Whither A Sociology of Sex Toys? Contested Histories, Current Trends, and Potential Futures

While being part of many people’s sexual lives, sex toys are rarely the focus of sociological research. To better understand the role sex toys might play in the sociology of sexualities in the future, this article traces the history of sex toys through a transnational and decolonial lens, reviews recent empirical findings, and points to promising new directions in sex toy research. In doing so, we put forth a call for sociologists to interrogate the tension between liberatory sexual politics and empire, while also seriously considering the role of sex toys in shaping people’s sexual identities through sexual exploration and self-discovery.