ep. 36: How to #FreeTheVibrator
Vibrators are more popular than ever, and women founders, designers, and engineers are increasingly claiming their space in today’s booming, $15-billion sex toy and sextech industries. But the biz behind the buzz isn't exactly liberating. Polly Rodriguez, co-founder of the sexual wellness start-up Unbound, talks to Cristen and Caroline about the unexpected kinks of being a boss babe with vibrator career goals and what still stands between us and the good vibes our bodies deserve.
Leave ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ at Apple Podcasts
More from Polly + Unbound
Follow Polly: Twitter // Instagram // Facebook
Follow Unbound: Twitter // Instagram // Site
Resources
For founders: Women of Sex Tech
For consumers: Go Ask Alice: Vibrators
Sources
Barrica, Andrea. How Women Made Sextech the Next Great Frontier for Growth. Forbes. Nov. 1, 2018.
Barrouquere, Brett. In Texas, even possession of a sex toy is regulated. The Chronicle. May 21, 2017.
Brabaw, Kasandra. After 25 Years, Babeland Sells to Another Sex Toy Store. Refinery29. July 24, 2017.
Chen, Angela. From Ice Age dildos to VR, an academic explains the history and future of sex toys. The Verge. Feb. 14, 2018.
Comella, Lynn. Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure. Durham: Duke University Press, 2017.
Dubois, Shelley. Crave's Ti Chang: The rare female designer in adult toys. Fortune. March 13, 2013.
Fasullo, Kristin. Beyond Lawrence v. Texas: Crafting a Fundamental Right to Sexual Privacy. Fordham Law Review. Vol. 77. 2009.
Fishcher, Lisa. Cancer Battle Inspires Founder to Start Sex Tech Company. CNN. Feb. 27, 2018.
Howard, Hillary. Vibrators Carry the Conversation. The New York Times. April 20, 2011.
Kircher, Madison Malone. CES Sex Toy Debacle Is a Nice Reminder of How the Tech World Feels About Women. NY Mag. Jan. 9, 2019.
Lieberman, Hallie. Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy. New York: Pegasus Books, 2017.
Maslin Nir, Sarah. After Cries of Sexism, M.T.A. Says Sex Toy Ads are O.K. The New York Times. May 17, 2018.
Necati, Yas. If we care about more than just male pleasure, we should give teenage girls vibrators. Independent. April 24, 2018.
Newman, Andrew Adam. Trojan Makes Concessions to Place a Suggestive Ad. The New York Times. Sept. 27, 2010.
North, Anna. Women of Sex Tech, Unite. The New York Times. Aug. 18, 2017.
NowThis. Virtually Intimate: Unbound with Polly Rodriguez. Sept. 1, 2018.
O’Donovan, Caroline. How Sex Toy Makers Sneak Around Digital Filters. BuzzFeed. April 29, 2016.
Orenstein, Peggy. The Sex Toy Shops That Switched on a Feminist Revolution. The New York Times. Feb. 6, 2018.
Pelling, Rowan. Why is America so inhibited about sex toys? Spectator. Dec. 16, 2017.
Regensdorf, Laura. Meet Maude, the Women-Run Sex Line Promising Good Vibes for All. Vogue. April 9, 2018.
Reuters. Texas mom faces trial for selling sex toys. CNN. Feb. 11, 2004.
Rullo, Jordan E. et al. Genital vibration for sexual function and enhancement: a review of evidence. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. Vol. 33, Iss. 3. Jan. 2, 2018.
Scheiner, Matthew. Does Wellness Begin in the Bedroom? The New York Times. Nov. 1, 2018.
Sharma, Rakesh. Facebook, Google And Adult Toys: It's A Complicated Relationship. Forbes. Aug. 16, 2013.
Smiley, Lauren. Social Media’s Squeamish Censors Say Yes to Condoms, No to Vibrators. AdAge. March 13, 2018.
Sollee, Kristen. 6 Woman-Owned, Feminist Sex Shops to Support for Valentine's Day (or Christian Grey Day). Bustle. Feb. 2, 2015.
Stabile, Emily. Commentary: Getting the Government in Bed: How to Regulate the Sex-Toy Industry. Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law and Justice. Vol. 28, Iss. 2. Summer 2013.
Stanberry, Lindsey. Polly Rodriguez Is Turning the Sex Toy Industry Upside Down. Refinery29. April 12, 2018.
Trebay, Guy. For the First Family of Pleasure Products, Toys Are Us. The New York Times. Nov. 18, 2017.
Wischhover, Cheryl. Why You’ll Find Sex Toys in the Beauty Department. Racked. May 18, 2018.
Winerip, Michael. The Adult Store Goes Mainstream. The New York Times. June 26, 2009.
Yates, Carolyn. 11 Vintage Vibrator Ads To Make You Glad You Live In 2015. Autostraddle. Oct. 15, 2015.
Yollin, Patricia. The Female Orgasm Comes (Quietly) to the Streets of San Francisco. KQED. July 12, 2018.
