The Lelo SIRI vibrator stands out from other Lelo “pleasure objects” and indeed many other sex toys because of its non-phallic shape. By “non-phallic,” I mean that the design of the SIRI does not resemble a penis. This can be contrasted with the Lelo Gigi, which has a more standard, “phallic” shape. So what are the benefits of the non-phallic vibrator? Why deviate from the standard?

 Phallic Gigi vs. Non-Phallic Siri

I’m an academic at heart so when I started thinking about why sex toys are designed the way they are (phallic vs. non), my immediate impulse was to invert the question: what are the benefits of using a phallic-shaped vibrator? The primary difference between the Lelo SIRI and the Lelo Gigi—and indeed between all non-phallic and phallic shaped vibrators—is that the phallic Gigi can be used for penetration and the SIRI cannot (or rather, should not).

But—with the exception of for inducing female ejaculation—why would you want to penetrate yourself? (for some reason I feel embarrassed asking this question, but for me penetration has been good for sexual excitation, not orgasm)

My own masturbatory rituals are overwhelmingly clitoral. However, I didn’t even realize that this might be exceptional until I went to a sex toy party and noticed that most of the toys being exhibited lacked vibration capabilities (ie: they were plain old dildos). I wondered whether it was my own masturbation techniques that were uncommon, or whether this particular pyramid scheme had singled out some preferred-penetration market of which I was just not a part.

The environment at the sex toy party was classroom-like enough that I raised my hand in the middle of the saleswoman’s lecture and asked if anyone in the room used vibrators or dildos for penetration, or if they were more like me. Unfortunately the set-up was not classroom-like enough to foster a real learning environment, and the saleslady replied to my question as follows: “I don’t think anybody wants to talk about that here, Jane.” A room of fifteen women who got together at someone’s home on a Friday night to cocktail and buy sex toys seems to be exactly the situation in which people would want to talk about “that,” but what do I know.

I still haven’t had a good conversation about penetration and sex toys, so I hope you’ll converse with me on this one (annonymously, if you want to). Do you use your vibrator as a penetration tool? If not, what are the benefits of having a phallic-shaped vibrator?

(Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, check my intimate video review of the SIRI here)