This summer in Sweden, state-run pharmacies began selling sex toys over the counter. Now, according to a story posted on Timesonline.co.uk, these pharmacies are being asked to defend themselves before the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman, which is the Swedish body that overseas cases and charges of discrimination, because the sex toys available at these establishments are only those which are designed for women.

One protester of this alleged sex toy double standard believes that Swedish the pharmacy chain, Apoteket has a “misguided and untrue view of sexuality whereby a woman with a dildo is seen as liberated, strong and independent, while a man with a blow-up plastic vagina is viewed as disgusting and perverted.” However, Eva Fernvall the head of retailing for Apoteket offered a defense for the choices of sex toys sold by their store chain. “As I understand it, there are no products of good quality on the market for men,” said Fernvall. “Should there be such products specifically for men, then there is nothing stopping us from selling them.”

This is not the first issue that men have brought before the EOO citing preferential treatment for women over men. Swedish males took issue with bars and clubs lowering the age restriction for women to enter in order to attract more male patrons. Now it is written into law that this practice is illegal. Other gender issue changes include dating services now not being able to charge women a lesser rate than men for membership.