Was the Vibrator Truly Created to Address 'Hysteria' in Women?

A few weeks back, I stumbled upon a fascinating article in Scientific American that revealed a story I couldn’t believe I had never encountered before: the vibrator, the beloved device used for pleasure by nearly 80% of adult women in the U.S., was supposedly invented during the Victorian era as a remedy for “hysteria.” How had I missed this intriguing tidbit? My interest was piqued, leading me to explore further.

Numerous reputable sources echoed this claim, stating that hysteria was a prevalent issue among women in the 19th century—so common that it was estimated that three-quarters of American women may have experienced it. The prescribed treatment? Manual stimulation performed by a physician to induce “paroxysms.” Yes, you read that correctly.

Hysterical Women Just Need a Good Paroxysm

The narrative suggests that women genuinely believed they were ill, as did the doctors administering the treatment. Neither party perceived it as sexual. However, achieving these “paroxysms” proved to be an arduous and time-consuming task, often leading to midwives taking on this challenging role.

Can you imagine? This scenario could easily inspire an entire genre of romantic fiction. Perhaps I’ll write some short stories about a tense Victorian woman grappling with her unexplainable desires, eventually seeking help from a kind-eyed midwife. “I assure you, Miss, this is strictly medical,” the midwife would say while providing relief, “it’s a recognized treatment!”

Poor, Exhausted Midwives

Interestingly, around this time, an inventor named Joseph Mortimer Granville patented an “electromechanical vibrator” in the early 1880s, originally intended for general muscle relief. Medical professionals soon realized the device could be applied to, ahem, “other areas.”

This innovation drastically reduced the time needed to bring about a paroxysm from an hour to just five or ten minutes. Eureka!

As the story goes, the vibrator’s popularity surged, becoming one of the first electric appliances to grace modern households, following items like the sewing machine and toaster. Throughout this period, using the vibrator on the clitoris for “paroxysms” was seen as a clinical remedy, not a sexual act.

Of course, we assume that individuals with vaginas were fully aware of the device’s purpose. They likely engaged in treatment with a sense of feigned innocence, much like how I once pretended my vibrating back massager was solely for my back. Nevertheless, the widespread use of the vibrator reportedly declined when Sigmund Freud arrived on the scene to inform the world that paroxysms were indeed sexual in nature. How embarrassing.

Technology of Orgasm

The narrative about the vibrator’s origin gained traction in 1999 with the publication of Rachel Maines’s book, Technology of Orgasm. It was a well-researched volume, complete with 465 citations, published by a reputable university press. What could possibly be doubted?

Maines’ book served as a foundation for various adaptations of the vibrator origin story, including a 2007 documentary and a 2011 film titled Hysteria, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal. The Guardian even published an article framing the vibrator’s invention as factual, asserting that it was created by respectable Victorian doctors seeking a more efficient method of treatment.

I was shocked to discover that this alluring tale is, in fact, not true.

The Reality of the Vibrator

Hallie Lieberman, a sex historian and author of Buzz: The Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, took the initiative to scrutinize Maines’s claims by examining the original sources. What she uncovered was a startling amount of inference, exaggeration, and sometimes outright fabrication to support Maines’s narrative.

In her defense, Maines stated she merely intended her book as an “interesting hypothesis,” not as a definitive account. However, the authoritative tone of her writing suggests otherwise.

One accurate detail is that the electric vibrator was indeed invented by Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville in the 1880s, but it was primarily intended for treating men’s ailments. The notion that doctors suddenly realized they could use Granville’s invention to spare their hands from the labor of manually stimulating their female patients is simply unfounded.

Historian Fern Riddell notes that Victorians were not ignorant of female orgasm. Publications from that era advised husbands to ensure their wives’ sexual satisfaction, indicating an awareness of female pleasure. The vibrator, once accessible for home use, was certainly employed for enjoyment. However, the idea that doctors and midwives were blindly stimulating women without recognizing the sexual implications is utterly false.

Ultimately, this captivating story is nothing more than a myth.

For those intrigued by the history of sexual wellness, you might enjoy exploring our other blog post for more insights on this topic. Additionally, if you’re looking for ways to enhance your fertility journey, consider checking out Make a Mom’s fertility supplements or NHS’s excellent resources on IVF.

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In summary, the popular narrative surrounding the vibrator’s invention as a treatment for hysteria has been largely debunked. While the electric vibrator was indeed conceived in the 1880s, it was not specifically developed for female patients, and the widespread belief that it was primarily a medical device for achieving paroxysms is unfounded. This captivating tale remains a fascinating myth rather than a historical fact.