Debra Soh is a Toronto-based sex writer with a PhD in sexual neuroscience from York University.
Depictions of sex with robots are everywhere, from TV shows such as Westworld to films such as Ex Machina.
With the corresponding rise in their popularity and availability in the
real world, the Foundation for Responsible Robotics released a report
last week summarizing the ethical considerations of this burgeoning
trend and the changes we may expect to see within our society in the
next five to 10 years.
Along with feelings of intense
fascination, many of us are understandably terrified of what this new
technology may bring and how it will affect our sex lives and romantic
relationships.
Similar to what we’ve
seen in science fiction, sex robots currently for sale are predominantly
female. This has evoked concerns that their acceptance into mainstream
culture will further promote the commodification of women’s bodies and
encourage negative attitudes, violence and aggression toward women.
It’s
not accurate, however, to paint the effects of sex robots with a broad
brush. What has been missing from this discussion is an acknowledgement
of the underlying factors
that influence these kinds of behaviours, such as anti-sociality and
negative beliefs about women. Access to a sexualized object won’t have
the capacity to affect a pro-social, empathic person in this way.
In a similar vein, the continuing trial
of a Newfoundland man who ordered a child sex doll online has brought
to the fore questions about whether such dolls should be permitted, with
fears that doing so will increase rates of sexual offending against
children.
The most current research
has shown that sexual interest in children is a biological phenomenon
as opposed to one that is learned. As such, it is immutable. For most
people, the idea of child sex robots conjures up strong reactions of
disgust and repulsion, but we can’t discount their potential to mitigate
harm. Since the dolls themselves are inanimate objects, there are no
real-life victims being abused. Offering access to these dolls by way of
a mental-health professional may help prevent child sexual abuse,
particularly for pedophiles who are committed to never acting upon their
desires.
The same could be said for
sexual interests that involve non-consent or inducing suffering in an
adult partner. A 2015 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that
22 per cent of men and about 11 per cent of women in the general
population have sexual fantasies of forcing someone to have sex against
their will. Sex robots would serve as an outlet for these desires
without resulting in harm against another human being.
We
also can’t neglect the potential these robots have for improving
quality of life for the average person. Non-robotic silicone dolls are
already a surprisingly common choice
for some, as they can help alleviate loneliness by acting as a
non-judgmental companion. It’s not uncommon for individuals to report falling in love with their dolls.
The
rise of their robotic counterparts will allow this intimacy to be taken
to the next level; for example, Samantha, a robotic doll released by
Spanish company Synthea Amatus, requires romantic interest in her mate before agreeing to coitus.
Perhaps
the most pressing question: Will sex robots eventually replace our
desire to have sex with a real-life partner? For those of us who are
emotionally healthy, the answer is no. Even when the day comes that sex
robots are so technologically advanced that they are indistinguishable
from our fellow human beings, we, as humans, will always know whether
our partner is of flesh or a machine – whether they are capable of or
lacking a genuine capacity for intimacy and connection.
There
is a wealth of information that will need to be mined as this new era
emerges. It will require fact-based discussion to inform decision-making
and policy – and pushing aside our fears of the unknown to determine
the answers.
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Article Source : https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/the-sex-robots-are-coming-do-not-fear-them/article35698109/
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