Sex Robots: A Tantalizing Fantasy or Unspeakable Nightmare?

Technological and social developments have drastically altered sexual landscapes by improving reproductive technology, changing social scripts to become more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community, and developing high-tech sex toys, including the ever controversial sex robots. Although the current animatronic and artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced bots are relatively new, the concept is actually quite old; in fact, sex dolls were advertised for sale in Paris in 1908 (Brenner, 2017). Pop culture has also addressed this topic in films such as Lars and the Real Girl (2007), which explores the relationship between a shy man and a life-size sex doll. Let’s clarify the terms: “sex doll” refers to a sex toy with features resembling a human partner that is unable to interact or communicate (there are no mechanics or artificial intelligence inside), whereas “humanoid robot” (“sex robot” or “sex bot”) defines a device that appears human and can interact and communicate with humans, if they are programmed to do so (Knox et al., 2017). Sex dolls/robots have become a popular topic in news reports and academic journals as their impact on interpersonal relationships, paraphilias, and the global sex trade is being discussed and researched. In fact, a recent Podcast by Hidden Brain explores the topic of “Love, Sex, And Robots”. It discusses the morals and ethics around sex robots having artificial intelligence and whether or not to include characteristics like empathy and intelligence when programming them (to listen to the podcast click here).

Public Perception

As sex robots are a newer and fairly niche product, there is some stigma around their use due to the fact that they are not a societal norm (Knox et al., 2017). A study by Lehmiller found that 14.3% of participants had fantasized about having sex with a robot; the sex/gender identifications of participants for this fantasy were 10.7% females, 17% males, and 22.8% non-binary (Lehmiller, 2018). So, we can see that some people fantasize about using sex robots, but what do we know about people who actually use them? Collecting data on users of sex dolls/robots proves to be challenging due to the fact that many users will not report owning a doll because of the current stigma. Valverde (2012) collected data using a survey from an “online doll-owner community forum” and found that 37% of users reported that they felt shame, guilt, or embarrassment as a result of their actions (Knox et al., 2017). One potential reason people may find the concept of sex robots foreign is that most people value the emotional side of sexual relationships that encompass love, desire, and companionship as much, if not more, than the physical aspect of relationships. 

Potential Benefits

There are many supporters of this new technology that praise the potential benefits that sex dolls/robots can bring to society and individuals. The CEO of the company RealDoll, Matt McMullen, acknowledges that although the dolls are not for everyone, he can see the difference they make in peoples’ lives, especially in those who are unable to connect with other people (Morris, 2018). There is currently an observable gender bias in the product produced by companies like RealDoll in the sense that they cater mostly to the hetero-man. The bulk of the available designs are female with a male sex robot only being released within the last year. A more in-depth analysis of doll users would hopefully help explain this gender bias and may help encourage more diversity in the dolls that are produced (to learn more about RealDoll visit their website). If you’re worried about being labelled with a disorder of some sort if you have used a sex robot, there is no need to worry: As long as a sex robot is being used safely and not leading to distress, it is considered a paraphilia, which is defined as a sexual interest other than genital stimulation with typically normal, mature, consenting partners (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). People with a fetish for sex robots do not need to be concerned unless the paraphilia becomes dangerous, distressing, or interferes with how they live their lives (and in this case, it would be considered a paraphilic disorder) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

McMullen also stated that some people feel more comfortable using the dolls because they are not as “deceptive” as a person can be: “They are what they are. If the AI is programmed to love you, at least you know that it's programmed to do that, it's not going to deviate from that goal” (Morris, 2018). The aspect of feeling secure with the dolls may also contribute to the benefits of using them in sexual therapies when needed (e.g., due to lack of a partner). If dolls and robots begin to play a role in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and sexual anxiety, it would be interesting to see the difference in success rates between this method and the ones currently being used. Finally, the use of sex dolls/robots may be beneficial for couples with mismatched sex drives or individuals who struggle with conventional sexual relationships. If they are being used properly and the users are content, there may be virtually no difference between one of these advanced dolls and conventional sex toys.

Potential Dangers

Although there are undoubtedly supporters for these robots, they still spark a great deal of concern among most individuals. The first issue to be addressed is the impact sex robots may have on interpersonal issues by enabling individuals, particularly shy men, to avoid confronting their social issues; and there is also the concern that these robots may contributing to the objectification of women. In some cases, sex dolls could become more appealing than human partners due to the lack of social interaction, which may fuel paraphilic disorders in some people and cause them to withdraw from social aspects of their life (Brenner, 2017).

Sex robots may also have implications on the sex industry, which currently produces around $186 billion worldwide every year (Richardson, 2015). Studies have found that the introduction of these new technologies contributes to the expansion of the sex industry, because the robots are viewed as objects that do not need to be treated with the same respect as human beings. A parallel view is currently held for many sex trade workers, and one fear is that people who use sex dolls may transition into the world of the sex industry, which could then increase the incidence of violence and human trafficking commonly associated with sex trade work (Richardson, 2015). Contributions to the sex industry are already being observed through the establishment of sex robot brothels that have recently opened in Japan, Toronto, Italy, Spain, and Russia (Hicks, 2019). These businesses are becoming increasingly popular so it will be important over the coming years to monitor their growth and contributions to the sex industry as well as the economy.

The most controversial use of sex robots is in the case where sex dolls are used as treatment for sexual offenders, and child dolls are used as treatments for pedophiles. Some experts believe that allowing individuals with violent or pedophiliac sexual tendencies an outlet in the form of an inanimate robot will help control their urges, whereas others believe it is only fueling their desires (Cox, 2018). Psychologist Patrice Renaud voiced his concerns that, “Some individuals would have the self-control to stick to robots, but for others the experience may push them further to seek out real children” (Cox, 2018). Supporters of the use of sex dolls to treat these disorders ground their arguments in the fact that the dolls are not living entities so the actions do not cause harm. The overwhelming consensus, however, is that prescribing sex robots as a “treatment” could actually increase the occurrence of these crimes, as well as further the objectification of women and children.

Further complicating the issues described above, the newer models of some of these robots have adjustable personality settings, such as “Frigid Farah,” which causes the doll to reject advances; options such as these may reinforce a power dynamic and encourage the behaviour of rapists (Torjesen, 2017).

Final Thoughts

There will likely be a lively debate surrounding this new sexual technology over the coming years. As the CEOs of some sex doll companies have stated, they consistently see peoples’ lives improve when they buy a doll which is an undeniable benefit. Some people may struggle with intimate relationships due to social reasons or have specific paraphilic tendencies that can benefit from the use of a sex doll/robot. The idea to implement sex dolls/robots in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions also offers a new avenue for research that may help a lot of people. Regulations, warnings, and research are needed surrounding the sale of sex dolls/robots to ensure the dolls are not being abused, contributing to the sex industry, or fueling the desires of dangerous sex offenders. Users of sex dolls/robots should also be aware of their changing behaviours in case they need to seek professional help if the use of a sex doll/robot develops into a paraphilic disorder, interferes with their personal life, or causes them danger or distress.

And of course, it is always important to be vigilant around this new technology in the event that the robots rebel and attempt to take over the world...

Ali Somers, Economics and Psychology, Queen’s University

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Paraphilic Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).

Brenner, G. H. (2017, July 28). Are Sexbots Here to Stay? Retrieved March 20, 2019, from Psychology Today website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/experimentations/201707/are-sexbots-here-stay

Cox, D. (2018, January 4). Would child sex robots stop pedophilia — or promote it? Retrieved March 20, 2019, from NBC website: https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/ wouldchild-sex-robots-stop-pedophilia-or-promote-it-ncna834576

Hicks, A. (2019, April 27). Sex robot brothel opens in Japan amid surge of men wanting bisexual hreesomes. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from Mirror website: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/     weird-news/sex-robot-brothel-opens-japan-14792161

Knox, D., Huff, S., & Chang, J. (2017). Sex Dolls - Creepy or Healthy?: Attitudes of Undergraduates. Journal of Positive Sexuality, 3(2), 32-37.

Lehmiller, J. (2018, November 28). How Many People Want To Have Sex With A Robot? Retrieved March 20, 2019, from Sex and Psychology website: https://www.lehmiller.com/blog/2018/11/28/ how-many-people-want-to-have-sex-with-a-robot?rq=robot

Morris, A. (2018, September 25). Prediction: Sex Robots Are The Most Disruptive Technology We Didn't See Coming. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from Forbes website: https://www.forbes.com/sites/ andreamorris/2018/09/25/prediction-sex-robots-are-the-mostdisruptive-technology-we-didnt-see-coming/ #9a35d9e6a56f

Richardson, K. (2015). The Asymmetrical 'Relationship': Parallels Between Prostitution and the Development of Sex Robots. Computers and Society, 45(3).

Torjesen, I. (2017). Society must consider risks of sex robots, report warns. British Medical Journal.

Does the French language impact inclusivity for individuals who don’t fit the gender binary?

Does language impact the expression of identity if an individual is non-binary, that is, if they don’t classify themselves as male/man or female/woman? Our planet has many different languages, some of which are non-gendered or genderless (like Chinese, Estonian, and Finnish), some of which are “natural gendered,” meaning that they distinguish gender through pronouns for people, but not for inanimate objects (e.g., book, house), as in English and Swedish, and some of which are gendered (like Spanish, German, and French). The French language, one of Canada’s official languages, has a significant number of gendered descriptors which “must” be used to express the language “properly”. In French, words like “le” (masculine) and “la” (feminine) are used to refer to inanimate objects (le livre [the book], la maison [the house]), but does it make sense to refer to inanimate objects as masculine or feminine? Things get even more complicated when using pronouns: “elle” refers to a girl/woman (“elles” in plural), and “il” refers to a boy/man (“ils” in plural). But this situation lends itself to the following question: If a person does not identify as male/man or female/woman, then how would one use these descriptors? Would these terms be potentially harmful to someone who is non-binary? Should this method used to describe or identify items and people be updated?   

Non-binary individuals can find themselves in an uncomfortable position when presenting themselves or when others try and communicate with them in gendered languages. Unfortunately, in many cases, there are no alternative options apart from masculine or feminine descriptors in French, and this gendered language may also shape our thoughts about other people (Pappas, 2012). “It’s impossible to [find words that work] in a neutral way, you have to choose. Even the non-sexuated word ‘personne’ has a gender, which is feminine” (De La Marnierre, 2017).

I asked the following question to some Queen’s students: “For those of you who speak French fluently, how do you tackle the issue around speaking with non-binary gendered individuals in order to be inclusive?” I had many responses, most of which included that it would be very challenging, that there aren’t words to replace gendered nouns and pronouns etc., and that it is almost impossible. A friend of a student, Peter Buck, who is a fluent French-speaking officer cadet in the military stated that “it would be extremely difficult and [I] have no idea how [I] would be able to actually speak to someone if they wanted to be referred to in gender-neutral terms” (Buck, 2019).

During an interview, Queen’s student, Ally Forbes (2019) stated, “I feel bad for anyone that’s not cisgendered trying to navigate their identity when they don’t have the same freedom the English language provides.” The pronouns available in the French language are extremely limited and “masculine or feminine descriptors [are] in almost every noun” (Crouch, 2017). In my interview with Rodrigo Palau (2019), he considered my question but couldn’t offer a good answer and stated that “in English ‘they’ can be used as a non-gendered alternative, but [there] is no good option for French.” In a discussion on Reddit for the topic of inclusive language, a contributor also stated “There is no well-known equivalent of the gender-neutral they. The French language was “not made in consideration of non-binary people” (Paolog – Reddit contributor, 2018).

It’s even a challenge for those trying to go ‘against the grain’ and attempt to find a way to be inclusive in their spoken language:

“We Francophones culturally give ourselves great pressure to speak quality French, much more than other languages. If you start messing with the most elementary grammar, you might look uneducated. People will assume you don’t speak like the norm because you don’t know the norm. You would always have to explain to yourself why you are not following the standard model” (De La Marnierre, 2017).

He goes on to explain that the French language doesn’t work well for people who do not assign themselves to the gender binary (De La Marnierre, 2017).

For those wanting change, there is even resistance from the French Prime Minister who is refusing to alter their language to make it more inclusive (The Guardian, 2017). He opposes the idea of creating change and stated that the French language “should not be exploited for fighting battles, no matter how legitimate they are” (The Guardian, 2017). Thus, this refusal to create change is shaping the culture of French-speaking people and “can actually shape our cognitive understanding of the world around us” to which leads to greater challenges for those fighting for inclusivity (Prewitt-Freilino, Caswell, & Laakso, 2011).

A study by Prewitt-Freilino, Caswell, & Laakso (2011) demonstrated that having gendered language can not only impact the interpretation of the world around us but, findings suggest gendered language speaking countries have less gender equality overall in comparison to those speaking a natural gender language. Another study demonstrated gendered language created higher levels of sexism when students were given passages to read in a gendered language and completed a questionnaire afterwards (Pappas, 2012).

According to Crouch (2017), in highly gendered languages like French, agender people (i.e., those who do not use a gender to refer to themselves) struggle the most to express their identity. This language “doesn’t allow for a lack of gender; you always have to pick something” (Crouch, 2017). In Finnish, which as a genderless language, there is only one pronoun, and it is genderless. But this is not always a great alternative either – and gender inequality is still seen in Finnish society as well, possibly due to an assumption of masculinity over femininity (Crouch, 2017; Pappas, 2012). Still, though, it does prevent some assumptions to be made about a person, and there are genderless pronouns available (Pappas, 2012).

Ultimately, gendered languages like French, do not provide flexibility to allow non-binary people to identify themselves or within social contexts. However, in English, there are multiple pronouns (like “they”) a person could use (Crouch, 2017). However, it is important to note that the English language is still not perfect; some people, for example, cringe at the fact that “they” would be used to refer to a single individual, even though the singular “they” is used more often than they might be aware; for example, if you find a phone at a coffeeshop, you can state, “Hey! Someone left their phone here!”

There are some steps being made for the French language, though: Microsoft Word released an edition that is attempting to improve inclusivity in their French writing option (Tismit, 2017). The company explained that this new feature “targets gendered language which may be perceived as excluding, dismissive, or stereotyping,” and encourages “using gender-inclusive language” when possible.” (Tismit, 2017).

So, the answer to my initial questions: There are unfortunately not many options available to attempt to use non-gendered nouns and pronouns in French, and for those who do not fit the gender binary, this language can be harmful to one’s identity. Many French-speaking individuals take significant pride in the specifics of their language, and there is a lot of resistance to any change – even if it would mean that it would be more inclusive. But we must ask ourselves the big picture question, is it better to be proud of tradition or proud of being able to allow everyone to express who they truly are and to feel inclusive in society?

Mandy Patterson, Queens University

References

Buck, Peter. (Officer Cadet) in discussion with the author, March 2019.

Crouch, E. (2017, September 07). When You're Genderqueer - But Your Native Language Is

Gendered. Retrieved March 14, 2019, from https://medium.com/the-establishment/what-happens-if-youre-genderqueer-but-your-native-language-is-gendered-d1c009dc5fcb

De La Marnierre, T. (2017, April 14). What pronouns do non-binary French people typically use? Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.quora.com/What-pronouns-do-non-binary-French-people-typically-use

Forbes, Ally. (Queen’s University Student) in discussion with the author, March 2019.

Pappas, S. (2012, February 21). Gendered Grammar Linked to Global Sexism. Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.livescience.com/18574-gendered-grammar-sex-inequality.html

Palau, Rodrigo. (Queen’s University Student) in discussion with the author, March 2019.

Paolog (Reddit contributor). (2018). R/French - Gender neutral pronouns in French. Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.reddit.com/r/French/comments/89vg5w/ gender_neutral_pronouns_in_french/

Prewitt-Freilino, J. L., Caswell, T. A., & Laakso, E. K. (2011). The Gendering of Language: A Comparison of Gender Equality in Countries with Gendered, Natural Gender, and Genderless Languages. Sex Roles, 66(3-4), 268-281. doi:10.1007/s11199-011-0083-5

The Guardian. (2017, November 21). No more middots: French PM clamps down on gender-neutral language. Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/world/ 2017/nov/21/no-more-middots-french-pm-clamps-down-on-gender-neutral-language

Timsit, A. (2017, November 27). The Push to Make French Gender-Neutral. Retrieved March 16, 2019, from https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/11/inclusive-writing-france-feminism/545048/