What I Learned About Vibrators (This Is Hilarious!)
The Original State
There was a long-held belief that a woman's womb would complain of neglect if she was sick, leading to a wide range of illnesses being attributed to "Hysteria." Plato apparently believed that the fetus inside the mother's womb was "an animal within an animal" that needed to be calmed down if it became a danger to the mother.
It was believed that uneven breathing, disorientation, and a wide range of other symptoms, such as exhaustion, headaches, forgetfulness, melancholy, and a lack of sleep, were all symptoms of "Hysteria." Since most men found demonstrable displays of sexual ardor to be strange, it was assumed that these vibrators for women were hit the hardest.
This led them to conclude, with little doubt, that their need for sexual release was the root of all their troubles.
How Exactly Did They Get Her Well?
What I'm About to Tell You is Unbelievable!
The vulva, which was once considered a component of the uterus, had to be manipulated by a medical professional or midwife. This rubbing and lubricating continued until there were actual contractions. It was commonly referred to as a "hysterical paroxysm" (now called an orgasm).
That would make the ladies feel so much better! Unbelievably, manual massage until women experienced an orgasm appears to have been utilized as a remedy for sexual problems as early as the 4th or 5th century.
Historically, midwives were responsible for treating all sex and fertility issues in women. Modern medicine was about to enter the picture, and the doctors concerned seemed to take the therapy very seriously.
'Hysteria' was thought to be a common disorder, second only to 'fevers' (the common cold). Moreover, it was considered an incurable chronic illness.
Hysterical women who were sexually frustrated as singles were often counseled to marry active male partners and engage in regular, passionate sexual activity with them. The use of a horse was also highly suggested.
Other therapies, such as water jet manipulation (the cold water Douche), were made available after a while.
Typically, an orgasm would follow within a few minutes after receiving such medication. Nonetheless, it became apparent that some patients wanted more care than was healthy for them. It's no surprise that regular visits to the doctor's office were commonplace for women in the 19th century. Still, they didn't have much of a choice given that society generally condemned masturbation as immoral.
The Vibrator Today Was Just Getting Started
In 1869, steam-powered massage and vibratory equipment for the care of female issues were invented, and it was hailed as a "revolution for the weary doctors." Because of the potential for abuse, it was designed for use under supervision only.
A patient placed her pelvis on the tabletop vibrating ball, and the motor was attached to the table.
It was a brilliant idea that helped doctors save a lot of time and see more patients.
Most doctors had difficulty treating patients using only their fingers, so this new tool would be a huge improvement. Jobs that might have taken an hour only took them minutes to finish.
Besides these extraordinary methods, gasoline and air-powered vibrating tables, swinging chairs, jolting chairs, and many others were also used.
Of course, the women didn't realize it at the time, but they were receiving "therapy" for the same reason that women today use sexual aids: to alleviate sexual frustration.
To our modern eyes, it seems bizarre that Victorian-era ladies would go to their doctor to get the sexual satisfaction and relief they weren't getting at home.
The strange "remedies" weren't seen as sexual encounters, according to historian and author "Rachel Maines." This is because it was often believed that women could only experience sexual pleasure through vaginal penetration.
Therefore, because they did not touch the vagina, their use was not sexual contact but rather a strictly medical one. In
Gabriel Fallopius in the 16th century asserted that he found the clitoris first. "It's so buried that I stumbled upon it first, back several years ago," he boasted.
However, it appears that only 'Pietro d'Abano' knew how to use the clitoris properly. He made a proclamation "Desire is stoked in women when the upper orifice is rubbed, which is located close to the pubis. Enjoyment from this area of the body is equivalent to that of the penis tip."
Nevertheless, for 400 years, both mainstream culture and medical professionals ignored the evidence. Even as recently as the 1980s, the clitoris and its function were largely disregarded by gynecologists and sexologists alike.
What Comes Next
About twenty years after the introduction of the steam-powered model, a more adaptable battery-operated vibrator hit the market.
There were at least two dozen distinct kinds of vibrators available to doctors at the turn of the twentieth century.
As a result, entrepreneurs quickly began making and selling vibrators to female customers. Instead of advertising them as sex aids, manufacturers portrayed them as useful home items. Publications of credibility advocated for them, saying that "any woman would welcome" having access to them. In fact, after the kettle, toaster, sewing machine, and fan, these devices were only the fifth electrical appliance in usage in the average American home.
Throughout the 1920s, the earliest pornographic films and "naughty movies" portrayed women using these "massagers" for sexual pleasure. As a result of this, however, they were no longer openly promoted, and their medical usage was discontinued, by the 1930s.
Vibrators in the Present Day
Thankfully, the idea that hysteria is a disease was abandoned sometime around the 1950s.
In the '60s, the Vibrator was rediscovered and celebrated for its erotic appeal.
During their studies of sexuality in the late 1960s, Masters and Johnson used vibrators. Now more than ever, you can buy a penis-shaped vibrator online or from a specialized sex store.
Betty Dodson, a feminist author and sex therapist, began leading workshops on masturbation with vibrators in 1971. She claims to have pioneered the use of electric vibrators in a sexual context.
Joani Blank's 'Good Vibrations', a comprehensive guide to vibrators, was published in 1974. In 1977, Joani opened Good Vibrations, the first sex shop devoted solely to the vibrator, after inventing the Venus Butterfly Vibrator.
Women today universally consider their vibrator to be a symbol of their sex autonomy and personal freedom.
There are a variety of vibrating devices available today, and many women use them frequently to alleviate symptoms of hysteria.