Sex Dolls - Creepy or Healthy?: Attitudes of Undergraduates

David Knox and Stacy Huff East Carolina University I. Joyce Chang University of Central Missouri Introduction The use of robots for sex has entered the mainstream culture. Time magazine reviewed recent television programs (Humans, Westworld, Black Mirror) and asked, “Is it ethical to have sex with a robot?” (D’Addario, 2017). This question suggests that the use of a life-like robot for sex is questionable and creepy rather than an alternative masturbatory activity. This study provides data on attitudes of undergraduates toward the use of robots for sex and suggests a more positive view. The concept of sex dolls (also referred to as love dolls) dates back to the 17th century and can be seen in Mughal paintings in India. Sex dolls were sold commercially through catalogs in Paris as early as 1908 (Bloch, 1910/2015). Sex doll advertisements in The United States first appeared in 1968 in pornographic magazines, when selling sexual devices through the mail became legal (Beck, 2014). The early sex dolls of the 20th century were largely blow-up dolls made with thin plastic or rubber. In 1996, Abyss Creations developed a life-size sex doll that resembles the face, skin, and figure of a real woman. Although the doll’s initial function was to serve as a sex partner, some owners have used the RealDoll for non-sexual purposes. For example, the movie Lars and the Real Doll featured the RealDoll as a girlfriend whom the owner introduced to family/friends, took to parties, etc. Another sex doll, Flexi doll, is the latest version of sex dolls promoted as being “beautiful and boneless”, capable of contorting their body into any position desired by the consumer. The primary motivation for having a sex doll is to aid one’s sexual pleasure via masturbation. When another human is not available, a sex doll may be a satisfactory alternative to interpersonal sexual activity (Burr-Miller and Aoki, 2013). However, owning and using a sex doll is stigmatized and viewed as evidence that one is unable to attract a real sexual partner. Such stigmatization may lessen over time. David Levy (2007), author of Love & Sex with Robots, predicted that by 2050 robots will evolve to “make themselves romantically attractive and sexually desirable to humans.” Scholars have raised concerns about using sex dolls that resemble humans. One fear is that using human-like alternatives may only further demean some shy young men with inadequate interpersonal competence (Hughes-d'Aeth, 2013). In addition, the use of sex dolls who are obedient and always available for pleasure may further objectify and exploit women.

Article source: http://journalofpositivesexuality.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Sex-dolls-attitudes-of-undergraduates-Knox-Huff-Chang.pdf


Note: A sex doll is a type of sex toy in the size and shape of a sexual partner for aid in masturbation.