Rethinking Sex Toys For Sexual Assault Victims

For many survivors of sexual assault, a happy sex life feels out of reach. While much of the treatment on offer is focused on emotional and psychological healing, people are often left to work out for themselves what sex after trauma looks like for them.

But in comes Dutch designer Nienke Helder, who is rethinking sex toys as healing instruments for women who have suffered sexual abuse. The objects she created (which are not yet being manufactured for sale) are part of her collection Sexual Healing, and are meant to help victims navigate their own sexual recovery. Drawing from her own experience, Helder designed "a horsehair brush to explore touch and tickling, a mirror designed to help you better view your vulva, as well as a pelvic device that vibrates when your muscles are too tense, and a bean-shaped sensor that lights up if you’re breathing too fast, to remind you to slow down and relax."  

Most of the sex toys intended for sexual abuse survivors are made so that they don't look or smell like a penis. This gives women the opportunity to take back their bodies, to connect with them and to explore sex in a safe environment—things that will, fortunately, bring victims closer to a satisfying sex life.