It’s pretty damn obvious we didn’t get on this planet through Stork delivery in a knapsack, right? Anyone who thinks otherwise, well, you may want to ask your friends Santa and the Tooth Fairy their thoughts on the situation…

I digress.

When I decided to watch some educational TV, I thought that the History channel was a good place to start. I found a pretty good series called “Strange Rituals” which uncovers some taboo topics that have existed throughout the ages. Two of the episodes discussed that universally relatable topic: sex (well, it wasn’t going to be toilet habits, was it?) And soon after watching it, I realised there was one titillating subject surrounding sex that had been completely evaded…Sex toys, gimmicks and games.

Fun fact: did you know dildos were first discovered thousands of years ago, ageing from the Paleolithic period? Okay, so they weren’t as prestige as the quality pink rabbits we see in the modern age, but they existed! Ironically, they were made of stone (so fitted in nicely with the era) and their appearance resembled a sausage-like pestle. Yeah, I kind of flinched at the thought of it too. It probably wasn’t the most pleasurable of experiences.

The historical Italian translation for “dildo” (or “Diletto” as it was first introduced) means “delight”, which proves further ironic since it sounds like the complete opposite of all that is delightful. However, who’s to say it was used for self-gratification? Historically, religious ritual and sexuality probably weren’t perceived as comorbid acts, so who knows what this tool’s main reason for use was? Either way, this solid-as-a-rock ancestor proves the predecessor for a new generational view of sex.

As time has gone by, we have battled the views towards sex, sexual appetite and behaviour. The perception of it varied from seeing it as an unsavoury and unclean act that should be purely used for procreation, right up to indicating sexual authority in consummating a marriage etc. But nowadays, we see sex as liberating, a right, a pleasure and an act of love. There is no shame and there are no limits. In fact, we now have such a polar-opposite view towards the subject that the leaps and bounds it has taken have allowed for infinite opportunities. However, it does have a downside.

With these changes, has it unveiled a blurred line in society? After all, there are still religious and cultural divides in thought. So, could the endless advances prove disruptive?

We have established that since these times of antiquity that sex has been a fixation to us all. But, instead of this intrigue being something kept behind closed doors, it’s at its height of publicity. From shows to shops, the sex industry is now a profound part of the modern age, with one of the biggest and sexiest names in retail being Ann Summers.

Named after the male founder’s secretary, “Annice Summers” this chain is a revolutionary milestone that marks our contemporary view on the subject of sex. Achieving this by normalising the use of not just dildos, but much, much more…

This is where things get a bit intense, because where the acceptance of diverse eroticism began, so did the expansion of toys to follow.

In the not-so-distant past, certain sexual behaviours that were once frowned upon are now encouraged. And if you think that notion is limited to a wall-to-wall array of rubber phalluses then you’re about to be surprised! Things these days have become a lot more varied. From items to clip onto your lady garden or to buzz up your behind, we are in an age where sexual shock is simply non-existent.

In order to suit all types of sexual appetite though, toys to be placed in, on, or around, our erogenous zones was just not enough. The gap that needed to be filled was not of physical stimulation, but of mind. People don’t just want these things for the 5-second fireworks display at the end of the stimulation. They need something that will express their most personal desires. So, just when you thought things had become crazy enough, they went and introduced the world of fetish. And I don’t just mean stockings and suspenders here. We’re talking fake kidnapping, gimp suits, dominatrix games, dolls specially made for their buyer’s tastes, and even people admitting sexual adoration for inanimate objects (such as landmarks or cars) and engaging in sensual acts with said objects.

Personally, this all a bit much for my little head. I’m a little more basic. But if I were to put my psychologist’s hat on, I would suspect that this level of sexual fixation is a combination of psychological development (crafted by a unique set of life experiences) brain chemistry (seeing hormonal release and reactions in the cortex to unusual stimuli) and the ever-growing societal acceptance towards sexual boundaries being pushed.

With such a blend of causes, whether historical, psychological, scientific or sociological, is this industry unstoppable? Of course, there are still people like me who are trapped in a time warp and believe sex should be restricted to couples who are in love and that it needn’t be explored with anything more than pretty lingerie and our natural…facilities. But, with this infinite opening for sexual discovery, it certainly makes a force to be reckoned with.

So, when it comes down to it, I guess we have one choice.

Either, we stick with our own unique set of beliefs and defy the mutable erotic world. Or, we go with the buzz and see what lies beneath our own conservative prowess?

Whatever the case, one thing I think we can all agree on is that who we are between the sheets shouldn’t be someone we’re afraid of. Exploring our sexual finesse is totally natural and healthy and providing we go about it consensually and safely, there should be nothing to fear. After all, we’re in an era where nearly anything and everything goes.

So don’t hold back, there’s never been a better time to get your sexy on than now. Embrace all that you are and express yourself – because you should.