.
Dildos in Classic Literature
From Aristophane’s 411BC comedy, Lysistrata, comes this fairly breathless piece: ‘And so, girls, when fucking time comes…not the faintest whiff of it anywhere, right? From the time those Milesians betrayed us, we can’t even find our eight-fingered leather dildos. At least they’d serve as a sort of flesh replacement for our poor cunts.’
There are references to dildos in Arabian Nights and representations in the Kama Sutra. Their first appearance in English was in Thomas Nash’s Choise of Valentines or the Merie Ballad of Nash his Dildo (late 16th century). They also appear in Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist and William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale.
Dildos in the Victorian Era
The Victorian Era was a time of denial of sexual pleasure for women. This did not stop physicians treating women for ‘hysteria’. The symptoms were irritability, heavy vaginal fluids, heavy uterus and fantasies, which was relieved by clitoral stimulation by a steam driven contraption.
With the advent of electricity the fifth household appliance to be powered was the dildo, which came about long before the toaster and goes to show the Victorians had their priorities right. These therapeutic devices were popular in spas and later featured in Elizabeth Arden’s and Helena Rubenstein’s establishments.
The 20th Century
Dildos began finding their way into women’s magazines in the early 20th century. They even appeared in the staid Sears Roebuck Catalogue, which sold them as ‘a device for anxiety and female tension’, promising relaxation and contentment.
But in the 1930’s they began to be featured in erotic films, which led to them being associated with smut.
Materials and Design
Early dildos were made from anything from stone and wood to metals and camel dung hardened by resin. Though their size and shape differed, most were designed by men in some form of the phallus.
The 21st century has been marked by great strides in dildo design as women have become more involved. This has led to most good dildos being made from silicone, which is the safest material for your vagina as it is non-porous and easily cleaned. There have also been moves to shapes better suited to clitoral stimulation.
Naughty Things for Nice Girls
Today there are safe outlets for women, owned and staffed by women. We recommend Lola Montez, which stocks naughty things for nice girls. Here you will be able to get professional advice and buy a dildo without feeling intimidated.
Sharon Gordon, the founder of Lola Montez, says men should not feel that a dildo or vibrator is a challenge to their status, ‘Remember, a dildo or vibrator can’t make tea, clean the pool or fetch the kids.’
