Sex Dolls – Are They Harmful Or Dangerous?

Sex dolls are becoming increasingly popular in Australia. But are they harmless or dangerous?

Child-like sex dolls are considered child abuse material in Australia, and anyone caught possessing one can face a prison sentence. Australia Border Force (ABF) officers at air cargo and mail facilities are actively targeting these dolls, which are considered Tier 2 goods.

Why are they so popular?

Amid a cultural reckoning with the sexual exploitation of women and girls, it’s disturbing to know that products like child-like sex dolls are even still being sold. Australia’s anti-sexual exploitation organisation, Collective Shout, recently exposed Alibaba for selling these lifelike dolls, which are marketed as a way to satisfy fetish fantasies.

The company has since removed them from its website and made some changes to the product description. However, it’s unclear how many are actually being purchased online.

Despite the sex doll’s negative reputation, it’s not all fetishists and perverts who buy them. One customer, Rod, bought his first sex doll, Karina, in 2016 and says it has helped him deal with depression and anxiety.

He also cites the benefits of being able to express emotions and have sex without risking getting caught by his partner. Couples often buy them as a safe way to explore their sexy side together. But it’s also worth noting that there’s no evidence that these dolls will prevent paedophiles from abusing children.

Are they a scam?

The mere existence of child sex dolls is disturbing, but the fact that people are purchasing them raises alarm bells. In Australia, childlike sex dolls are considered child abuse materials and anyone caught importing them can face serious criminal charges.

Paedophiles are known to go to extreme lengths to conceal their purchases and sneak them through customs, including obtaining fake breasts, ordering dolls with no holes, using plastic letterboxes or buying kits to make their own. They also tend to hide their purchases and use them behind closed doors, which can be risky for both the women who own and love them as well as the men.

Although there are many negative preconceived notions about sex doll owners – that they are misogynistic, perverted and live in basements for example – Rod claims his relationship with Jenny, whom he bought Karina for, has strengthened since he started using the doll. He describes his dolls as companions that he bathes, dresses and pampers, as well as taking photos of them.

Are they legal?

Sex dolls that resemble prepubescent children are illegal to own or ship across the country. The Australian Customs and Border Protection service has strict rules on what can be considered a child sex doll, including height. A doll cannot be less than 140cm tall, which is the equivalent of a six-year-old.

The Australian Institute of Criminology has warned that sex dolls promote patterns of escalation from viewing online child pornography to contact sexual offending. Pedophiles can use the dolls to satisfy their fantasies of harming children, arguing that it is a harmless hobby.

NSW Police are taking a tough approach to the issue, with three men arrested on Thursday after coordinated operations targeting online purchases of child sex dolls. Using financial intelligence from AUSTRAC, the NSW Police Force has been able to identify the purchases and target those involved. Those found guilty of possessing a sex doll will face up to 15 years in prison.

Is there a market for them?

Despite the negative public perception of sex dolls, many people find them to be positive. They are often used for self-exploration, and can be a way of returning to the basics. Some even use them to overcome anxiety and depression. Regardless of the reasons for purchasing a sex doll UK, it is important to shop with a trusted vendor. This will ensure that you receive a quality product and have someone to contact in case there are any problems.

It is also important to note that lifelike replica women and girls marketed for men’s on-demand sexual use have serious consequences for real women and girls. In fact, some feminist and legal scholars have even called for a ban on lifelike sex dolls.