A love doll, also referred to as a sex doll, is a human-like toy used for sexual activities as a substitute for a partner. It can be a full-body model weighing around 25kg with a face, or a partial body with the necessary accessories for sexual stimulation. Sex dolls come in various forms but are distinct from sex robots, which are designed for more complex interactions.
According to feminists, sex dolls are humanoid dolls with penetrable openings that men use as replacements for women. They argue that these products contribute to the objectification of the female body and further perpetuate issues of intimacy, as digital technology facilitates and profits from pornography, prostitution, and exploitation. They believe that these dolls, representing women, reinforce cultures that perpetuate sexual violence against females in new ways.
Numerous suppliers of adult toys and sex dolls have reported a significant increase in sales in recent months, as many men have transitioned from smaller masturbators to full-size sex dolls. WM Dolls, a professional model manufacturing factory in China, is actively engaged in ongoing research and development to produce internationally patented products.
In 2016, there was a push to prohibit the production of anthropomorphic sex robots. In 2015, a Japanese robotics company prohibited sexual activity with their products. Recently, a 43-year-old man in Sydney was accused of importing parts of 11 childlike sex dolls in air cargo shipments. Additionally, a news report revealed that a Singaporean student is facing deportation from Australia after being caught importing a child-like sex doll from China.
On the one hand, if men are enacting their fantasies with dolls rather than real people, it could be seen as a positive sign that actual women are being replaced by inanimate objects, potentially protecting women and children from harm. Consider the issue of prostitution; from a practical standpoint, it may seem reasonable as it could potentially reduce harm to sex workers. This belief has led to the opening of numerous sex doll brothels across Europe, where an encounter costs around 100 euros.
Alternatively, the existence of these establishments is detrimental to women. While the harm may not be directed towards a specific woman, it contributes to broader cultural damage by reinforcing the existing notion that women are mere objects for men’s sexual gratification. This underscores the need for a feminist analysis of these issues and a consideration of whether we should distance ourselves from such inventions.
Feminists contend that men use sex dolls to dictate how a woman should behave during sexual activity, suggesting that a man may turn to a sex doll because a real woman cannot fulfill all of his extreme sexual fantasies. This has led to the prediction that manufacturers may eventually program the dolls to utter phrases like “no, please stop” or “yes, do it harder” in a playful voice. While individuals initially view dolls as mere objects, they ultimately contribute to the degradation of women. Feminists strongly argue that sex dolls represent more than a manifestation of pornographic culture; they symbolize the belief within a male-dominated society that men can engage in sexual activity whenever and however they desire, regardless of the consequences.
