"Making a sex toy gender-free makes it more accessible to everybody," says Amy Boyajian, CEO and co-founder of Wild Flower. The adult store for sexual well-being will release its first gender-free vibrator, Enby ($74), at the end of this month. "We want to bring queer experiences to the forefront because gendering sex toys—or subscribing only to certain ways of using a toy—often leaves out queer bodies and experiences."
"When we label a sex product 'for women' or 'for men,' it doesn’t take into account all of the people who don’t identify with those labels." —Logan Levkoff, PhD
The marketing of personal pleasure products can also be damaging to those who don't identify within the gender binary, according to Logan Levkoff, PhD, a relationship and sexuality educator. Much of the market stills splashes the toys in colors traditionally associated with being male or female (i.e., cotton candy pink and baby blue). And the slogans are no better. “When we label a sex product 'for women' or 'for men,' it doesn’t take into account all of the people who don’t identify with those labels and winds up preventing people from exploring their sexuality using these items, because of an assumption that it’s not 'for them,'" Levkoff says.
Brands like Wild Flower—and PicoBong, the maker of another gender-neutral toy called the Transformer ($130)—are re-writing the rules. These companies design toys that accommodate the needs of every gender, and thus revolutionize the way people masturbate and/or play with their partners.
The inspiration behind Enby is one example. After going through a gender affirmation surgery, one of Boyajian's friends shared that she had to throw out all of her sex toys and start over. "That was one of our light bulb moments: we wanted to create something that could take you through any transition, no matter your anatomy or identity," says Boyajian. "No one should feel like their body or sexual desires are an afterthought."
"No one should feel like their body or sexual desires are an afterthought." —Amy Boyajian, CEO and co-founder of Wild Flower
The innovative curves of Enby reveal how it can caters to the sexual hotspots of every body. But Boyajian says the sexual creativity Enby encourages is the biggest source of pride. "We had folks of all anatomies and identities test Enby to ensure we were meeting all their needs. Many of them came up with even more creative ways to use Enby, so the possibilities are endless," says Boyajian.
The hand-sized device really is a giant step in a more inclusive direction. And they're only just getting started. Picturing the future of the industry, Boyajian sees a world where users—not brands—dictate the use of each device. "For too long, the sex toy industry has prescribed identities and preferences onto its users. When we give customers the room to explore, we're creating space for them to prioritize self-love and pleasure on their own terms," says Boyajian.
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