A Women’s History Of The Vibrator

Sex Ed When did today’s sex-toy renaissance start? Read on for the timeline you never learned in school. by Abigail Glasgow March 14, 2022 imageBROKER/Shutterstock

500–401 B.C.E.: Hysteria

ZU_09/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images “We can't talk about the history of the vibrator without talking about hysteria ,” says Alicia Sinclair Rosen, CEO of sex toy brand Le Wand . Hippocrates coined the term — derived from the Greek for uterus — as a disease resulting from “abnormal” pelvic movements.

1869: The Automatic Vibrator

Physician George Taylor invents “The Manipulator” to treat “female pelvic complaints.” The patient would place her abdomen on a small sphere where coal-fueled steam would create a vibrating sensation. Science & Society Picture Library/Getty

1880s: It’s Electric

Historia/Shutterstock U.K. physician Joseph Granville patents the first electric vibrator to treat pain and (men’s) impotence.

1920s: Yes, Yes, Yes, Please

Thanks to Freud — who understood that hysteria was sexual (gasp) — and the vibrator’s debut in porn , the meaning of the device moves away from being purely medical and toward its modern association with pleasure. Universal History Archive/Getty

1933: Before There Were Magic Wands

Historia/Shutterstock The Beauty Appliance Corp. patents the Vibrosage , a handheld massage gun advertised for beauty and health. This product and its contemporaries were always “disguised as personal massagers,” says Rosen.

1952: One Leap For (Wo)mankind

The American Psychiatric Association drops hysteria from its list of recognized conditions. San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images

1968: A Star Is Born

Hitachi launches the Magic Wand , advertised to relieve stress and muscle tension. The vibrator’s popularity ascends during the sexual revolution of the ’70s, popularized by activities like sex educator Betty Dodson’s collective masturbation workshops . HBO Max

1983–1984: Putting The Toy In Sex Toy

Sex toy manufacturer Vibratex launches their line of animal-themed vibrators. The iconic Rabbit debuted alongside the Beaver, the Kangaroo, and the Turtle. Fabio Petroni/The Image Bank Unreleased/Getty Images

Aug. 2, 1998: A Mainstream Moment

Sex and The City features the Rabbit in an episode celebrating masturbation, Season 1, Episode 9, “The Turtle and the Hare,” which catapults this vibrator’s sales by over 700%. HBO Max

1999: Hit The Books

Tech scholar Rachel Maines publishes The Technology of the Orgasm , the first text to tell the history of the vibrator. Johns Hopkins University Press

Early 2000s: Very Alt Vibes

According to Rosen, this is when the first wave of alternative vibrators (think: body safe, silicone, and rechargeable) from brands like Jimmy Jane and Lelo come to market. Shutterstock

November 2021: Just As Advertised

Following a settlement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Dame Products launches the first sexual wellness campaign to be advertised on New York City subway. Courtesy of Dame

February 2022: Retail Therapy

SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Sephora and Bloomingdale’s expand their intimate care sections to include vibrators from Dame Products and Maude. They’re some of the first major retailers to include sex-positive products among their wellness offerings.

Sexual empowerment is something we’re born with and then, unfortunately, taught to be ashamed of. [But] I believe [it’s] a birthright. Alicia Rosen