Can Sex Dolls Alleviate Pedophilia-Related Crimes?
Pedophilia is a pathological condition where individuals experience sexual attraction towards adolescents, typically those who are pre-pubescent or undeveloped. The concept of pedophilia has been recognized academically since the late 19th century, but it only gained significant public attention in the West starting in the late 1970s. By the 1990s, with the rise of online pedophilic content, the topic became a major ethical concern.
Various methods have been proposed to reduce the sexual abuse of minors, including sex education and the controversial use of sex dolls designed to resemble children. However, the introduction of these mini sex dolls has sparked significant debate regarding their impact on individuals with pedophilic tendencies.
A recent survey suggests that these mini sex dolls might either provide an outlet for potential offenders or increase the likelihood of them committing crimes against real children. According to a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology, mini sex dolls could potentially satisfy the sexual impulses of pedophiles, thereby reducing their interest in real children. This challenges the "hot debate" theory, which posits that these dolls could escalate the risk of real-world offenses.
However, the report also acknowledges a lack of comprehensive research on the subject. Authors Rick Brown and Jane Shelling speculate that contact with mini sex dolls might increase the risk of users committing sexual abuse in reality. They argue that these dolls could bridge the gap between fantasy and actual crimes, desensitizing individuals to the physical, emotional, and psychological harm caused by sexual assault, thereby normalizing such behavior.
Prior to the publication of this report, Australian Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, advocated for banning the sale and distribution of mini sex dolls in Australia, labeling the trend as "abhorrent." He pointed out that the number of similar dolls being imported into the country has risen sharply, prompting the government to take action.
According to the Australian Border Protection Agency (ABF), fewer than ten of these dolls were intercepted by border guards annually from 2015 to 2016. However, the number surged to 78 in 2016-17, before dropping to 15 last year. Australian law prohibits the purchase of mini dolls from overseas, with offenders facing up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $525,000.
In 2016, a man in New South Wales was sentenced for possessing a sex doll. Despite this, the report from the Institute of Criminology noted that legislation regarding these dolls remains unclear in other states and territories. Last month, Dutton introduced further legislation to Parliament aimed at criminalizing the possession of sex dolls nationwide, arguing that this would effectively curb such crimes.
