Internet divided after stepmother gifts 'super uncomfortable' 16yo sex toy for birthday

girl receiving wrapped sex toy from stepmother
"Isn't this an obvious line you don't cross?" Photo credit: Getty Images.

A 16-year-old girl has turned to the internet for advice after her stepmother gifted her a vibrator, in a move the girl said made her "super uncomfortable". 

Taking to Reddit's 'Relationship Advice' forum, the teen revealed her father's new wife surprised her with the sex toy as a birthday gift. 

"I know this wasn't meant in a way to seduce me or anything... she's just trying to get me to like her because it's pretty clear I don't," she wrote, adding the pair didn't get along as her stepmother had an affair with her father while he was married to her mother. 

The teen wrote that the gift made her feel "super uncomfortable".  

"It felt like sexual harassment even though it wasn't. I told her I didn't want it and she said that's fine but I shouldn't let stigma get in the way and she'll keep it for me if I change my mind.

"She gave a small speech that was like 'I'm the cool step mum' and 'would your mom give you this?'" 

But the teen said she and her stepmother "barely know each other" and she felt "violated". 

"I kind of want to tell my parents. I know they'll be so pissed at her but outside of me being uncomfortable, I don't know if it would be mean to do that. 

"Because they'll really lose their shit on her. But this just grossed me out so much and I already didn't like her. 

"Isn't this an obvious line you don't cross?"

The post racked up 400 replies, with Reddit users split over whether it was a 'fun' gift gone wrong, or something more sinister. 

"I have a 16-year-old daughter and I think that is completely inappropriate. You didn't ask her for it and there's no reason she should even be taking an interest in your sexuality," one person said.

"It is ALWAYS appropriate to talk to your parents when someone makes you feel violated/uncomfortable. They can help you set and communicate clear boundaries with your stepmom," another person commented.

"That's a completely inappropriate gift for a 16-year-old. Tell your parents. That is not how you get your stepchild to like you," a person said.

Others were more sympathetic to the stepmother, saying it's clear she desperately wants to be friends and made an error in judgement. 

"I'd talk to her in private. Tell her that you don't want to have a close relationship, that a polite one is all you are willing to have," one person advised online.

"She sounds, at best, clueless about raising kids. I imagine there will be a huge blow up over this, and I'm wondering if it will make your life better or harder. Forget them and their feelings. Do you want to have to deal with the blow up that will come from this?" another questioned the girl.

The teen eventually edited her post, thanking everyone for the somewhat conflicting advice. 

She said she had decided to go with her gut and tell her parents.