Growing Love For Lifelike Sex Dolls
With their soft skin, bright blue eyes, and sometimes even lifelike moans, sex dolls have evolved into delicate, interactive products. The development and commercialization of these dolls are booming, but love and intimacy with them remain largely taboo in society.
For centuries, there has been a fascination with lifelike female figures—Pygmalion's ivory woman in Ovid’s Metamorphoses is a famous example. Yet, despite this historical interest and the expanding sex doll industry, relationships with these dolls—whether romantic or sexual—are still seen as taboo in modern society. Talking openly with customers who visit brothels that offer love dolls remains rare, but the rise in popularity of these dolls reveals certain societal shifts.
Gone are the days of stiff, unattractive rubber dolls. Today’s real-life sex dolls, made from silicone or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), have a striking resemblance to human beings. These lifelike dolls are even becoming common in places like China and in European brothels such as the one in Dortmund, where customers can book time with them. Many of these dolls not only look realistic but also feature interactive elements, like the ability to mimic human movements and speech.
The Rise of Love Dolls
At the entrance to a sex doll gallery, visitors are greeted by a lifelike doll standing with the help of a frame. The owner of the gallery refers to them as "love dolls" rather than sex toys. The doll’s hands are posed expressively, her face feminine and adorned with makeup, complete with bright green eyes. Touching the doll reveals just how realistic its skin feels, prompting curiosity about the material used to create such a lifelike texture.
The Material Behind Lifelike Dolls
The gallery owner explained that the doll is made of TPE, a material that has been used in the medical field for implants since 2014 and is now commonly used in the creation of love dolls. TPE is softer than silicone, more pliable, and makes the production of dolls more affordable. Despite this, the price of a love doll typically ranges between 1,000 and 1,700 euros, depending on the level of detail and customization.
Sex Dolls in European Brothels
In brothels, customers who purchase time with a sex doll often spend around an hour alone with them, at a cost of approximately 80 euros. This fee allows customers to interact with the doll in private. In the hallway of the brothel, male sex dolls are also available for clients. While there are over 2,000 different female models on the open market, male models are much less common, with only around 50 available. This suggests that the market for male sex dolls—and the potential for future developments in the sex doll industry—remains largely untapped.
Conclusion: The Future of Lifelike Sex Dolls
As technology continues to advance, the popularity of lifelike sex dolls is on the rise. With more interactive features and increasingly realistic designs, these dolls are becoming a significant part of the adult industry. While societal taboos still exist, the demand for love dolls reflects a shift in how people view relationships, intimacy, and personal fulfillment.
