No Shame As Vibrators Hit Grocery Store Shelves

Vibrators and other “toys” have now become as common as buying groceries as condom brands tune into their customer’s vibes.

I remember being a teenager (which for me wasn’t too long ago), with a new boyfriend and a new drive for all things Sex. We were high schoolers, young and in love, but not stupid. So, we constantly faced the battle of buying condoms.

It was always a game: how discreetly could we grab them and run to the cash register manned by the youngest cashier? Fear of what others might think, we were red-faced and sweating—and not in a good way. We finally managed a perfect scheme: Stop and Shop had self check out! Grabbing the condoms and sprinting to the stand, we almost always made it through without a second glance from anyone else. The last thing we wanted was an abstinence supporter preaching at us or frat boys winking at me.

Of course, buying intimate items are still a pain. Telling my parents I needed birth control sure was fun. But, a recent influx of sex-supporting individuals promoting a positive sexual image is making the whole secretive act less necessary. Couples everywhere are bringing new “tools” into the bedroom and finding amazing, toe-curling results.

“I know women will buy them at Duane Reade, and as a lifelong cheerleader for sexual empowerment I’m thrilled at this development,” Rachel Venning, owner of a chain of sex toy shops, told The New York Times.

“It’s one more step in the evolution of vibrators to just another consumer product, unburdened of its freight of shame, sexual defect and sluttiness.”

Durex and Trojan have both slowly been introducing new vibrating items into their line of products for some time now. Starting with vibrating rings and working up to full-blown vibrators, sales are outstanding.

“Consumers are definitely not shy about this kind of purchase in the retail environment,” said Alan Cheung, senior brand manager for Durex. He said that over the last six months, sales have gone up 60 percent.

People are becoming more comfortable with the idea and individuals are beginning to see themselves as people worthy of a healthy sex life, complete with an orgasm and all. The stigma of buying condoms or anything sexual is slowly being diminished. It’s possible that as buying vibrators becomes more accepted, condoms will become innocent, more like buying tampons— revealing that we have sexual organs, but no cause for conversation. This makes the future look bright for young teens who are struggling with embarrassment like we did. And eventually, vibrators will be the same exact way.

Of course, not everyone will take to this idea. There will probably still be little old ladies glaring at you as you purchase your toy, but such is life. There’s no way to make everyone happy, so it’s best to please ourselves, sexually and emotionally. The haters will go on hating, that is, until their find their own favourite gizmo.

Contact the author here: CrazyColleen@morningquickie.com