Disclaimer: Yes, I am a queer vagina-owning feminist and yes, I consider these products to be right up a queer vagina-owning feminist’s alley. But no, I don’t think that all of the aforementioned products are exclusively for queer vagina-owning feminists! Let’s all play with gender together!
I realize that it is not Christmas or Valentine’s Day or any other consumerism-driven holiday that might entail ritualistic gift-swapping but I say fuck that, everyday is a good day to share the wealth. So, here are some cool gift ideas on the market today for all the wonderful peoples in your life who want to fuck the patriarchy, make their life better, and feel on top of their game all at once. Cheers!
For the Outdoorsy Human: The Go Girl and The Shewee
Do you remember on Orange is the New Black, when Poussey had the “Shewee” idea? Well rejoice, folks, ’cause it’s a real thing.
Do you have a vagina? Have you ever tried to pee in an unconventional setting like out of a kayak or in the woods? It’s rough (if only we could all have the skills of Max from L Word) but with the Go Girl or the Shewee all your problems have been solved! Both companies have created cute little funnels through which a vagina-owner can pee while standing up! Revolutionary! According to the Go Girl website, they are a “way to stand up to crowded, disgusting, distant or non-existent bathrooms. It’s a female urination device (sometimes called a FUD) that allows you to urinate while standing up. It’s neat. It’s discreet. It’s hygienic.” Your outdoorsy friend will have complete urination freedom and will think of you every time they satisfactorily empty their bladder! It’s really a win-win.
For the EcoFeminist (who menstruates): The Diva Cup, LunaPads, and Thinx Underwear
We can all admit, love ’em or not, that menstrual cycles can get a little messy. The amount of waste that we menstruating individuals produce in the attempt to keep that mess to a minimum can get totally ridiculous, what with all the disposable pads and tampons out there. Mother Earth, who knows a thing or two about Lunar Cycles herself, is getting kind of annoyed. But good news! There are products on the market that are trying to minimize the world’s period-related garbage while also giving menses-having folks some comfy, cute, and affordable options for that time of the month! Your ecofeminist friend will be over the moon (Get it? ‘Cause lunar cycles? Eh?) to receive any of these amazing menses accessories!
The Diva Cup comes in two sizes for two awesome types of vagina: pre- and post-childbirth!
Let’s start with the Diva Cup, which is described by their website as “a reusable, bell-shaped menstrual cup that is worn internally and sits low in the vaginal canal, collecting rather than absorbing your menstrual flow.” It is BPA-free, super comfy (this I know from personal experience), totally reusable, and produces no waste!
Lunapads are cute, comfy, and ecofriendly!
Another great way to cut down on menstrual waste without compromising fashion or function is with Lunapads, which are adorable and reusable cloth pads that come in all sorts of colors and sizes! The company has created cloth maxipads, as well as panty-liners for both regular and thong undies. To use them, you simply slip the pad into your underwear at the beginning of the day, change the detachable insert for a fresh one as necessary, and then throw them all in the washer at the end of the day!
Thinx is bringing sexy back with these stylish period panties!
Also genius: the period-friendly underwear created by Thinx! These undies are equipped with built-in padding according to the flow of your period, from heavy days to light days. They are machine washable, obviously reusable, and come in sexy styles including thongs! The Thinx company takes things one step further by adding an element of philanthropy and women empowerment, which you can read all about on their website’s “Power of Purchase” page.
P.S. Most of the period products from these companies can be purchased in packs, so you can gift yourself and a friend! Because, as Ru always says, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love anybody else?”
For the Androfabulous Breast-Owner: The GC2b Binder
The GC2b binder in action!
I do not personally bind, but my girlfriend (who is androsexy as hell) does and can attest to the comfort level of the GC2b binder. I am no expert in the arena of binding, but I do know that it can be a highly unpleasant experience for many folks and can actually do medical harm if not gone about in a safe way. With the GC2b, your androgynous or transmasculine (or genderqueer or genderfluid or whatever term may be) friend will experience all the comfort and smooth-chestedness their heart could desire! To read a full and entertaining review, check out Autostraddle’s article.
For the Intersectional Bookworm: Redefining Realness by Janet Mock and Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Janet Mock is a force to be reckoned with and a dynamic leader within the feminist, people of color, trans, and queer communities! Her advocacy work for trans women’s rights has been a perfect example of intersectional activism and her eloquence and intelligence are simply awe-inspiring. Redefining Realness is her memoir that recounts her coming-of-age as a trans woman of color that your bookwormy friend will love to read cover to cover! My suggestion? Order the book (it’s available on Amazon), read it real quick, then pass it on with a few notes in the margins for your friend to find! I don’t know about you, but I love it when I find other people’s thoughts in the margins of books that I am reading. It makes me feel like I’m part of a book club!
Roxanne Gay’s Bad Feminist was the much-needed comic relief of my crazy, 20 credit winter quarter this year. Her ability to recognize the hypocrisies and short-comings of not only her own but other feminist theories and beliefs is sharp, witty, and totally on-point. After reading this book, I was unhesitatingly willing to identify with the term ‘bad feminist’. Bad Feminist touches on many feminists issues, from intersectionality to the education system (Gay herself being a professor and person of color), with a fresh perspective and thought-provoking critique. I guarantee your intersectional bookworm friend will enjoy this read immensely and will find themselves laughing out loud with every chapter!
For the Vagina-Owner that has Sex with Other Vagina-Owners: Babeland’s SquareParts Harness Combo
Doesn’t it just look like fun?!
I am more of a strap-on appreciator than a strap-on wearer, if ya know what I mean, but I can speak from personal experience to the fantastic qualities of this strap on kit. For one thing, it’s a great price at $210 for the Vixskin dildo and the fabulous SquareParts Joque harness. Also, you don’t have to worry about accidently buying a dildo that doesn’t fit with your harness because these two go together like peanut butter and jelly! This is the kind of gift that you should probably only give to your significant other or yourself, just because of the private nature of one’s sex life and the toys they use within it, but I will say that it makes for an awesome couples’ present!
Fun for Every Gender 