"My first sex toy was given to me by one of my best friends."
Four years later, Chloé's collection has grown and spills over from her nightstand.
Like this 26-year-old young woman, millions of French people have made vibrators, cockrings, clitoral stimulators or anal plugs regular accessories for their sexuality.
51% of French people have already used a sexual accessory or gadget, reveals an Ifop survey carried out for Passagedudesir.fr *.
This is five times more than in 2007. “Around me, I have the impression that it has become commonplace,” continues Chloé.
We can talk about it with friends, make recommendations or share our experiences.
I have no problem telling them about a night with a new lover, so why would it be any different for my solitary games?
"
The trivialization of sex toys can be explained both by the ease of buying online - which constitutes two thirds of sales - but also by the total transformation of the offer.
“Thirty years ago, you had to go through the doors of very creepy sex shops on rue Saint-Denis,” recalls Sophie, a young retiree.
The choice was limited to rough reproductions of sex.
It was hard, cold and frankly not over-exciting ”.
Today, it is possible to stroll through pretty downtown boutiques, love stores or boudoirs with a pleasant atmosphere, where the ranges are available like collections of perfumes.
And some are snapping up!
The very popular Womanizer clitoral stimulator has sold 4 million copies worldwide.
In France alone, sales have jumped 153% in one year.
As much used by women as by men
"This massification is explained by a radical change in products, now more elegant, refined and almost become luxury items, packed with technology," explains François Kraus, director of the Politics / News department at Ifop.
They are also more suited to pleasure and in particular to the clitoral revolution.
This crosses all of society, including the seniors of the 68th generation, whose relationship to sexuality is different ”.
Impossible indeed to draw a robot portrait of the users of sex toys.
The trend is fairly uniform regardless of age, level of education, socio-professional category or geographic location.
Even if the inhabitants of rural communities are the most frequent users ...
Word of mouth obviously works wonderfully, because the subject is no longer taboo.
According to the Ifop study, half of the people who have ever used a sex toy alone have talked about it.
It is even 71% among those under 24.
“I have the impression that anyway, everyone has at least one, slips Emma, a student of letters.
The boys may say it a little less, but I've seen it in two of my exes ”.
The study also notes that the use of pleasure toys is as frequent among women as among men.
30% of French people have used it in the past year (31% for women, 29% for men).
A jump of five points in three years which confirms another trend, that of the use of sex toys with his or her partner.
A quarter of French people who have already used a sexual accessory have used it exclusively in pairs.
“I tried my girlfriend's vibrator.
Then I adopted him "
"When my boyfriend discovered that I had some accessories, it made him a little crazy with excitement," laughs Nathalie.
Since then, the couple have naturally integrated them into their sex life.
“We have nice things like small handcuffs or masks to blindfold,” explains the young health professional.
But I also use vibrators in front of him, sometimes he's the one in charge.
This allows to multiply the possibilities and to control the pleasure of each one.
This does not mean that we use them every time.
But when we take them out, I know it's going to be a hot evening ”.
Sometimes reduced to strictly female use, the range of products is now widely open to men.
And the offer moves away from the antique inflatable dolls that it was fashionable to mock.
Vibrators and prostate stimulators are becoming more and more attractive.
“I tried my girlfriend's vibrator.
Then I adopted it, ”Thomas slips discreetly, acknowledging that he would not necessarily assume to tell his friends, even the closest.
“I have several sex toys including an anal plug that I use alone or with my occasional partners,” Miguel assumes.
The goal is to have as much pleasure as possible, so why would I deprive myself of little tricks?
"
* Study carried out online from November 27 to 30, 2020 with a sample of 2012 people.
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