What Drives Sex Toy Popularity? A Morphological Examination of Vaginally-Insertable Products Sold by the World's Largest Sexual Wellness Company.

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  • Author(s): Johns SE;Johns SE; Bushnell N; Bushnell N
  • Source:
    Journal of sex research [J Sex Res] 2024 Feb; Vol. 61 (2), pp. 161-168. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Feb 07.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: Routledge Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0062647 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1559-8519 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00224499 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Sex Res Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Philadelphia : Routledge
      Original Publication: New York, Society for the Scientific Study of Sex.
    • Subject Terms:
      Play and Playthings* ; Sexual Behavior* ; Consumer Behavior*; Female ; Humans
    • Abstract:
      There is limited research into the morphology of sex toys, and specifically into (the often phallic-shaped) vibrators and dildos and what they may represent in terms of user preferences for male genital morphology. This study provides insight into consumer preference around vaginally insertable sex toys, their features, and what contributes to their popularity. Using a data set compiling information from the world's largest online sexual wellness retailer Lovehoney, we examined the dimensions, price, and morphological features of 265 sex toys designed for vaginal insertion to determine what contributes to item popularity. Using regression models, we found that realistic features did not predict item popularity, whereas price ( p < .001) and circumference ( p = .01) significantly predicted the overall popularity of a toy. It appears that consumers show a preference for insertable sex toys that are not direct replicas of the male penis, which suggests they are not seeking a realistic partner substitute. Further, we found that the length of the toy did not significantly predict popularity which is consistent with other work showing that women do not place considerable emphasis on large phallus size. Our results can contribute to future product design and marketing, as well as reveal preferences toward particular characteristics of the phallus (whether real or toy).
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20230207 Date Completed: 20240215 Latest Revision: 20240215
    • Publication Date:
      20240215
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/00224499.2023.2175193
    • Accession Number:
      36749311