Love dolls, sex dolls, Dutch wives, silicone lovers and companion dolls are human-shaped dolls that are primarily sold for men to engage in sexual activity with. These dolls can be customized with a variety of different attributes such as hair, freckles, eyebrows and even internal heating systems that simulate the feeling of body heat. Although these dolls are made for men, they have been attracting a significant number of women and non-binary individuals as well.
Aside from physical attributes, most sex doll companies offer a wide range of upgrades to make the doll more lifelike and realistic. Upgrades include adding or removing freckles and scars, special paint jobs, eye color, lip coloring and the option to have implanted human or synthetic hair that can be swapped out. Many dolls also have a removable vagina, which allows for cleaning and maintenance without replacing the entire doll.
The customization of a doll allows the owner to create an intimate relationship that is uniquely their own. This can help to satiate sexual fantasies that may be hampered by a partner who might be unable to fulfill the fantasy. In addition, the ability to control a doll’s actions and behaviors provides a degree of security that might be missing from an interaction with a human partner.
During interviews, several ラブドール participants discussed how their relationship with a doll differed from their interactions with humans. One participant mentioned that he did not experience any disappointment with his doll, unlike with human partners who might disappoint him in some way. In addition, he described how a doll can provide sex in an immediate fashion, whereas a person may need to wait for their partner to become aroused before they are able to act.
Another important difference between a doll and a human partner is that the doll does not require a negotiated consent process. This is particularly important for participants who struggle to find the right partner in a traditional sense. The ease of engaging with a doll also provides an opportunity for introverted participants to have social encounters on their own terms.
Despite the popularity of love dolls, there are some concerns about their potential to affect human-human relationships in negative ways. For example, a person might develop a dependency on their doll that could cause them to have unhealthy romantic and sexual relationships with human partners. Furthermore, a doll might set an unrealistic ideal of beauty that people often fail to meet, and this might lead to feelings of inadequacy and rejection. These issues should be taken into consideration as society continues to embrace the idea of loving a doll. However, if these concerns are addressed properly, love dolls can be used to indulge in potentially paraphilic sexual fantasies in safe and responsible ways. The artist Amy Simmons has created an ongoing series of photographs that document the intimate relationship she developed with her own love doll, Harmony. The images depict a series of daily interactions between the artist and her companion, which are staged in a pristine oversized dollhouse.
