Let’s Talk About Feminist, Postive and 100% Shade-Free Sex Toys

Why this conceptual artist pioneering the representation of the clitoris believes Babeland is the gold standard for sex toy stores

I grew up in Seattle, Washington. It’s only as I get older that I realize how lucky I was to have spent my formative years in this gray city of evergreens and espresso based optimism. I was the child of hippy anti-war activists, a public school kid who got to study with teachers who were feminists, black panthers and queer activists.  And so, when I was in my first lesbian relationship at 17, going to Babeland to check out their books and pride jewelry was only natural. 

Babeland was founded by idealistic feminists

Claire Cavanah and Rachel Venning had recently finished school and  were looking to start a business. Founded on the belief that women have a right to pleasure and that the struggle for sexual liberation is a necessary part of feminism – they opened the first Babeland store in 1993 in Seattle (they give credit to Good Vibrations, a feminist sex toy store in SF that predates Babeland for showing them the ropes). A “response to the lack of women-friendly sex shops in Seattle” and a problem globally, their store was an immediate success and is cherished by women, men, trans and gender nonconforming folks who have been lucky enough to come across it’s welcoming doors.  

Twenty years later, Babeland remains the gold standard for sex toy stores.

In New York City, where I now live, there are Babelands in Soho, Park Slope and the Lower East Side. Sadly, they haven’t expanded their brick and mortar locations beyond Seattle and New York however most of their business is e-commerce so you can pretty much get whatever you need online.  Still, there is something that can’t be beat about going into their physical stores.

Babeland pioneered the possibility of a feminist, positive, 100% shade free sex toy store

Others have copied them since but truth be told, Babeland pioneered the possibility of a feminist, positive, 100% shade free sex toy store.  Babeland locations are the opposite of creepy. They keep long hours like the sleazy sex stores but in contrast to those grimy places with blow up dolls and mannequins in lingerie, Babelands are refreshingly bright. There are no sex cliches here, rather the products on the shelves are highly vetted and well explained.

The toys are placed to invite tactile evaluation

The staff deserve their own review. They are super welcoming, delighted to talk about toys when you ask questions, totally chill to give space when you want to explore solo. Inside Babeland, you will see rows and rows of beautifully curated toys. The toys are placed to invite tactile evaluation. The powered ones are plugged in for testing. The cordless ones are charged or stocked with fresh batteries so you can grab them and immediately begin seeing if you resonate with a particular suite of vibrations. No clear plastic windows on boxes plastered with photos of generic blondes with fake nails, faking orgasms which expose poorly made toys that can’t be sterilized and don’t understand Cliteracy 101. As a customer at Babeland, you are free to explore at will but you always have a guide you can ask for help if you come across a particularly strange object.  Toys are organized by function. If you know what you want you can make a bee-line. More in the mood to research? No problemo. There is a lovely flow from vibrators to lube and condoms to BDSM to buttplugs and butt vibes to harnesses and dildos to packing toys to books and much more.

Go forth and explore – online or at these stores:

Lower East Side
94 Rivington St

SoHo
43 Mercer Street

Park Slope
462 Bergen St

Seattle
707 E Pike St
Seattle, Washington 98122

Check out Sophia’s current NYC exhibitions:

September 9th – October 2nd: Respectability Politics at Outlet Gallery in Bushwick. Regular hours Saturday & Sunday, 12:00-6:00pm.   

Opening September 27th:  A self portraiture, group show at Untitled Space Gallery. Stay tuned for more details.