Is the stigma surrounding sex toys justified?

[bzcxx]

Most sex toy owners feel reticent to talk about their ‘collection’ openly (even with close friends) due to how stigmatised sex toys are.

A large preponderance of people are conditioned from young to feel guilt or shame when masturbating, much less using toys as a masturbatory aid.

I seek to understand why is self-pleasure so stigmatised across all ethnicities, religions and age groups.

Should the stigma be dropped and the shame of owning sex toys be removed?

[SnowedIn]

I don't think there's a stigma, per se. I think people choose not to talk about sex and the things they use for/in/with sex. I think in some circles there's a stigma about masturbation and also about anal sex, and toys play a role in both of those so they get stigma by association.

Here's the thing though: even if there is a stigma (and I don't think it is), it's probably not going away nor is any associated shame. You just can't change people's minds on this when they decided that.

[mattyprince]

I still think there is a stigma, embarrassment or shame about owning them. My wife had never owned a sex toy until we got together in our early twenties, she went through the whole of university without a sex toy, I found that so surprising. We now have a vast and varied collection and we love using toys together, but even though we have a wonderful sex life, we still wouldn't admit to our closest friends what particular toys we own, just feels like an intimate detail we wouldn't want to share.

[mattyprince]

Thanks for the MHO!

[QuietVerbena]

I never noticed a stigma around sex toys in today’s society. I only discuss them with close friends cause they’re a private thing.

[bzcxx]

I see. My friends discuss about sex but never about sex toys. It’s very taboo for some reason.

[Guy13]

Yes. Jokes but those things.

[MrHopper]

At least in my life time its become more acceptable, it could also be as i gotten older women tend to care less about such things, i seen a lot of female friends sex toys over the years and its no big deal, almost everyone of them has one

I feel more stigma is with mens toys, they seen as sleazy and gross, whereas female ones dont so much these days

[mattyprince]

I agree about the difference between men's and women's sex toys, doesn't make much sense really as everyone deserves to be sexually fulfilled but women's sex toys seem far more acceptable and almost expected that a woman owns at least one sex toy

[NathanDavis]

there is no stigma today...

not a generalized one anyway

just some people here and there who choose to see them that way for themselves

[pizzalovershouse]

Its usely frowned on cuz people take it as talking about it means guys will think wants him

[AngryCarl]

I never understood sex toys for men. Do they even work?

I get that women use them. I think men are viewed as unnecessary now.

[BLP11520]

It's a private thing if you own them or not.

[Anonymous]

I know. Tell me about it. You would be surprised how uncomfortable people get when I tell them I use a fleshlight and a prostate massager at the same time.