If you are a fan of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, you have probably listened to Gwyneth Paltrow’s episode – the iconic Kiss, Marry, Kill with Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, and Chris Martin. However, after recently relistening to this episode, I have discovered something more interesting than 90s celebrity gossip: Goop Sex.
Gwyneth Paltrow has made herself a controversial internet figure in the past years due to her viral statements on nutrition and the release of certain products like her “Hands off my Vagina” candle. While her presence on the internet has been met with heated reactions, I have to admit that Gwyneth might be onto something.
Goop
Gwyneth Paltrow launched Goop in 2008 as a free newsletter to advise readers on a wide range of topics, including fashion, nutrition, and sex.
As the newsletter gained popularity, the company transitioned to the production of physical products, and today, Goop has become an extremely popular enterprise that combines both.
Goop now creates a range of products focusing on beauty, fashion, wellness, food & home and uses social media to advise consumers on how to make the most out of these products to improve their quality of living.
But what does this have to do with sex?
Gwyneth Paltrow has always been open about her views on female sexuality. Not only was she the face of the Me Too movement in 2019, but she also discussed the ‘female sexual taboo’ on several platforms like Glamour magazine and the Goop Sex Instagram page.
During her Call Her Daddy interview, she called out society for not being accepting of female sexuality: “The paradigms aren’t there for female pleasure, and so, we’ve been taught to be ashamed of it.” Goop Sex was created as a response to this. a platform where her team can answer questions about sex, women can share their experiences, and learn about an array of products that allow them to explore their way to ‘pleasure.’
Goop Sex
After listening to the podcast, I immediately grabbed my phone and searched the Goop Sex Instagram page because who is not curious to see what a celebrity’s sex shop page looks like? And I was taken aback.
Goop Sex is nothing like the grunge, obscure sex shops we have seen in TV shows because it is not a sex shop at all.
The Instagram page’s aesthetic resembles a skincare company’s feed. It has a fixed neutral colour scheme that markets the benefits of the products with elegance, subverting the expectations of female sexuality being something ‘dirty.’ The page’s focus on explaining the benefits of sex for women and normalising the use of products to maximise these benefits has created a new concept that can help women heal their relationship with pleasure- sexual wellness.
Sexual Wellness
As mentioned, Goop is all about creating products and advice that will improve women’s quality of life. Many wellness brands, like The Ordinary and Bloom’s Greens, are made for women, yet none seem to think of sex as part of a woman’s health.
In the past 10 years, women have increasingly used public platforms to discuss female sexuality, starting with Alex Cooper and her podcast Call Her Daddy. Yet, few brands have risen to match the conversations in the media, which is why Goop Sex is such a unique product. It highlights the need for women to be aware of the impact of sex on their health but also provides them with the resources to act upon it.
Women and Sex are two concepts we have been separating consistently as a society. From the fear of female sexuality in the 16th century to the cruel slurs directed towards women in 21st-century Hookup Culture. Luckily, thanks to the actions of women like Alex Cooper and Gwyneth Paltrow, society seems to be moving towards a more sexually accepting world in which female pleasure is not a frowned upon taboo but a standard part of conversations on female health and wellness.
As a young woman navigating her way through sexual relationships, being able to turn to such an open platform to find answers has been extremely helpful. Being open about sex not only helps us become more comfortable in our own sexuality but also allows us to understand the benefits and dangers of sex without being scared of judgement.
What do you think? Would you give Goop Sex a go?