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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that children should not be allowed in Ann Summers shops?

143 replies

JM31 · 19/03/2011 17:49

I was in the East Kilbride Ann Summers shop today and there were two children in there with their parents - ages between 12 and 14 I reckon. I had no idea kids were allowed in. I asked the shop assistant and she said they were allowed but only in the front part of the shop. As she was telling me this we could both clearly see the kids standing in the back of the shop, right next to the vibrators and fetish gear.
As for the front of the shop - it had a manniquin wearing a PVC rubber bra and pants, and the peephole bras and crotchless pants were the featured display right next to the door.

Ann Summers thinks it is ok for kids to see this, what do you think?

OP posts:

SardineQueen · 20/03/2011 09:32

Not all parents have partners beesimo

Some people like to use toys as a fun extra.

Some men aren't fully functioning in that department and the couple still want to have sex involving penetration...

Lots of reasons. Use your imagination

VajazzHands · 20/03/2011 09:57

SardineQueen Call me a prude but I don't think it is necessary to show lots of veined dildos to 10 year old children to ensure they understand that sex is fun.

Exactly SardineQueen I think I was actually of legal age before ever seeing a dildo! and still manage to have a very good sex life!

I think it's a bit disturbing to be indoctrinating young girls in to believing a good sex life involves them dressing up for their partner too. Fair enough if you want to do it as an adult but doesn't need to be a part of primary school sex-ed!

Dancergirl · 20/03/2011 10:00

YANBU

I wouldn't dream of taking a child in there. But then again having Ann Summers on the High St just cheapens sex imo. And sex 'fun'?! I wouldn't think of sex as a fun leisure activity, but a special act between 2 people who love and are committed to each other.

But then I am v old-fashioned!

nurseblade · 20/03/2011 11:51

Personally I'd much rather my teen daughter got into masturbation than had sex underage. Not 10 - that's too young but by 14/15 I'd much prefer she was using a dildo and exploring her own sexuality than having sex.

theresapotatoundermysink · 20/03/2011 12:00

Why would you take a child into that shop? Some things are meant for adults.

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 12:07

Perhaps every girl should get a dildo for her 14th birthday ?

A coming-of-age thing.

Sweet.

nurseblade · 20/03/2011 12:09

Better than getting an unwanted pregnancy or an STI for her 14th birthday.

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 12:13

how will giving your 14 yo daughter a dildo prevent her from getting an STI or an unwanted pregnancy ?

my 15 yo dd doesn't have a dildo...have I been remiss in this ? Shall we take a trip to Ann Summers pronto ?

Zondra · 20/03/2011 12:20

SardineQueen, you summed it up perfectly!
Thank you!

I am absolutely amazed at some of the comments on here...

Frizzbonce · 20/03/2011 12:48

Personally I wouldn't take a child in there. But I wonder whether it's also because of Ann Summers being seen as a bit skanky? I mean would you feel the same way about say Agent Provocateur? Their shops are full of whips and knicks too but they're much more expensive and the shops have thick carpet and lush curtains.

nurseblade · 20/03/2011 13:08

'my 15 yo dd doesn't have a dildo'

How on earth do you know this? I had one at 15, I didn't tell my mum about it.

I didn't say having a dildo would prevent unwanted pregnancies, just that I would rather my teenage daughter masturbates than has sex underage.

theresapotatoundermysink · 20/03/2011 13:56

You had a dildo at 15?!

Oh my, I've lived a sheltered life...

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 14:07

NB, I know

theresapotatoundermysink · 20/03/2011 14:13

At 15 I was contemplating whether I should let my boyfriend feel my breasts (outside the bra) and too scared to use a tampon let alone a whopping dildo.

valiumredhead · 20/03/2011 14:16

I left home at 16.

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 14:20

my 15 yo dd is too scared to use tampons

she is just out the door to go watch Justin Bieber in concert

unless she keeps her stash of sex toys outside the home, I know she doesn't have any

so, since I can't envisage her using one at somebody else's house, or round the bikesheds at school/down the local park/at the shopping centre then I can be fairly confident of that

nurseblade · 20/03/2011 14:34

'At 15 I was contemplating whether I should let my boyfriend feel my breasts (outside the bra) and too scared to use a tampon let alone a whopping dildo.'

I didn't have my first boyfriend until I was 20 though, so did a lot of self exploration first. It wasn't a whopping dildo either.

TotorosOcarina · 20/03/2011 14:38

I had a vibrator at 16, maybe 15, i was in high school anyway.

DH worked in ann summers and I used to take the kids in to see him, the staff used to give the kids willy biscuits they were both under 3 though so were clueless.

theresapotatoundermysink · 20/03/2011 14:41

Yes but a lot of teenagers, like myself at that age, aren't ready for sexual exploration yet whether it be with a boyfriend or individually. Not every 15 year old is sexually active or hiding dildos from their mums. Taking a child into an Ann Summers shop is exposing them to things which they may not be ready to see.

feeblephoebe · 20/03/2011 14:46

id never even heard of a dildo at 15 let alone seen one or used one

TotorosOcarina · 20/03/2011 14:53

Can I just add that alough I owned one, I wasn't a promiscuous teen! My first kiss was with DH at almost 16 and I've only ever slept with him once I turned 16, but I was personally very sexually aware from a young age and it was a sort of natural progression for me, but i'd never even held a boys hand!

theresapotatoundermysink · 20/03/2011 15:02

Totoros, nobodies said if you own a dildo then your a slag! Just trying to make the point that not everyone is sexually active in any way at that age.

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 15:04

TO, I wasn't meaning that either.

I was reacting to NB's implication that I was being naive in being sure that my 15 yo dd does not own a sex toy.

TotorosOcarina · 20/03/2011 15:13

I didn't say someone owning a dildo was slag

I was simply stating that because a teenager may have a high 'sex' drive and have been comftable expolring their own bodies for a number of years coming upto 16 and by that point has moved onto mechanical help it doesn't mean they would want to engage in any sexual activity with any other person, or be more likely to want to have sex because they have a vibrator.

I was genuinly terrified at the thought of loosing my virginity, in fact i was so shy i assumed I would be a virgin at 40, until I got with DH I found it very difficult to even talk to boys.

Peter, I'm sure my mum was sure I didn't have one either. I was such a quiet, reserved teen, never showed any interest in boys or dating, would blush if anyone even kissed on TV!

PeterAndreForPM · 20/03/2011 15:15

TO, you are doing it too

out of interest, where did you keep your sex toy ?

I shall make sure I check there

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