Synthetic sex dolls

Synthetic sex dolls are life-size, anatomically correct dolls. They look and feel like humans, except they are inanimate. The popularity of real-life dolls allows us to examine the social significance of relationships and gender expectations in a new light. In this paper, we are interested in how real-life dolls are offered and accepted as alternative partners. Specifically, we examine the relationship between the commodification of the body and individuals’ ability to form intimate relationships and connections. We conducted an exploratory content analysis of customer reviews on real-life doll websites. The results show that these dolls conform to stereotypical beauty ideals and promote the commodification of the body. Buyers use these dolls not only for sexual gratification but also for emotional support.