Beta 1.0
Conventionally, many Dildos are shaped like a human penis with varying degrees of detail. Many feminists find the use of the penis to be objectionable for a variety of reasons, and as such there are now more Dildos in a variety of shapes. These reflect empowering items like goddess figures, or simply practical designs which stimulate women more easily than conventional designs. In Japan, many Dildos are created to resemble animals or cartoon characters, like Hello Kitty, so that they may be sold as toys, thus avoiding obscenity laws in areas where sex toys are frowned upon.
Vaginal penetration is the obvious use. Dildos have fetishistic value as well, and some couples use them in other ways, running them over the skin during foreplay for example. If of appropriate sizes, they can be used as gags, for oral penetration or a sort of artificial fellatio, or for anal penetration. Some people also use specially designed Dildos to stimulate the G-spot. Dildos are used by people of all genders and sexual orientations, alone or with others.
A dildo to be inserted in the anus and remain in place for a period of time is called a butt-plug. Dildos used for repeated anal penetration, such as thrusting, are usually referred to as simply "dildos". There are also double-ended Dildo, with different-sized shafts pointing in the same direction, used by women to accomplish both anal and vaginal penetration at once, or for two women to share one Dildo.
The double-ended Dildo is used by some lesbians during sexual acts. The dildo acts as a sort of "see-saw", each female takes an end and receives stimulation. There are dildos designed to be worn in a harness, sometimes called a strap-on harness or strap-on dildo, or to be worn inside, sometimes with vibrating devices attached externally. Strap-ons are worn by people in heterosexual and homosexual relationships.
Strap-on Dildos may be double-ended, in which case they are meant to be worn by women who want to experience vaginal penetration while also penetrating a partner. They may be used in homosexual relationships, as well as in heterosexual relationships for the anal penetration of the male, in a kind of role reversal. In the latter case the act is known as pegging.