The History of the vibrator: from medical invention to sex toy
But not the way you think.
Today, it is estimated that nearly one-third of adult American women own at least one vibrator. Providing clitorial stimulation, vibrators help produce orgasms more reliably, bringing more pleasure for both solo and partner sex.
However, contrary to how it may seem, the invention of the vibrator had nothing to do with the sexual pleasure of women, or with sex at all. Who invented the vibrator and why? Keep reading to answer these questions and to learn more about the history of the vibrator.
The hysteria narrative: Fact or Fiction?
The Hysteria narrative
As one of the popular narratives about the history of the vibrator goes, Victorian doctors first used vibrators to treat female patients for what was known as hysteria, so they could reach hysterical paroxysm, AKA, orgasm, and just chill out. The origins of this argument can be traced back to The Technology of Orgasm: "Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women’s Sexual Satisfaction, a book published in 1999 by Rachel Maines. Maines claims that in the 19th century, male doctors invented and used electrical devices simply to relieve women of hysteria, a vague term for something like sexual frustration. In this version of the story, the vibrating appliance relieved not only doctors’ tired hands and fingers, but also, the hysteria of their female patients.
The Hysteria narrative debunked
While Maines’ book was met with widespread acclaim, the theory was later debunked by other historians like Hallie Lieberman. Lieberman carefully reviewed Maines’ book and her sources, concluding that, “there is no evidence that [massaging women to orgasm] ever happened in the doctor’s office.” Liebermann points to a likelier theory which we’ll get into below.
Joseph Mortimer Grandville: The man who invented the vibrator
English physician and inventor Joseph Mortimer Granville is credited with having patented the first electromechanical vibrator in the late 19th century. He invented it not to bring hysterical women to orgasm, but to provide relief for sore muscles, primarily for male patients.
In fact, in one of her articles debunking the vibrator-for-hysteria myth, scholar Hallie Lieberman claims that Granville “argued specifically that it shouldn’t be used on hysterical women.” Pamphlets and literature of the time touted many of the benefits of the vibrator, like relief from insomnia, paralysis, neuralgia, epilepsy, sciatica, lumbago, and more, but not, Liebrmann claims, for masturbating female patients.
The vibrator as a sexy toy
So if the vibrator wasn’t invented specifically to relieve women of their hysterical paroxysms, nor originally intended for sexual pleasure, how did it become an iconic sex toy?
Well, when doctors began to realize that the electromechanical vibrator wasn’t the cure all it was supposed to be, manufacturers switched advertising tactics marketing the devices directly to consumers for sexual pleasure. Of course, in the early 20th century, this was quite risqué and rare. But manufacturers carried on, advertising the devices as a sort of home appliance for women of leisure, perhaps not unlike a sewing machine or a tool for another hobby. The vibrator as we know it today – as a tool for women’s pleasure – began being advertised more openly in the 1950s and 60s.
The vibrator today
Now that you’ve learned about the history of the electric vibrator, it’s time to dive into its glorious present. And not only is it present in women’s handbags and goody drawers, but it also makes cameos in popular culture, showing up in movies and series. It’s no longer a shock to hear a character talk about their vibrator, or to use one in a sex scene. The vibrator is here to stay, and here to play.
Browse our range of vibrators for women; your pleasure awaits.
