Unfortunately, I'm not able to contribute to the Sex Shop I Trust campaign. I understand that EdenFantasys is trying to promote itself as a sex-positive website, however, with the current gender-restrictive category restriction, I feel that the website is actually coming across as hypocritical.
The issues have been highlighted in forum threads in the past by numerous people. Unfortunately, after more than a month, these categories have still not been changed, nor do we have any timeline for the supposed changes. These categorizations are very, very important to me, especially since the Eden Community is often a refuge for people who are new to sex toys and need information.
For instance, there was a thread some time ago where a male, new to sex toys, was wondering if he was latently homosexual because of a desire to use toys anally. Members of the Eden community came forward to assure the individual that he didn't need to worry about his sexuality--but an examination of the toy categories makes it quite clear why he might be worried. The EdenFantasy site itself says that straight males use things like masturbation sleeves and penis pumps, and only gay males use anal plugs or insertable anal vibrators. That is, if you're looking for something to put in your bum, and you're looking on the categories on the main page, you have to go to the gay male category, which is the only category which includes insertable anal toys--I guess women don't have bums? (Maybe I should go to the doctor . . .)
As well, as was brought up in the threads, it's important as a sex-positive store to remember that biological sex and gender don't always match. Just because you're a woman doesn't necessarily mean that you have a vagina (or that you want toys in it), and just because you're a man doesn't mean that you have a cock. The only objective way to organize toys is by category--these are dildos, these are dildos that vibrate, these are dildos with flared ends that can be used anally, etc and let consumers decide what toys they need for their purpose. The onus should not be on the reviewers to correct misconceptions about the site gained from the categorizations--the onus should be on the company to correct those website errors.
As well, I am unable to trust a company which treats its employees unfairly, such as the treatment AAG recently received. This kind of treatment is horrible, especially coming from a website which is attempting to push itself as a premiere, community-based site. Hearing about these things does not lend much support or truthfulness to Eden's supposed values of community, nor does it give the website a good reputation among people who are willing and able to promote it.
The issues have been highlighted in forum threads in the past by numerous people. Unfortunately, after more than a month, these categories have still not been changed, nor do we have any timeline for the supposed changes. These categorizations are very, very important to me, especially since the Eden Community is often a refuge for people who are new to sex toys and need information.
For instance, there was a thread some time ago where a male, new to sex toys, was wondering if he was latently homosexual because of a desire to use toys anally. Members of the Eden community came forward to assure the individual that he didn't need to worry about his sexuality--but an examination of the toy categories makes it quite clear why he might be worried. The EdenFantasy site itself says that straight males use things like masturbation sleeves and penis pumps, and only gay males use anal plugs or insertable anal vibrators. That is, if you're looking for something to put in your bum, and you're looking on the categories on the main page, you have to go to the gay male category, which is the only category which includes insertable anal toys--I guess women don't have bums? (Maybe I should go to the doctor . . .)
As well, as was brought up in the threads, it's important as a sex-positive store to remember that biological sex and gender don't always match. Just because you're a woman doesn't necessarily mean that you have a vagina (or that you want toys in it), and just because you're a man doesn't mean that you have a cock. The only objective way to organize toys is by category--these are dildos, these are dildos that vibrate, these are dildos with flared ends that can be used anally, etc and let consumers decide what toys they need for their purpose. The onus should not be on the reviewers to correct misconceptions about the site gained from the categorizations--the onus should be on the company to correct those website errors.
As well, I am unable to trust a company which treats its employees unfairly, such as the treatment AAG recently received. This kind of treatment is horrible, especially coming from a website which is attempting to push itself as a premiere, community-based site. Hearing about these things does not lend much support or truthfulness to Eden's supposed values of community, nor does it give the website a good reputation among people who are willing and able to promote it.
