Vibrators evolved from medical quackery to feminist sex toys.
Historical inaccuracies surrounding vibrator usage challenge traditional narratives.
Deep dives
History of Vibrators and Early Tools
Vibrators have been used historically for medical purposes such as treating constipation and to restore sexual vigor for men. The earliest dildo known dates back to the Ice Age, made of silt stone, approximately 28,000 years old. Throughout history, cultural responses to dildos have varied, featuring images from Egypt and Japan depicting public moments with dildos.
Medical Diagnoses and Treatment for Hysteria
Hysteria, a diagnosis characterized by various symptoms including anxiety and sexual behaviors, was prevalent for centuries. Treatment for hysteria included massages leading to 'hysterical paroxysm,' which essentially involved inducing orgasms. The belief was that this treatment could resolve imbalanced bodily vibrations causing illnesses, including hysteria.
Marketing and Usage of Vibrators
Vibrators were marketed as household appliances, promoted for various medical conditions and general well-being benefits. While some marketed purposes included slimming and physical well-being, the use of vibrators was not explicitly sexual in these ads. The devices were also used for rectal treatments and to counteract masturbation-induced medical issues.
Critique of Existing Scholarly Work and Historical Biases
Scholars have scrutinized the historical narrative around the invention and usage of vibrators. Recent research questions the accuracy of claims that physicians used vibrators sexually to treat hysteria. The limitations of primary sources have been highlighted, showing how social structures and biases influence historical interpretations.
It's a sexual health episode! This week, Mike and Aubrey dive into the hotly debated medical history of vibrators and ask: who fact-checks the fact-checkers?
Note: A previous version of this episode included language that referred to “the female downstairs,” implying both that gender is linked to genitals (it isn’t) and that vibrators were used primarily by cis women (they weren’t). We love our trans listeners and we don’t want to do anything that makes them feel excluded, so we’ve removed the sections where that language appeared. We'll be discussing this and our approach to handling feedback in more detail soon. Thanks to everyone who wrote in to let us know! — Mike
