Iheoma Obibi: human rights activist, feminist, and groundbreaking businesswoman.

Iheoma Obibi’s online store, Intimate Pleasures [NSFW], is catered toward Nigerians from all walks of life, age, and sexual desires. Intimate Pleasures opened in 2010 after Obibi had repeatedly been asked to bring back sex toys for her friends when she traveled to London.

“They were asking me to buy vibrators, nipple suckers, lubricants, water-based lubricants which were non-flavoured, specifically with a pH balance for the female genitalia,” she told BBC.

Sexual satisfaction

Nigeria’s conservative culture regarding sex had made exploring sexual satisfaction difficult for women. Obibi told BBC that many women are told they should aspire to remain pure for marriage, and once they are married to fulfill their husbands’ needs, leaving their own sexual desires unrealised.

“It makes me glad that my business idea has allowed for women–single or coupled up–to begin to address issues around intimacy, sexual fulfillment, lust, and love. In fact, I have had to engage a counselor because some women will call the order line and burst into tears. There’s very little opportunity for women to discuss issues of intimacy, sexual fulfillment or even address previous history if they have been survivors of sexual abuse or rape in Nigeria,” Obibi told feminist blog MsAfropolitan.

Safety first

Braving the world of sex toy retail wasn’t easy. For safety precautions, Intimate Pleasures remains a solely online retailer. Obibi said that finding staff to run a brick-and-mortar store would be difficult. She also believes no Nigerian would venture inside.

“I have received death threats,” she told MsAfropolitan. “I’ve been told that my business is “devil business” and I’m regularly told by people that they “pray for the salvation of my soul”…Being a feminist allows me to create the mental framework to always move on.”

But the store goes beyond just selling adult novelty toys. Obibi regularly presents on several shows as Madam Butterfly, creating a safe space for listeners to engage in sex-positive conversations and to ask about sexual wellbeing.

Booming Industry

Despite the country’s conservative culture, Nigeria’s sex toy market is reportedly booming. However, Obibi warns about an influx of fake sex toys from China to meet this demand. She recommends seeking out quality toys made of the appropriate materials.

Obibi’s store Intimate Pleasures seems to have opened the door to the sex toy market in her country—encouraging others to explore sex-positive relationships and healthy intimacy, whether that be alone or with a partner.

Image source: Intimate Pleasures Desires of the Hearts [NSFW]

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An eye-catching display tackles sex, robotics, and surveillance. 

Ever wondered what pole-dancing robots would look like? Don’t worry, British artist Giles Walker has got you covered. In response to the Feel The Future theme at Melbourne’s 2016 Sexpo [NSFW] in Australia, Walker gave patrons of  a taste of what a future of sexy androids might look like.

Kinetic sculptures

Although they might look like robots or strippers, they are in fact neither. Walker explains that they are simply kinetic sculptures made from mannequins, windshield wipers, and CCTV cameras. Although not linked to the Star Wars series, the dancers look like they might be the kind of droids you would find in the movie franchise.

“I started as a scrap artist building sculptures from what could be found in the scrap yards, and therefore was familiar with the parts available from scrapped cars,” Walker said to FoxNews. “In the case of these robots, I used windscreen wiper motors to move the body parts. These motors turn on and off with a simple programmable PCB. The figures consist of a metal armature, clad in plastic body parts cut from old mannequins and resprayed.”

Sex and surveillance

Combining themes like sex and surveillance creates an interesting interpretation of an online sexual future, especially after reports of people being recorded while masturbating, without their permission, when visiting adult film websites, and been scammed into paying the blackmailers.

Another interpretation of the piece could revolve around the Big Brother phenomenon, which involves authorities watching our every move. Extrapolating this idea to the realm of sex can be a scary thought as sexual acts are stereotypically expressed in a private sphere. Potentially exploiting this kind of privacy in the future is problematic.

Walker explored this idea as a result of the UK’s surveillance: “At the time I was building these sculptures the UK was being flooded with CCTV cameras,” he said. “They were everywhere, like mechanical ‘Peeping Toms’ on every street corner.”

Voyeurism or just fun?

Walker added that the kinetic sculptures aren’t only supposed to be seen as sex objects. Instead, the intention was to explore a sense of voyeurism, a concept often linked to sexual desire.

“By placing the CCTV on the body of a pole dancer I am looking at the relationship of voyeurism and power,” Mr. Walker told AAP. “Is she (the stripper) the one with the power, or is it the people watching her?”

“Most [of] the ‘sexualised’ robots you see remind me of the living dead,” Walker said. “I was up for the challenge and wanted to see if I could turn a pile of old scrap into something that could represent anything close to ‘sexy.'”

Despite Walker’s ability to create sex-exuding humanoid dancers, he doesn’t actually want them to replace humans in the sex sphere. Humans allow for a certain amount of accountability, whereas robotics may allow for more flexibility.

“If people can get used to the idea that they can do whatever they want to it without responsibility then it leads to a very dangerous area,” Walker said to 9news.

Futuristic views

Although Walker initially created this installation in 2012 for a show called Peepshow, the piece still delivers a sense of the future. This dystopian art installation opens a discussion for what the future of robotics might look like in the sex industry. We’ve already seen the rise of sex robots, and the exploration of robotic love in television series such as Westworld and Dark Matter or movies like Ex Machina.

Although Walker’s installation is still far off from looking truly human, it does still have some sexual aesthetic to it. Perhaps it will pave the way for sexualized robotics that don’t have to meet the standards of real life. Sex toys that represent disembodied genitals or mouths already exist in the forms of Fleshlights or dildos. Maybe something along the lines of mechanical arms could satisfy men, women, and trans consumers.

Walker prefers if the robotics remain non-sentient and maybe that’s for good reason.

Image source: Cakehead Loves Evil

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As the sex tech industry grows, so does its demand.

According to a survey carried out by the fertility tracking app company Natural Cycles, 16% of British women want virtual reality sex.

New sex tech

Of the 2,618 women who took part in the survey, 40% said they welcome technological advancements with regard to sex, and that as a result of new tech innovations, sex could become more fun and enjoyable.

Tech advancements have already revolutionized the way people date or meet potential sexual partners through dating apps like Tinder, Happn, and Grindr. Tech specifically created for sex has opened up a whole new world for personal pleasure and couples play, as consumers can opt for a range of sex toys or dip into an immersive virtual reality.

“Brits love tech and are open minded about its use when it comes to sex,” said Dr. Elina Berglund, co-founder of Natural Cycles, in a press release. “Future technologies, like advanced wearable tech, virtual reality, intelligent sex toys and artificial skin, are becoming part of our everyday lives and redefining the way we enjoy sex.”

Social media

Social networks have also changed the way people communicate with one another. But are likes, shares, or retweets better than sex? Not according to the survey where 95% of the participants said they would rather give up social media than sex. Despite this figure, 20% of women said that they would like to use social media for sexual arousal.

Apps

But what about all those apps? According to the survey, 15% of women already use various apps to help find sexual satisfaction. These kinds of apps could also refer to virtual reality sexual experiences, as smartphones can often be transformed into virtual reality headsets. 63% of women said they would like to use sex toys, whereas 9% reported already using sex toys that connect to their phones.

Image source: Natural Cycles

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Findings from women in Sub-Saharan Africa show progress in the world of safe sex.

Recent studies on vaginal rings for HIV prevention, worn by women during intercourse, are showing promising results.

Women in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe took part in the research and by continuously wearing the flexible HIV prevention ring for up to one month at a time, including during sex. They reported that it didn’t affect the physical aspects of sex or hinder pleasure during the act.

The National Institutes of Health in the United States released the findings last month. They come from two studies: one named ASPIRE, conducted by Microbicides Trials Network, and the other is called The Ring Study, performed by the International Partnership for Microbicides.

How does it work?

The ring, which continuously releases the anti-HIV drug dapivirine, was tested among 2,629 healthy HIV-negative women, aged 18 to 45 years, over the course of several months. Dapivirine prevents HIV cells from duplicating themselves in human cells.

The ring is inserted into the vagina, and worn against the cervix, targeting the area where the risk of contraction is highest. The women were asked to wear the ring while continuing safe sex practices, including asking their partners to wear condoms.

Why do women need another option?

The ring was developed as a response to studies that show that women across the world face different biological, economical, and social factors, which may affect or limit the number of contraceptive or safe sex practices they can use. Providing a range of options to women is a way to ensure all women can access a safe sex method relevant to them.

Trial feedback

The ASPIRE study interviewed 214 women who participated in the trial. Most of the women reported the ring did not negatively affect the physical aspect of sex, though some women reported being distracted by the thought of how their partners might react if they found out about the ring. Some women reported limiting sexual activities that they thought might lead to the discovery of the ring. Others reported they experienced greater sexual satisfaction knowing that the ring could protect them from contracting HIV.

“Sub-Saharan African women have a broad range of sexual experiences and relationship dynamics, and we are learning more about how these diverse behaviors and circumstances influence the use of the ring,” Dr. Palanee-Phillips, co-chair on the ASPIRE study, said. “While we have found that most women do disclose ring use to their primary partners, it is reassuring that adherence is not affected for the significant minority of women who choose to use it more discreetly.”

Results

The HIV-dapivirine ring results indicate that it protected, on average, one in three women from contracting HIV during the active part of the trial. Women aged 21 years or older seemed to be protected at a higher rate than young women. This may be because older women wore the ring more consistently, which is critical for the ring’s effectiveness.

More research is needed to meet the needs of young women. Although the dapivirine ring does not provide 100% protection, it is completely safe to use with no serious side effects reported. It should be used in combination with other HIV-prevention methods such as condoms.

Women who participated in the ASPIRE study, and The Ring Study, are invited to participate in the follow-up studies called HOPE and DREAM. Unlike trials with ASPIRE and The Ring Study, no women will receive a placebo ring, but will instead be provided with an active functional dapivirine ring. This study will also measure more qualitative data to discover what makes women more or less likely to consistently adhere the ring.

Image source: IPM Global

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Exploring adult virtual reality films—with feminist directors at the helm.

Feminist pornography

OK, so what does feminist pornography look like? According to Feminist Porn Awards [NSFW], it encompasses a number of things on and off screen. On screen, they look for more authentic sex, and pornography that reflects the diversity of desires in both mainstream and marginalized audiences.

Off-screen, feminist pornography encompasses a safe space with fair labor practices, which include discussions about performers’ own sexual interests and boundaries, alongside fair payments and proper working conditions.

How does VR fit into the picture?

The rise and decline of the adult film industry have been largely affected by the digital age. Audiences can access more content than ever before, and at a much cheaper rate and often for free. The result: pornography is subsequently produced at a much quicker and cheaper rate, reducing payments for performers and creating content that they know will sell, rather than exploring more diverse options for marginalized audiences.

In more recent years, virtual reality has come into play. So far, it has enabled audiences to watch from inside the space where the performers are, and even allows viewers to move around in that space. It some cases it has opened the doors for audiences to step away from the stereotyped male perspective, and watch the performance from different points of view.

What’s out there?

Empowering Ava, a VR porn experience, explores the dynamic of feminist pornography through a storytelling cinema piece. The 25-minute short film revolves around Ava, an erotic writer, who describes the realm of “pegging” in her latest novel. Her husband becomes intrigued and wants to try it with her.

Director Angie Rowntree explained the elements considered when creating her first feminist VR film on the Sssh.com [NSFW]: “We’re still experimenting and familiarizing ourselves with the technology, but I’m very intrigued with dynamic storytelling and the possibilities it brings. This new medium really does open up a whole new world. A world where the viewer can become an immersed participant in the story, instead of just being a bystander. It’s pretty exciting. It challenges our perception of cinema.”

Future of feminist VR porn

Although virtual reality is often associated with headsets for its viewers, Rowntree has expressed her disapproval of virtual reality headsets in films. Empowering Ava is a film that does not require a headset, and can instead be watched on computers, tablets, or telephones on which viewers can manually adjust the camera position.

Virtual reality can also extend beyond stock films, and instead be presented as interactive performances. An example of this is CamSoda’s live VR shows, which pairs virtual reality and sex toys to simulate sexual experiences.

Holodexxx studios has been developing a program with adult film stars and models to create virtual versions of themselves for audiences to interact with. The idea is that performers give users permission to interact with their virtual characters and are also paid royalties, a notion that fits in well with the fair treatment of performers in feminist pornography.

But do virtual performances contradict the idea of authentic sex in feminist pornography? In order to align itself with feminist pornography, virtual reality should look to include a variety of performers or models to reflect the spectrum of desires for its audiences.

Though most of the Holodexxx models and performers still seem aligned with the narrow stereotype of what sells to mainstream audiences, they also plan to include transgender models, which does reflect more marginalized desires.

So though the adult film industry is still catching up with the technological advances of virtual reality, it does have some way to go, especially in the realm of feminist pornography.

It is still unclear whether or not virtual characters fit into feminist pornography in terms of authentic sex, though Holodexxx’s royalty payments do seem promising for performers. Off-screen, directors like Rowntree, are treating their performers ethically, which will hopefully cause a positive ripple effect throughout the industry.

Image source: Holodexxx, Sssh [NSFW]

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A review of one woman’s self and sexual expression in Japan.

Where does society draw the line between obscene nudity and celebrating women’s natural bodies? Societal views of nudity often fall, broadly speaking, into two categories: either nudity is classed as obscene or pornographic, or nudity is classed as art or natural expression. Rokudenashiko, a Japanese artist and author, explored this dichotomy in her most recent publication What Is Obscenity? The Story of A Good For Nothing Artist and Her Pussy.

Manko art

Her book, presented as a series of comic strips, tells the story of how she created manko or “pussy” art as a way to subvert the notion that vaginas are always obscene, and instead to showcase them as something “brighter, funnier, less serious” as Rokudenashiko said in her book.

Her artwork includes pieces like “deco-pussies,” a cartoon manko-man, and most notoriously, a crowdfunded, 3D-printed and magnified copy of her genitalia that was adjusted to form the top half of a kayak. In 2014, she was subsequently arrested for distributing obscenity, though the term obscenity was never explicitly defined.

Public sphere

A frank discussion about this is explored in Rokudenashiko’s book as she reflects on the spectrum of sexual images displayed to the public eye on a daily basis.

For example, in Japan the police mascot Pipo-kun is a naked cartoon character with no sexual organs. On the other hand, the annual Festival of the Steel Phallus in Kawasaki celebrates a large penis sculpture. As a result of this spectrum, understanding what can and can’t be exposed in a public sphere becomes vague.

International headlines

Rokudenashiko’s 2014 arrest made international headlines—which some people viewed as laughable and ridiculous. However, the notion that natural parts of women’s bodies are often sexualized in a negative and volatile light is a problematic barrier of self-expression not just in Japan.

Despite countries like the United States and Australia reacting to the arrest in disbelief, these same societies often also have negative views of women’s bodies and sexualities. There have been occurrences of women in the USA and Australia being shamed for publicly breastfeeding, or something as simple as not shaving their leg, underarm, or pubic hairs.

Not backing down

“My work is motivated by concern as to why the word ‘manko’ (pussy) is so problematic. It is nothing more than a part of my body, but the mere utterance of these syllables ‘ma-n-ko’ causes outrage and fear,” the artist said in her plea to the court when fighting the charges made against her.

“It angers me that the more manko I create, the more children emerge from this vital organ that we should respect, my work is actually received in the exact opposite matter intended. Using my anger as a springboard, I have made cheerful, positive manko art.”

Rokudenashiko’s arrest shines a light on how difficult it can be for women to have a voice with regard to their own bodies. Since the arrest in 2014, the artist was arrested again under the same charges, and released after a short period. Although many people agree with her work, or can at least see the humor in it, her arrests seem to have only made her message stronger. Her brave, funny and outrageous book will hopefully have a positive impact on the future of female empowerment in art, sex and society as a whole.

Rokudenashiko’s book What Is Obscenity? was published in May 2016.

Image source: Amazon

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