It’s a shame that discoveries and inventions about sex aren’t rewarded with Nobel prizes – these five people certainly should have been.
Joseph Granville and the electric vibrator
In 1880, psychotherapist Joseph Granville came up with a way to treat female hysteria, which he believed was caused by ladies’ lack of sexual satisfaction. He built a metal device with a special round tip that vibrated.
The “healing effect” worked. Women quickly got rid of “psychological problems”. It wasn’t long before vibrators were mass-produced commercially.
Result: Since then, vibrators have not changed conceptually, although they are available in the strangest forms. Many inventors were intrigued by the idea of a vibrating object, and both vibrating vaginas and vibrating anuses were invented.
After the start of World War II, German women found themselves in such a dire situation that they had to work as prostitutes. When three of Beate’s friends became pregnant at the same time, she wrote a simple and clear article on a stolen typewriter about preventing unwanted pregnancies using the calendar method. For 5 pounds of butter, Beate agreed with a typographer to have her article printed. 2,000 booklets were produced, which Beate Uhse sold to passers-by on the street at a ridiculous price. The booklets were sold out instantly.
In 1946, Beate Uhse opened the world’s first sex shop in Germany. Later, she founded a film studio and a 24-hour erotic television channel.
Result: Practically all major cities in Europe and America have a sex shop.
Margaret Sanger and the Hormonal Birth Control Pill
Margaret was born into a poor family with many children at a time when people only knew about condoms, which were banned in the United States. Looking at her mother, who was barely able to provide for her large family, teenage Margaret swore to herself that she would create a “medicine” for pregnancy. Later, she secretly sold the jewels given to her by her husband and used the money to commission “delicate” research from the famous biologist Gregory Pincus, with whom she shared the idea of miracle drug. In 1960, a biologist developed hormonal contraceptive pills.
Result: Contraceptives now even exist as injections or as subcutaneous implants, which are inserted in capsule form under the skin.
Robert Chesebrough patented the first petroleum jelly in 1872, which he called Vaseline. Although not intended for sex, it became a popular choice of lubricant in the mid-1900s because petroleum jelly is a thick compound that has waterproof properties.
At the end of the 19th century, the chemist Frederic Kipping was a pioneer in polymer research, which revolutionized many manufacturing industries and made one of the greatest scientific contributions to the development of modern lubricants. He called this polymer silicone.
Result: There are about 50 different types of lubricants in any sex shop.
Simon Campbell and Viagra
In 1991, pharmacist Simon Campbell led studies of heart preparations involving several men in their fifties who had been affected by heart disease. To Campbell’s surprise, all the men experienced a sudden increase in potency. Specialists realized that the potency was caused by the side effects of the new pills. Soon humanity learned about a new substance – “Phosphodiesterase-5′ and the first drug to use it was Viagra.
Back in 1894, Ruth Smythers, Reverend Clergyman L.D. Smithers’ beloved wife, posted these little findings on how to navigate the complicated world of sex. Aside from the assumption that sex is terribly annoying and that women don’t like it at all, things haven’t changed as drastically as you might think. Here’s sex advice from a clergyman’s wife.
1. Men used to like sex too. SHOCKER.
“Give little, give seldom, and above all, give grudgingly. Most men, if not denied, would demand sex almost every day.”
2. Headaches have always been a good excuse
“Imagined illnesses, sleepiness, and headaches are among a woman’s best friends in this matter.”
3. Make-up sex was not an option back then
“Arguing, teasing and scolding also prove to be very effective in dissuading a man from having sex when used late at night.”
4. The doggy style was considered abnormal
“Most men are quite perverted by nature and if given they would engage in all sorts of the most depraved activities. These practices include, but are not limited to: performing ordinary actions in extraordinary positions; kissing a woman’s body and offers to kiss their own vile bodies.”
5. Porn in 1894? Well, yuck…
“Nudity, talking about sex, reading stories about sex, looking at photographs and drawings that depict or suggest sex are unpleasant habits that a man is likely to engage in if he is allowed to do so.”
6. Darkness is your friend
“Sex, if it cannot be prevented, should be done only in complete darkness. You must let him find you in the dark. There is always the hope that he will stumble and suffer some minor injury that she can use as an excuse to deny him sexual access.”
7. Who needs that foreplay
“If he tries to kiss her on the lips, she has to turn her head slightly so that the kiss lands harmlessly on her cheek instead. If he tries to kiss her hand, she should make a fist.”
8. Falling asleep right after sex is nothing new
“Many men derive most of their sexual satisfaction from a peaceful exhaustion immediately after the act ends.”
9. If in doubt, fake a bladder weakness
“If he lifts her dress and tries to kiss her anywhere else, she should quickly pull her dress back into place, jump out of bed and announce that nature calls.”
Although it is praised that prostitution did not exist during the USSR and that sex was intended only for reproductive purposes, most people suspect that this is not true. Of course, it was, only it was not allowed to talk about it in public or to express it in any wider way. Soviet-era art also did not feature sex or erotic films, and only women and men could be seen in art films, and in the next frame, they stood happily at the door of the maternity hospital.
However, despite the fact that sex was taboo during the USSR, one could still find a sex toy here and there. If a working man endured, he or she could buy something equivalent to what anyone can now find in the simplest sex shop. Of course, the assortment was not too wide. Moreover, the vast majority of these subjects were never associated with the provision of intimate pleasure. These devices were commonly referred to as “electric face and neck massagers” or “muscle tone massagers” and the like.
Pharmacy as ‘sex shop’
Until the end of the eighties, people could buy condoms made in the Bakovskaya factory, which were powdered with talcum powder (white powder). In order to use them normally, a friction-reducing lubricant was needed – usually medical or cosmetic Vaseline, which could be bought at a pharmacy.
Although condoms were available, there was no talk of sex toys. The Soviet woman was not allowed to think of anything like that, she had to think about building communism and fulfilling five-year plans in one year.
The most interesting thing is that pharmacies offered different “vibrators”, but they were called differently. For example, one of these devices was the so-called electric massager VP-1 to increase muscle tone. This device came with four different rubber shapes of different shapes in pink, which was not very typical of the gray industry of the USSR.
There was also a device called “Pulsar”. It had a curved handle and several interchangeable rubber sleeves. The USSR quality mark was printed on the packaging of the device. It’s time to say that not only can we build rockets and submarines, but also each other’s vibrator!
There was another such device – “Vigor”. It had several modifications. The latest model had four different couplings and several vibration speeds and cost as much as 20 rubles.
Even those living in the USSR could buy a device called “Tonuss-1”. It was already equipped with five different couplings and was able to vibrate at a frequency of 50 hertz. There were many others: VMP , Kharkovchanka , Elvo, Charodey, and so on. All this could be bought in pharmacies.
A special design for the bravest
USSR citizens could also buy sex toys from fraternal Polish land. They were much safer in this respect because they had created a vibrator that looked more like a man’s fall. The Polish vibrator was called – “tourist massage apparatus”. Why tourism? Because it didn’t have a plug. So you can take it on a trip. It was equipped with two R14 batteries.
Unfortunately, this sex toy in the Soviet Union could only be bought ‘for a blat’, and formally it was considered a massage machine. Interestingly, the device came with instructions with an erotic touch, in which a half-naked woman massages her face and then uses this device on her body lower and lower.
What can we conclude from this? It is clear that in Soviet times, pharmacies were fully functioning as sex toy stores. Moreover, no one ever called these things by their real names, and, most likely, they were especially reluctant to have them in their homes.
What are the strangest and most surreal sex trends in history? How have people had sex in the past? How has sex changed over the centuries? People have been involved in this type of physical intimacy since time immemorial, and historically, sex has been and still is exciting, full of interesting techniques, trends, and fashion items.
This topic was often considered too intimate to discuss. And even the conditions of private life at homemade people feel uncomfortable. This led to the imposition of various rules imposed by society or dominant groups, such as the church teaching people how to properly build relationships with their loved ones. The Catholic Church believed that sex was for reproductive purposes only, while others opted for a more hedonistic approach. These restrictions created some rather strange ways for people to release their accumulated sexual tension.
1. Pleasure devices were used for medical purposes
Nowadays, it may seem obvious that women feel the same way as men, but in reality, this way of thinking has been introduced relatively recently. Before the 20th century, women were considered pure and innocent, and it was, therefore, absurd to think that they could experience lust. The accumulated dissatisfaction of women was called hysteria. Curing this so-called hysteria meant visiting a doctor’s office so that they could massage the afflicted area with a specially designed electrical pleasure device, from which modern equivalents also originated.
2. In ancient Egypt, quite rough sex was practiced
People practiced various rough sex games long before ‘Fifty Shades of Gray’ introduced it into the daily lives of modern people. In ancient Egypt, intimacy was revealed and often even expressed in public in many ways, which, given the time period, might seem shocking to us.
3. Lipstick was used to indicate the “skills” of oral sex
When it comes to the appeal of lipstick, thank you to Heisel Bishop, a World War I chemist who invented a lipstick that doesn’t smear. The lipstick itself has existed since ancient times. In ancient Egypt, these cosmetics were used by both women and men. The sex workers’ brightly colored lips meant that the man was endowed with particularly good oral sex skills.
Of course, the law did not prevent people from doing so. An infamous sodomy practitioner, Thomas Granger, was executed for this reason.
5. The postal service confiscated the sex toys
The idea of taking away mail because it doesn’t meet a standard seems weird? Believe it or not, in 19th-century America, there were official censors in the postal service who were obliged to seize any obscene mail, and one such person was Anthony Comstock.
He believed in the moral ideal of Victorian times and confiscated thousands of fun toys during his lifetime, which he considered inappropriate.
6. Spici shoe toes
One of the most popular fashion trends in Northern Europe in the Middle Ages was to wear shoes with pointed toes. It was believed that the sharper the toes of a man’s shoes, the larger his size.
7. Bread as a sex toy
The Greeks were crazy about sex, as evidenced by the interesting ways they released their sexual tension. They used almost everything for it, including hardened bread. They were called Olisbo-Kollix and were soaked in olive oil for maximum slip.
8. Foot fetish as a method of intimacy
One of the most attractive and mysterious parts of the body is a woman’s legs. Foot and foot fetish is so widespread that this intimate trend was already present in 17th century Europe. At that time, various diseases were raging here, so proximity was not the best idea. It didn’t stop people from being creative and starting to turn to foot fetish.
9. The Greeks believed that lettuce was anti-aphrodisiac
Healthy sex life was an integral part of the Greek way of life, so they had to follow a careful diet to maintain their sexual appetite. The list of foods that should not be eaten included salad, as it was thought to cause erection problems.
10. Ointment from mouse feces
The Romans were as crazy as the Greeks in terms of lust. Although they actively engaged in various intimate activities, sometimes it was simply out of place. Therefore, they came up with an ointment that was designed to reduce men’s desire for sex. What was it made of? Of course, from mouse feces.
11. Condoms of animal origin
There are many things that people owe to modern medicine and science. One of them is the invention of latex, which is the material from which most modern condoms are made. The Romans did not have such a privilege. Their condoms were made from animal parts.
12. Crackers to reduce cravings
Modern ‘Graham’ crackers were first made in the 19th century. The inventor Graham himself believed that a bad, unhealthy diet was to blame for lust, so he developed a methodology for living a better life without sin, and called his followers “Grahamians.”
He thought that white flour was unhealthy, so he figured out a way to make bread with wholemeal flour. He also believed that a diet consisting of bread and water made by him was enough to eliminate the temptation after sex.
13. Pharaohs of Egypt and the river Nile
The creator of life in Egyptian mythology is the Atum. Want to know how he created life? By sharing your “fluids”. The myth is that his excessive division caused the Nile. Therefore, in honor of him, the Egyptian pharaohs would faithfully restore this scene by splashing their “juice of life” on the Nile.
14. Octopus-inspired images from the 19th century
We can only try to understand the Japanese surreal intimate passion for tentacles and various animated images. But this is not just a modern trend; it stems from popular pursuits in the far 1800s.
The first artist to depict the intercourse of an octopus-man was none other than the famous Hokusai, who painted the Great Wave of Kanagawa. In 1814, he painted Fisherman’s wife’s dream, which shows the intimate activities of an octopus and a woman.
15. Extreme treatment methods
People born after the 19th century were fortunate to have the privileges of modern medicine to cure many ailments, such as erectile dysfunction. The only way to prevent dysfunction in the 17th century was to “cut” oxygen to its peak. It was considered a legitimate means of curing a person of his problems, although for obvious reasons it usually failed.
16. Foot tickers in the Russian Empire
The 18th-century Russian Empire consisted of a tsar and/or a queen whose power over her country gave them many privileges, including their strange fetishes. The Tsarina often used the services of official foot tickers. Their responsibilities included but were not limited to, beating and obscene music.
17. The Catholic Church introduces a posture in which to have sex
18. Daoism encourages a man not to “finish” a woman
Daoism is a teaching of Chinese philosophy that believes that everything has an energy called Qi. They believed that the proper flow of Qi is vital to a healthy and enlightened life. Therefore, it was believed that men’s body fluids are a vital life force and that draining too much would also drain Qi. To prevent this from happening, men were encouraged to avoid ejaculation and practice self-control after intimate activities .
19. Sex with animals was involved in the Celtic inauguration
These bad, strange, and sometimes even scientifically inaccurate sex tips reflect the norms of society and the most popular beliefs about sex at certain times in history. Some are even quite shocking. I must say that we can be happy that 2020 is!
1900: Do not sleep in the same bed with your partner
The 1902 Marriage Handbook, ” What a Young Wife Ought to Know,” suggested a way to keep a spark in your sex life — never, never sleep in the same bed with your partner. “It is a habit in many English homes that everyone has their own personal room, which to our freedom-loving nature may seem like a rather cold habit; but isn’t it better at times when simple self-control seems more difficult? True, the door between these two rooms should rarely be closed, but the fact that there are two rooms frees you from many temptations and eliminates the familiarity that creates satisfaction even in married life, ”the book says. Furthermore, women are advised to have sex only if the goal is pregnancy.
1910: Self-satisfaction is bad
In Walter Gallichan’s 1918 book, The Psychology of Marriage, one thing was certainly clear: touching it will only lead to illness, mental illness, and the destruction of society.
As a precaution, parents were advised to monitor their children’s sexual appetites, such as interfering and ruining their lives, to deter them from doing so.
“Parents should recognize that auto-eroticism is suitable for spontaneous expression in young children; that this is often an example of playmates and that such practices often begin between the ages of 14 and 15, at a time when the sexual system is beginning to mature and new desires are emerging. A young child can be protected with hygiene products and kind instructions about the important role of the genitals in the life plan. Health activities should provide a simple, nutritious, non-stimulating diet, rational clothing, washing these parts of the body, free exercise and encouragement to play outdoors, as well as cultivating exciting interests and habits, ”the book said.
1920s: Women may need surgery to stop masturbating
In 1922, William Joseph Robinson’s book ” Woman: Her Sex and Love Life ” focused on a more radical approach to masturbation: if parents catch a daughter by touching their clitoris, they should simply consider surgery. “All girls, big or small, who have a tendency to masturbate or simply touch their genitals, or who complain of itching, should have their clitoris checked and, if contact is found, it should be corrected with surgery. This can easily be done under local anesthesia. With frightening thoughts of a scalpel at her private body, it was time to stop the girls from complacency.
1930: Do not reject a woman, otherwise she will be confused
“Women were weaker than men. Women are easily affected, even if it harms them. They worry about being more beautiful and pleasant than they take care of their health and happiness. If she is rejected, she becomes truly savage. Her eyes glow with anger and almost squeeze out of their places. Not far from “complete madness.”
1940: Don’t talk to a man in bed – especially don’t talk naughty
Having a book called What Men Don’t Like About Women is pretty much guaranteed to contain an endless amount of useless advice. This book, written by Thomas D. Horton in 1945, states that men hate it when women are unable to keep their damn mouth in bed, and it is especially annoying when they use vulgar language.
“Women often shock men with their speeches in bed. They use words and expressions that are rarely used even in salons. Their speeches are also repulsive in other respects. They say, “Oh dear, I’ve been with a lot of men, so I know, and I want to tell you, you’re the best, really, dear.” your mouth and mind when you go to bed next to a man, ”says the book.
1950: If a wife does not fulfill her husband’s desire for sex, then cheating is acceptable
Reverend Alfred Henry Thirer, in his book Satisfaction and Happy Marriage, written in 1951, compares a lazy cook to a wife unwilling to have sex. Such wives obviously deserve to be cheated.
This is a good wife who is always ready to satisfy her husband’s appetite for food and sex: “She remembered his choice of meat and took care to cut the exact slice of meat.” decoration… and, entering the house, she greets her with a smile and a kind touch of love. “
A bad wife is described as follows: “He is constantly made to eat indigestible meals, cold and tasteless, improperly cooked, placed on a kitchen table, covered with a dirty tablecloth. She doesn’t have to wonder if her husband will call often from the office and announce that he will have to stay longer tonight. “
Understand? A finely served dinner is offering himself whenever he wants, but a cold sandwich is a woman’s unwillingness to have sex and a man’s excuses to cheat on his wife at the time.
1960: Petting breaks your parents’ hearts
In 1961, counselor Anna Landers wrote a book, Since You Ask Me, in which she shared some great – and some abnormally outdated – tips for sex. On the topic of “petting” she wrote:
“Petting can:
Make you feel guilty and ashamed;
Damage to your reputation;
It can make you lose your guy because he may think you are cheap;
Lead to pregnancy;
Break the hearts of your parents. ”
Here’s a way to make young girls feel guilty. The mere idea that a woman is responsible for letting her sexual desire and emotions flow is an outdated prejudice.
1970: It is important for a woman to tear her own virgin film early
Attitudes towards sex changed significantly in the 1970s, when many couples began to feel safer to enjoy giving and receiving sex, both in serious relationships and beyond. However, there were some ideas that continued to spread, which now seem completely irrational. In 1970, the booklet Our Bodies (Ourselves ) was published, in which the film of a woman’s virginity was still a controversial topic.
“It is very easy for a woman to stretch her hymen by inserting a finger into her vagina and periodically applying a little pressure to the side of the entrance.”
“Some women go to gynecologists and have them stretch their virginity.”
To be fair, there is a valuable point in the booklet about the virgin film: men who considered it important to “pick their partner’s flower” had no idea how incoherent this idea really was – and women were urged not to fall into this trap, to take care of their virginity films. However, it is sad to think of women for whom a simple flap of the skin caused such stress.
1980: Reject someone by making yourself completely unattractive
In the ’80s, women just had to sit down and wait for a man to call them. But in case you thought men had gotten more mature in a relationship, read how a guy says his friend made sure all the aggressive ladies got the message that he didn’t want them to block his phone line:
“One friend deftly rejects supporters, accidentally mentioning so much allergy and eccentricity that a poor caller will eventually feel relieved if rejected.”
In other words, “It’s not your fault, it’s me and my disgusting inability to withstand pollen. You really won’t miss anything, little one. “
1990: Sex robots destroy traditional marriage
In 1997, an article entitled “The Effects of Robotic Sex” appeared in Futurist magazine, and this raised real concerns: what will happen when sexy sex bots replace women in bed? “Marriage can be destroyed by sex robots. Husband chooses sex with a sex robot, estranging from his wife; the jealous wife destroys her sex robot’s competitors and sues the manufacturer. “
The message was clear: sex robots are a bad idea (assuming the vibrators are not related to the robots?). Fortunately, so far, sexbots have probably destroyed only a few marriages.
2000: Sharpen your feelings – literally
Susan Heyman’s The Everything Kama Sutra Book is full of sex gems, but one really stands out: “Sharpen your senses by sharpening your tongue like hell, sipping mint vodka or tea and giving it down for oral pleasure.”
“Alcohol has a sensational heating effect, and mint is an instant cooler,” writes Heiman.
While it is true that many men may be aroused by this, they need to know their audience. One man will probably get excited about it, but another will say, “What the hell did you just put on my dick and why?”
2010: If you need a lubricant, you’re lazy
In 2015, Maxim magazine asked MMA star, Ronda Rousey, about sex, and she said women never needed a lubricant.
“In general, a girl needs one minute. He has to prepare her. You will never need a lubricant in your life. If you need a lubricant, you’re lazy and don’t waste time. ”
Here are just a few times when you may need a lubricant (and no, you’re not so lazy): after giving birth, during breastfeeding, on certain days of the month, such as immediately after menstruation, and when you’re really tired, you still want sex, but you can’t give 10 minutes to the foreplay.
People’s opinions and memories about Soviet life in Latvia differ. Some describe this period of time as harsh childhood memories, while others suggest that this devil is not as black as their clay. Whatever the associations of the population with the Soviet period, one thing is clear – there was no sex in the Soviet Union! Was it anyway? This time we will look at the monotonous field of sex in the USSR and try to understand where and how this phrase about the absence of sex originated.
THERE IS NO SEX IN THE USSR – HOW DID THIS SAYING COME ABOUT?
”No sex in the USSR, and we are categorically against sex!” Immediately following the words of a Russian girl Lyudmila Ivanova behalf described the demographic situation in the vast Soviet Union. What the girl said not only surprised the audience of the TV bridge that took place on July 17, 1986, but also caused something like an insurmountable storm of laughter.
SEX – THE BIGGEST SOVIET TABOO
The TV bridge took place in the form of a discussion in which a number of young women from the United States and the Soviet Union had agreed to take part. Compared to America, where the media of that time was crowded with sexual themes, sex on this side of the ocean, or the territory ruled by communist rule, was like an inviolable taboo – only a few dared to talk about it.
NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED IN SEX
In addition to the view that the discussion about and around intimacy is, to put it mildly, superfluous, during the Soviet years there was an opinion that sex should not and should not change anything. Proof of this fact is the statement of domestic sex expert Rita Lasmane in one of the few interviews about and around Soviet sex. The woman, referring to her own personal memories of intimate life in the Soviet years, said:
“I remember a time when I once went to the hospital, where the bride of the militia next to me was whining about her beloved being perverted, that is, suddenly offering the lady to be upstairs during sex.”
Thanks to this case alone, we can understand how uniform and monotonous the sex of the communist regime has been. While most people were convinced that the subject of sex should be left in the deep fog, that is, in the dark, quiet, and under the covers, there were also some daredevils who were willing to dare and try more. However, the Soviet society used to call these teenagers “sick”.
FEMALE ORGASM – WHAT IS IT?
There was also no place for talks about the pleasure of the fair sex in the harsh Soviet world. Often, when describing the love life of that time, women refer to the saying “a woman’s destiny is to love and suffer.” This phrase perfectly describes not only the everyday worries and anxieties of the fair sex but also their destiny in bed. Although there was no talk of sex, it was clear to everyone that a man “ceases” but a woman? There was little understanding of female orgasm at that time – Soviet sex was more like a child’s factory because knowledge of intimacy during the Soviet era was also rather shallow.
SOVIET SEXUAL UPBRINGING – ROUND AND BOLD ZERO
Continuing a little about the norms of sex education in the Soviet Union, in two words, there was no such place in the communist world. Books and any other kind of educational materials about sex were hidden on the highest bookshelves and in the farthest corners of sections.
Of course, this insane lack of information very often led to unplanned pregnancies for the first time during sexual intercourse.
Only a few people were able to find literature related to sexual relations, until in 1981 a publication entitled “In the Name of Love” by the local author Jānis Zālītis appeared on library shelves. This book could be called a real jewel in the context of the Soviet Union – it was one of the first editions to offer the audience under communist power a more comprehensive knowledge of sex education, as well as problems related to the course of sexual intercourse.
Sexy gossip is nothing new. It is safe to say that as long as sex has existed (read: people), there have been various fetishes, strangeness, and all the juicy facts associated with it. Although attitudes towards sex have changed over the years, depending on culture and perspective, one thing is the same: people definitely like to have sex.
Here are some interesting sex facts and stuff that are definitely not taught in school:
1600 BC: In Egypt, women used a cotton cloth soaked in a mixture of fruit juice, honey, and dates as a spermicide and placed it in their vaginas.
In 700 BC: the ancient Greeks, who went to war, gave their wives bread dildos or ‘olbocollicus‘, which replaced them in their absence.
During the Jin Dynasty, the Chinese began using many crazy sex toys, such as penis rings and sleeves.
In addition, there have been reports of the use of goat’s eyelids (with lashes still attached, possibly to promote clitoral stimulation in female partners). Eventually, penis rings made of ivory and jade began to appear in the 1600s, and some of them even had dragons with carved fork tongues.
1450: The first mention of pubic wigs or ‘mercenaries’ is made. There are two general theories as to why a pubic hair wig was needed during the day: one is that prostitutes had to shave their hair to avoid pubic lice, but they did not want to look so ‘naked’. The second theory notes that prostitutes wore mercenaries to hide any signs of syphilis.
1790–1809: Napoleon wrote to Josephine’s wife: “ I will be home in eight days. Don’t wash! Says Karol Que, PhD, a permanent sexologist at Good Vibrations.
1848-1880:
The pre-Hippie sex community ‘Oneida’ was established in New York State. ” When we think of sex and communes, we usually imagine communities in the 1960s, but also communities in the 19th century,” says sexologist Queen. The Oneidians believed in a system of “free love” in which any member could have sex with any other member of the community as long as they agreed. At the end of the commune, the Oneida silverware company was established, and yes, it is still operating.
1894 – Michigan physician John Harvey Kellogg invents Kellogg’s breakfast cereal in an effort to curb masturbation. He thought that the tastier the food, the more likely you would not be aroused.
1900 – Vibrators were invented to treat women with a condition called “hysteria,” according to sexologist Quina. The healing effects of vibrators were called “hysterical relief paroxysms”. Fortunately, the word “orgasm” is shorter.
In 1917, the first LGBT publications, Les Mouches Fantastiques, were launched in North America. They were created by Montreal-based lesbian poet Elsa Gidlova and her friend Roswell George Mills.
1918 – 30,000 women are imprisoned under the Chamberlain-Kahn Act, later called the American Plan. The goal of the American plan was to combat the spread of STDs among American soldiers by targeting American women directly. These women were forced to undergo gynecological examinations, imprisoned, and subjected to horrific “treatment”, including sterilization, as well as treatment for mercury and arsenic if they were diagnosed with STDs. Sex workers, dark-skinned women, and immigrant women were treated even more harshly.
The fact that mercury treatment and sterilization did not work was not taken into account, as venereal disease vectors were mostly soldiers.
