Buying a sex toy for your dad can be a controversial topic, as shown by the raised eyebrows from the Father’s Day gift guide by Goop – Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle company – that includes a hands-free prostate stimulator priced at over two hundred dollars. It’s safe to say most of us wouldn’t have considered such an unorthodox gift.
The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists strongly suggests against purchasing your dad a sex toy, citing it as a ‘huge boundary break.’ But there has been more of a push on giving moms a sex toy for Mother’s Day over the last few years, so there are some who believe it isn’t as unacceptable as we might think.
Elisabeth Neumann, a sexologist and the head of user research at Lovehoney, supported the idea of giving a father a sex toy and highlighted the discrepancy between conversations around dads and moms. She claimed that 79% of parents talk about contraception and STIs with their children but only 45% talk about pleasure and masturbation.
When it comes to finding out if it’s ever okay to buy your dad a sex toy, the opinion appears to be divided. In the end, it will come down to personal boundaries and what is comfortable for both parties. However, you could always start a conversation about pleasure with your father as a great way to open up the discussion.
Goop, founded by Gwyneth Paltrow in 2008, is a lifestyle and wellness company that sells a wide range of items, from affordable diets to skincare to wellness retreats. It provides helpful tips on how to incorporate wellness into individuals’ lives as well as frequent tips on how to stay fit, eat well, and indulge in self-care.
Elisabeth Neumann is a sexologist, an expert in relationships, and the head of User Research at Lovehoney, a British retailer of sex toys. She contributes to several industry magazines and shares her knowledge in lectures and workshops both in the UK and abroad. She has also published a number of books and scientific papers on sex, relationships, and health.
