Curious Northwestern students attended emPOWER’s Sex Toys Fireside on Friday, where Searah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed, Chicago’s “women-oriented, boy-friendly and queer/trans-positive sex shop,” spoke to about 100 NU women – and a couple of men – about dildos, vibrators and other toys.
The event was hosted by emPOWER, the Panhellenic Association’s women’s issues group that focuses on body image, women’s health, eating disorders and sorority stereotypes, said Medill senior Lyz Keating, the group’s public relations chairwoman and a former Daily columnist. This was the third year emPOWER has hosted the event, and the audience grows each time.
Deysach began her talk at Fisk Hall by showing off dildos, which were raffled off to audience members after the discussion.
Deysach discussed how to use toys safely and comfortably, describing the fairly small Silver Bullet vibrator, which Early to Bed sells online for $9.
“It’s the best bang for our buck,” Deysach said, though she warned the audience to keep track of where it is in case it gets lost inside.
She also showed audience members Tula and Gigi, dildos specifically designed for G-spot stimulation. Deysach explained the logistics of the G-spot, a cluster of nerve endings that cause intense sensations when stimulated.
“It’s very hard to reach it yourself, so if you don’t have a partner or roommate or sorority sister to do it for you, these are great,” Deysach said, holding pink and purple dildos.
The raffle’s grand prize was the Rabbit vibrator, which was featured on “Sex and the City.” It is renowned for its complexity and intense stimulation, Deysach said.
“If you want a vibrator where you don’t have to do (anything), this is the one for you,” Deysach said.
Deysach also discussed anal sex, urging attendees not to “do it unless you really want to.”
“But if you’re relaxed and you use plenty of lube, it can be a totally sane, safe and wonderful thing,” she said.
She also gave the men in the audience some advice: “Don’t use traditional cock rings,” she said. Instead of metal, Deysach advised men to use rubber or anything that is removed more easily.
“So if you want to have a longer-lasting erection for fun or profit or whatever, this is a safer way to do it,” Deysach said.
Communication sophomore Dana Golin said she liked the emphasis Deysach placed on women’s health.
“I’ve never heard anyone discuss sex toys from that angle,” she said.
One of just a few men at the event, Weinberg sophomore Michael Garson said he went to have fun and to learn something.
“It’s worth the $3 (ticket price) for the comedy and education and it’s unique,” Garson said.
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