With Argentina electing a female president for the first time, one would like to think that women are seen and seeing themselves as more than just sex objects or arm candy for futbol players (have you watched an Argentine soccer game on Argentine tv?).

Adrian Sapetti, head of the Argentine Society of Human Sexuality, says the feminine assertiveness began 30 years ago with the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, a group of mothers of political dissidents who for three decades protested the disappearance of their children during the military dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.

the fact that women have been leading social movements in Argentina and other Latin American countries actually isn’t something new maybe with a woman in the Casa Rosada people are just noticing it more.

The most recent example was during the 2001 economic meltdown. While the entire population was affected, men — traditionally the breadwinners — lost part of their identity along with their jobs. It was women who took to the streets, banging on pots and pans to protest.

An article in the Chicago Tribune claims that this power is also being expressed more in the bedroom.

Suddenly, Buenos Aires is beginning to feature sex shops exclusively for women that shy away from the typical sex-in-your-face aesthetic. Sheherazade, a coquettish shop in the heart of upscale Barrio Norte, looks like a boudoir, with a table set for two with flowers and candles, and feminine green shades on the windows to protect clients’ privacy.

So I guess if women are that concerned about being seen buying a vibrator then maybe the dynamic hasn’t changed as much as people think. The shop mentioned is owned by women, though.

Sheherazade does not advertise its address, and appointments are private and arranged with a phone call a few days in advance. In the two years the shop has been open, the sisters have learned that women feel freer to ask about sexual toys or try on lingerie in a private setting.

Men are also not allowed in the shop.

I invite all to look at Argentine pop culture where women play the role of eye candy rather than the lead power players then tell me how far the sexual revolution has come.

Via / The Chicago Tribune

Image Via / Beautiful Newsmakers