The sex toy industry is amidst a branding overhaul. Spurred on by booming pandemic sales and the growing popularity of smart sex toys, a new image of pleasure is emerging. What used to be skeevy storefronts crowded with phallic objects are now modern start-ups often headed by women and queer folx with a strong and intentional commitment to self-induced joy.
Even during this much-needed masturbatory evolution, there’s a gaping void in the industry. Sex toys are still generally marketed as a way to snag and orgasm sans partner or to rejuvenate up a relationship. These are valid reasons to buy one, but what’s missing from this conversation is disabled folx. Sex toys aren’t just play things for many in the disabled community, but powerful assistive technology that upends an abelist, anti-pleasure culture.
