With sex and pornography being a tabooed topic in Indian society in spite of the attention it has been getting in recent years, there is a whole lot of speculation about the topic of sex toys. Are sex toys freely available in stores? Is it legal to buy sex toys in India? What are the rules when it comes to porn? The questions are just some of the ones that cloud a young Indian's mind and we bring you the answers.

What are the myths that India has when it comes to sex toys?

Pallavi Barnwal, a Sexuality Coach who has been associated with BBC, Vice, etc. says the foremost concern that people in India have about sex toys is that they feel it would make their partner redundant. "It is a myth. A woman feels if she conveys to her partner that she gets a roaring orgasm through a sex toy, he may take it amiss. Sex toys are thought to be only for single people."

The second myth she says is the notion that vibrators may desensitise the clit or the vagina. “This is totally untrue. There shouldn't be any problem even from a vibrator that vibrates at a high intensity." Pallavi says that on the other hand, it is known for vibrators to have a multitude of benefits, such as a high orgasm rate, lubrication, decreased pain." However, to emphasise the point of pain, she says it is similar to any other situation where a muscle is overworked. "If you overwork a muscle at the gym, there will be pain. Likewise, any overload on the clit can cause this." Using a vibrator causes less pain and burning sensation, she says as it allows one to apply less direct pressure.

Now that the myths around these toys have been called out, how easy is it to access these toys or porn in an Indian setting?

Is it legal to watch porn in India?

The news often is flooded with how big names are caught in adult content rackets and the sentence that awaits them. Then again, one often sees content on OTT platforms and posters that definitely require viewer discretion but yet are allowed to air. What then is the defining line between the production of adult content and its distribution?

The topic of viewing porn in India is not a straight path one and has been time and again modified. In 2015, the Supreme Court had said in an order that watching pornographic material or adult content in the space of one's own room is a personal choice and the law cannot interfere with this fundamental right to privacy. By this order, watching pornography in a private space was considered legal.

However, the Department of Telecommunications of the Central Government argued that pornographic material, due to its obscenity, violates the code of morality and decency and thus, is constitutionally wrong. This was followed by 857 porn websites being banned by Internet providers.

When it comes to pornographic material, there are certain Acts of the Constitution that need to be considered.

Section 292 of the IPC: This deals with the sale and distribution of obscenity in the form of books etc. material that is not electronic. The Section was widely invoked before the advent of the Internet when obscene content had not yet boomed on the world wide web.

Section 293 of the IPC: This is similar to Section 292, however more specific as it forbids the sale and distribution of obscene content in the form of books etc. to anyone who is below the age of 20.

Section 67 of the IT Act 2000: This Act is related to the publishing and distribution of obscene material in electronic form.

Section 14 of the POCSO Act 2012: This Act deals closely with obscenity in the case of children and makes it a crime to "use a child for pornographic purposes".

How receptive is India to porn?

As a society, porn is rarely spoken about openly, however that doesn't mean it isn't popular. To provide a basis to this claim, during the first phase of the lockdown, there was a stark rise in the percentage of visitors to porn websites; a massive 95%. The sex toy industry too saw a boom in their sales. This is indicative of the Indian society starting to engage more in satisfying their sexual pleasure and even starting to experiment with a sex toy or two. In fact, in May this year, India got its first-ever official sex shop in Goa! Proof that the country has come a long way in the area of sex and sexuality. But this hasn't always been the case.

What is India's history with receptivity to sex toys?

In 2018, a Canadian company had applied for a patent for vibrator, which was rejected by the patent office of India. This was done on the basis that the vibrator along with other toys of pleasure were obscene objects. In their words "These are toys that are not considered useful or positive. These are considered to be morally degrading by the law."

Following this, the equation of India with these toys of sexual pleasure has had its ups and downs and has often been seen as legally controversial. Taking a look at Section 292 once again, it states that “A book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting representation, figure or any other object, shall be deemed to be obscene if it is lascivious or appeals to the prurient interest or if its effect, or (where it comprises two or more distinct items) the effect of any one of its items, is if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.”

Thus in order to be banned, sex toys would need to be seen as ‘obscene’. This was cleared in 2011 by the Calcutta High Court which stated that the charges of obscenity that were put on sex toys were not sustainable legally as the fact that they brought out sexual desires in people could not be grounds for this.

While there has not been any clear ban or permission for the sale of these toys, one sees several e-commerce platforms selling these.

How?

The marketing strategy is crucial in this case.

How is the Indian woman reacting to the range of sex toys?

Patriarchy is etched into society and when it comes to sex, is it any different? Experts seem to think, not. With Section 377 of the IPC classifying a sex toy as unnatural, producers and suppliers have found their way around this by disguising sex toys as various items of everyday sale. This hasn't been received too well by experts, who question that if the sexuality of an Indian woman can be spoken about when it comes to rape and other gory news, why is it taboo when it is about sexual pleasure.

Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, in an interview to The Cut, says: "We see stories about women being violated, sexually harassed, raped [all over the paper] - we're okay with talking about women's sexuality when women are the victims of male sexual predation because it fits into our idea of women as passive and men as active. But when we think of women as owning their sexuality and having sexual agency and being able to create their own pleasure, that threatens these deeply held beliefs." The regressive beliefs need to be done away with when it comes to matters of sexual pleasure of the Indian woman.

Where can you buy sex toys from, if you are in India?

You are in India and wish to buy a sex toy, take your sex life to new heights, experiment and then settle on something that works well for you. Where do you go? The country has been exploring this side of itself and there is a whole world of this that you can try. A great place to check out would be IMBesharam, which trends as the Number one website for the sale of sex toys and adult products. You will find toys for anal sex, vibrators that are rechargeable and can go on for hours, toys for clitoral stimulation, toys for oral sex, a wide variety of dildo, lube and so much more. It all depends on what you are looking for.

An important factor says Pallavi, when it comes to sex toy usage to spice up your sex life, is hygiene. "You cannot exchange a sex toy with your partner. You need to clean your own product with the cleaner mentioned. Cross usage can lead to transmission of STDs."