Free online event, November 11th to the 17th

Release performance anxiety with a “penetration vacation” and consider the seldom-lauded and often-neglected erotic delights of the soft penis at this week’s third annual Soft Cock Appreciation Week (SCW). The program includes a bevy of sex and pleasure advocates, educators, and therapists who invite you to transform “the “D” in ‘ED’ from Dysfunction and Disappointment to Discovery and Delight!” 

According to the event’s website, “This annual FREE on-line event celebrates that a hard penis is not the sole measure of desire, virility, or the capacity for intimacy. We’re expanding the perspective of “what to do?” from pills, pumps, and injections to connection, pleasure, and self-advocacy.” Attend via the event’s YouTube channel. 

Soft Cock Appreciation Week was founded by Michelle Renee, a professional cuddler and surrogate partner. 

This year’s program

Erica Leroye, the organizer and hostess, promises fourteen “authentic enjoyable conversations about male sexuality” from a number of speakers including health and sexuality professionals, ethical erotica creators, and men who create community to “conquer the feelings of isolation that so often accompany sexual changes.”

The program will demonstrate how “everyday folk…are flipping the proverbial sheets and modeling how to engage in sexual conversations, while also offering practical and do-able suggestions.” 

Every day, two new presentations will be dropped into the SCW YouTube channel.

Additionally, the event will feature “A Soft Place to Land,” daily live sessions consisting of 60-90 minutes of Q&As, conversations, embodiment exercises, and shared stories. 

On Saturday, November. 16th at 5:00 PM PST, attendees can watch or even participate in a fun and informative “Soft and Sexy” Open Mic. Sign up for free tickets here.

While centering the perspective of cis-straight, bi, and queer men and the people who work with and love them, SCW welcomes everyone, as not all people with a penis identify as male and not all males have penises. 

The significance of soft

For many people with penises, the societal and relational emphasis on sexual performance based on a reliable erection can provoke worry, anxiety, and a lack of self-confidence. 

According to a recent study from Creighton University School of Medicine and the University of Birmingham, “The psychological and emotional ramifications of ED can be profound, impacting not only the afflicted individuals but also their partners. Unaddressed, it may precipitate anxiety, depression, diminished self-esteem, and strained interpersonal relationships.” 

The researchers also say ED is a complex condition which may involve “organic, psychogenic, and mixed factors, often interwoven with comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurologic disorders.”

Recent research based on a survey of 1,822 cisgender men aged 18-87, found the national prevalence of what is usually called erectile dysfunction (ED) is 24.2% but “the results indicate that ED prevalence and severity remain highest in older age groups and that most individuals who meet criteria for ED have not sought medical care related to this concern.”

Though medically diagnosed ED may have one or more causes, the fear and shame experienced by many who have or suspect this condition creates unnecessary suffering.

Sex therapists, counselors, sexologists and medical professionals seek ways to assist their clients as a result, using a variety of therapies, medications, surgeries, hormones, and sex tech devices. There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but new perspectives are also necessary. 

What if a fluctuating penis is not always a medical or mental health concern, or a sexual disaster, but simply the usual way this organ functions? And what if there are distinct pleasures to be had when the emphasis on erections is diminished? That’s where Soft Cock Appreciation Week comes in. 

Choose joy: cooperators are standing by

Back in 1999, sex therapist Bernie Zilbergeld wrote powerfully about the “myths of male sexuality” and their destructive impact. He had a vision of “a sexuality in which people interact and relate, not just genitals…The goals of this intimate model of sex are pleasure, closeness, and self and partner enhancement, not performance or conquest.”

Today, many of us are still seeking ways to disconnect from the old, restrictive myths and to connect with each other in a more authentic way. And though it’s true that a growing number of high-tech sex toys, such as the Hot Octopuss Pulse Solo Essentials, deliver pleasure to soft penises as well as hard ones, there is so much more that we can do, including creating societal and relational changes. 

I’m honored to be on the program for SCW and to have the opportunity to learn from others. As a sexologist, I firmly believe in expansions of our concepts and experiences of sexuality and where we each are in the mix. 

Images: SCW

The post Get Your Soft-on With a Week’s Worth of Juicy Adult Sex Ed appeared first on Future of Sex.

Exploring boundaries while building a sex-positive future

From sex robots in healthcare to chatbots, and a plethora of other innovative perspectives, the 8th Annual International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots joined with the Reimagine Sexuality-The Technology Conference to serve an online feast of products, initiatives, and research.

As the joint conference said “by focusing on sex-positive initiatives that are about health, relationships, education, pleasure, and safety, the sextech industry has made positive movements and impact on an industry that is projected to be worth $37 billion.”

This theme of positive impact driving industry worth was prevalent throughout the entire program and attracted international speakers and attendees.

An exciting array of speakers and topics

This year’s conference was chaired by Rocio Pelayo, technology strategist and founder of Hablemos SexTech and Reimagine Sexuality Conference; Simon Dubé PhD, postdoctoral research fellow with the Kinsey Institute; and Bobbi Bidochka, MA, author of Sexual Intelligence in Business. 

Two of the chairs also presented: Dubé on “Falling in love with ChatGPT: An experimental study” and Bidochka on “Leveraging Research for Better Business Outcomes.” 

The four keynote speakers were:

Dr. Kenneth Hanson, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wyoming, presented “Taking a Life Course Perspective to Understand Love and Sex Doll Owners.”

Dr. Amanda Gesselman, associate director for research at The Kinsey Institute, presented “From Stigma to Empowerment: Emotional and Social Well-Being in Sextech Users.”

Wendy Gerhardt, research leader at the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions spoke on “The Need for Women’s Health Innovation.”

Sexual wellness entrepreneur Rob Bobsy Godwin, founding director of Lovehoney in Australia, talked about “Building Trust, Authenticity, and Transparency in SexTech: Lessons from Success and Failure.”

Over fifty-five people from varied backgrounds and sectors presented at the conference. Topics included innovations in sex tech for medicine, sex education, entrepreneurial advice, new product presentations, academic research, and of course love dolls, robots, and chatbots. 

While all the presentations were excellent, a few stood out in my mind as particularly memorable or innovative. 

For example, Will Ranscombe, co-founder of LoveNotWar, presented “Pleasure Should Not Cost The Earth: Sustainability in the SexTech Industry” describing the numerous ways the design of his modular sex toys can be  eco-sustainable, such as : neosilicone heads attachable to a vibrating base which could save  on manufacturing costs and battery waste.

I was equally inspired by Fredi Fernandez, CPO at Erika Lust and the presentation “Erika Lust’s Data-Powered Quest for a Culture of Sexual Positivity on a Global Scale” and Dr. Jo Ann Oravec’s erudite and entertaining “You May Now Kiss the Robot: Emerging Civil Legalizations and Religious Endorsements of Human-Robot Marriage.”

I was especially thrilled to hear a personal hero of mine, Dr. Marty Klein, discuss “Pornography: What We Can All Agree On.” Klein is a well-known sex therapist and author of Sexual Intelligence and other books.

Another impressive panel was on “Addressing Misconceptions: A conversation with the lovedoll community,” featuring Lovedoll community representatives LoveDoll Magazine(LDM), Dees Luver, Dollface and Karma.

Sextech designs for people with disabilities

The conference included several presentations and products with a focus on disability pleasure. For example, Margaret Anderson and Alex Wertheim, co-founders of Touchbot, presentation, “Inclusive Innovation: The Future of Accessible SexTech through 3D Printing” which featured the brilliant 3D printed “Lattice Extension Handle” designed by Anderson.  

Others presented intriguing products, such as the Bump’n Joystick, which pairs a cylindrical body pillow with a giant grip so users can enjoy them handsfree.

During “Breaking Barriers: Accessible Sexual Pleasure for All Abilities,” Zachary Nielsen, co-founder of Luddi, introduced Ziggy, “the first sex toy for all bodies.” 

Almost flat, Ziggy’s vibrating orange shape can be humped while flat, sat upon, stuffed down the front of your pants, and even shared by two bodies. Its foldable “wings” can also curl around a penis or other body part. 

The other panelists were Tess Devèze, founder of ConnectAble Therapies; Rachel Wotton, PhD candidate, consultant and educator; and Bryony Cole, founder of Sextech School. 

Disability access and enjoyment was also touched upon or emphasized in some of the other presentations.

Future of Sex in the house

As a clinical sexologist and author, I was honored to give two presentations: “How to Make Love to a Chatbot” on Monday and “Adult Sex Ed for AI Chatbots” on Tuesday.

Future of Sex’s own Managing Editor and senior writer, M.Christian, read his short story, “The Work Of Our Hand” before speculating on the value of pairing neural networks with artificial companions.

A future all of us can enjoy

With this year’s partnership with Reimagine Sexuality and growing interest from sextech industry representatives, academics, and clinicians, the 2023 International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots has come a long way since the first one was held back in 2008. You can read more about the history of the conferences here. 

It was not difficult to detect a feeling of shared purpose and vision in the conference, one where a sex—and pleasure-positive future for all is possible and attainable through sextech innovation driven by the stated dedication “to improving human sexuality and relationships through technology and sex positive education.”

Image Sources: LRS/Reimagine Sexuality Conference, A.R. Marsh using Starry.ai. 

The post Innovation and Optimism at the 8th Annual Love & Sex With Robots/Reimagine Sexuality Conference appeared first on Future of Sex.