Swedish Men Sue Over Sex Toy Inequality in State Pharmacies
Thursday 14th August 2008
A pair of Swedish men have sued Apoteket, Sweden's state-run chain of pharmacies, for discrimination over the selection of sex toys available in the stores.
Apoteket began offering sex toys in June. Two men recently lodged a complaint with JamO, the Equal Opportunity Ombudsman of Sweden, claiming that they were discriminated against because the sex toys in the shops were geared towards women. Most of the toys are intended for vaginal use.
One of the men said that Apoteket has a “misguided and untrue view of sexuality whereby a woman with a dildo is seen as liberated, strong and independent, while a man with a blow-up plastic vagina is viewed as disgusting and perverted”.
Their claim is based on the 2005 Equal Opportunities Act, which attempts to equalize treatment of Swedes based on gender. This applies to public benefits, salaries, and health matters.
The provision of sex toys would fall under the health matters categories. The 2005 act was an attempt to make society more equal, but was strange in that it was actually intended to counter increasing preferential treatment for women. Now taxis can no longer offer better rates to women, nor can nightclubs make different age limits for men and women.
A lesbian couple has sued the state following the passage of the 2005 act. The partners were refused a second course of insemination treatment for one of the partners after the first partner had failed to respond. The health authority refused on the basis that a heterosexual couple would not have this option because one partner would be male, reasoning supported by the 2005 act. The couple sued the Swedish health authority for an undisclosed amount of damages.
Apoteket has been vigorously defending their position. Apoteket spokesperson Eva Fernvall said: “As I understand it, there are no products of good quality on the market for men. Should there be such products specifically for men, then there is nothing stopping us from selling them.”
Perhaps arguing that there are a lack of decent sex toys for males is not the best option, as many an internet retailer would poke holes in that defense. However, it is thought that the case will not make it to court.
Do you want to join Pinke's team of paid writers? We're looking for writers all over the world to write about the gay issues that matter all over the globe. We're particularly looking for travel writers and writers in Asia/Africa/the Middle East, but we'll consider anyone with great writing skills and an interest in the subject. Email Pinke editor Robert Knox with a writing sample for more information.
Apoteket began offering sex toys in June. Two men recently lodged a complaint with JamO, the Equal Opportunity Ombudsman of Sweden, claiming that they were discriminated against because the sex toys in the shops were geared towards women. Most of the toys are intended for vaginal use.
One of the men said that Apoteket has a “misguided and untrue view of sexuality whereby a woman with a dildo is seen as liberated, strong and independent, while a man with a blow-up plastic vagina is viewed as disgusting and perverted”.
Their claim is based on the 2005 Equal Opportunities Act, which attempts to equalize treatment of Swedes based on gender. This applies to public benefits, salaries, and health matters.
The provision of sex toys would fall under the health matters categories. The 2005 act was an attempt to make society more equal, but was strange in that it was actually intended to counter increasing preferential treatment for women. Now taxis can no longer offer better rates to women, nor can nightclubs make different age limits for men and women.
A lesbian couple has sued the state following the passage of the 2005 act. The partners were refused a second course of insemination treatment for one of the partners after the first partner had failed to respond. The health authority refused on the basis that a heterosexual couple would not have this option because one partner would be male, reasoning supported by the 2005 act. The couple sued the Swedish health authority for an undisclosed amount of damages.
Apoteket has been vigorously defending their position. Apoteket spokesperson Eva Fernvall said: “As I understand it, there are no products of good quality on the market for men. Should there be such products specifically for men, then there is nothing stopping us from selling them.”
Perhaps arguing that there are a lack of decent sex toys for males is not the best option, as many an internet retailer would poke holes in that defense. However, it is thought that the case will not make it to court.
Do you want to join Pinke's team of paid writers? We're looking for writers all over the world to write about the gay issues that matter all over the globe. We're particularly looking for travel writers and writers in Asia/Africa/the Middle East, but we'll consider anyone with great writing skills and an interest in the subject. Email Pinke editor Robert Knox with a writing sample for more information.
