The Rise of Self Pleasure Toys in India - About time?

It was a typical Tuesday afternoon at work: the rhythmic tap of keyboards, the occasional sigh, and the soft glow of screens. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except my colleague – her foot tapped frantically, her eyes kept darting to her phone, and a low-level panic seemed to consume her.

“What’s going on?” I asked, in an attempt to get my table to stop rattling. In response, she half-screamed “The sex toy I ordered, they’ve delivered it to my mother’s address!”

Everything made sense after she said that. If you’re a millennial Indian woman, you’re all too familiar with the unsaid don’t know, don’t tell contract between parents and daughters that governs any or all communication about all things sex.

My empathetic words of reassurance to her were interrupted by a younger colleague of ours. “Why didn’t you just Blinkit it here?” she said matter of factly. The fellow millennial and I just exchanged a “Oh, these Gen Zs will never understand” glance, and went back to work.

But the younger colleague’s nonchalance stayed with me. I found myself envying and aspiring for her confidence. It was also a realisation. The times are changing in the best way possible. We're in the midst of a pleasure revolution, and it's about damn time. The conversation around sex toys for women is tackled as comfortably as discussions about sex toys for men.

Get this: the Indian sexual wellness market is a billion dollar industry, with a "B"! That's right, according to Allied Market Research, it raked at $1.15 billion in 2020 and is expected to hit a whopping $2.09 billion by 2030. Talk about a growth spurt!

And guess what else is growing? Our confidence! Questions like what are sex toys and how to use sex toys are no longer asked in hushed tones. Back in 2008, only one in twenty women admitted to using sex toys in India (according to an India Today survey). Fast forward to 2020, and Thatspersonal.com saw a 65% increase in online sex toys sales after lockdown restrictions eased.

Here's the best part: this movement isn't just for the young guns. Thatspersonal.com also found that women over 45 are their most loyal customers.

Gone are the days of shady markets with questionable lighting one would navigate, in hopes of chancing upon sex toys. Today, a single online search opens a treasure trove of options delivered straight to your door. Are sex toys legal in india is also no longer a concern with brands cleverly navigating around Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code that tackles matters of obscenity. Hello, convenience (and privacy)!

This boom isn't just about India. The global sex toy market is a multi-billion dollar behemoth, valued at a staggering $33.64 billion in 2020 and projected to reach a mind-blowing $52.39 billion by 2028. While exact numbers for India are still a bit fuzzy, firms like TechSci Research estimate our market to be worth a cool $91.34 million in 2020, with a double-digit growth rate expected until 2026.

So, what's fueling this revolution? A powerful combo of a tech-savvy generation, the ease of e-commerce, and a growing awareness of sexual wellness. Basically, we're ditching the inhibitions and embracing a new era of pleasure, self-exploration, and empowerment.

So, ladies, raise a glass. We're rewriting the script, owning our desires, and proving that pleasure is not a luxury, it's a necessity.

And to make life simpler, we put together a guide to help you navigate through the array of sex toys for women available in the market, and help you pick one that best suits your needs.

In this article

Dildos

These are the little black dresses of  sex toys – classic and fuss-free. They are penetrative sex toy and are usually made from silicone, but other variants are also easily available in the market. Also, there is one for everyone –  you can find dildos for all shapes and sizes based on your preference.

What to add to cart:

Sangya S6 Dildo by Sangya Project

Bullet Vibrators

These are perfect for beginners, and are also compact and discreet. Bullet vibrators are traditionally made to stimulate the nipples or clitoris. But hey, there are no rules, and you can use them on other sensitive areas of the body too.

What to add to cart:

Candy Massager by That Sassy Thing

Clitoral Suction Vibrators

These are made to ape the feel of oral stimulation, and instead of direct touch, use suction to do the job.

What to add to cart:

Pyaari by Leezu's

Rabbit Vibrators

Looks familiar? That’s because this sex toy shot to fame after featuring in a Sex and the City episode. This sex toy kills two birds with one stone – it serves the purpose of a dildo and a clitoral stimulator all at once.

What to add to cart:

Happy Bunny Rabbit Vibrator by Manzuri

Palm Vibrators

With a rounded shape, these sec toys fit perfectly in your palm and can be used to stimulate the clitoris or other erogenous zones. Most palm vibrators are designed to be gender neutral and can be used by both, you and your partner.

What to add to cart:

LELO SIRI 2 Vibrator by Besharam