The first week of January, 2020, saw Las Vegas, Nevada, more specifically the Sands Convention Center, hosting the annual CES tech convention. This years Consumer Electronics Show is just a little different, however. This year, on a trial basis, the Show is allowing sex tech into it’s show floor for the first time. Not in the main exhibition hall, mind you, but in a secondary area designated for start-up companies. Sex tech was exhibited under the category of “health and wellness” at this years show.

A dozen companies showcased their newest sex tech, including state of the art massagers, personal toys and accessories. Many of the founders of these start up, sex tech companies are women, and felt like they were breaking into the former “boys club” of the tech show circuit. Historically, CES and other similar technology showcases were male dominated from the exhibitors to the speakers. This combined with the “booth babe” atmosphere has kept some female tech pioneers in the background, and feeling their voices were not being heard or appreciated. This year, along with the female led wave of sex tech, The Female Quotient was brought in to hold a week-long conference about diversity and equality during the show. Dress codes have also been changed to discourage the “booth babe” practice, and be more welcoming to females as both exhibitors and consumers.

Having female led, sexual tech start-ups at CES is a turning point. Many of the women forging ahead in sexual tech have faced obstacles. Lack of funding and accusations that their products are indecent or offensive stopped many in their tracks, where their male counterparts have had many more resources to progress forward with their ideas. Sex tech as an industry often faces push back due to the stigma of their products, and industry as a whole, being perceived as, at best lewd, and at worst, disgusting to those in charge of financing.

This tide is changing, however. Sexual wellness is becoming less stigmatized, and seen more and more of just another aspect of human health that needs addressed in an open and honest way. As the consumer becomes more open about their needs in this arena, profits for sexual technology and wellness companies go up and up. Many traditional investors, who might have dismissed sexual wellness companies or products out of hand in the past, are more willing to see through the stigma, and into the potential profit margin. The success of the start up companies featured at CES this year may just pave the way for the innovations of tomorrow to get off the page and into bedrooms around the world.

While the tide is turning, the general fear of sex and sexuality as an open an honest topic is still holding the industry back. Hopefully in the coming years CES and shows of it’s kind will continue to welcome and develop sexual tech as a growing field of technology, and hopefully that future will be female led.

Consumer Electronics Show

Philidelphia Tribune