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New Technology, Same Old Stigma: Media Narratives of Sex Robots and Sex Work

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Abstract

This qualitative study examines how sex robots and sex work are constructed in relation to one another in mainstream news media. While existing research examines how sex robots are broadly represented in fictional narratives, to date no study examines the relatively prominent association between sex robots and sex work. Via an analysis of 166 news media articles on sex robots and sex work, we reveal how non-sentient robots are regularly imbued with human subjectivity by the very actors who often deny sex workers’ sexual subjectivity and agency. At the same time, we demonstrate how sex robot users are constructed as abusive and exploitative “clients” of workers rather than consumers of sexual commodities. Finally, we reveal how both abolitionist and pro-sex robot coverage denounces and stigmatizes sex work—often arguing in support of eradicating both sex robots and sex work, or for sex robots’ displacement of sex workers. Drawing on sexuality and sex work scholarship, we expose the limits of the above framings and argue that such narratives reify sex work and sextech stigma. We invite future research on the sex work/sextech nexus to include sex workers and sextech consumers and to further examine the potential socio-legal implications of this study’s findings for sex workers, sex work clients, sextech creators, and consumers.

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Data Availability

See Appendix A for list of data set articles.

Notes

  1. Nevertheless, given that contemporary sex robots, while physically impressive, remain rudimentary in their AI capabilities and that sex dolls and sex robots are discussed somewhat collectively across North American and English European media and scholarship (Björkas & Larsson, 2021), we refer to sex dolls and sex robots interchangeably throughout this analysis.

  2. What identity or identities is this piece of language being used to enact (i.e. get others to recognize as operative)? What identity or identities is this piece of language attributing to others and how does this help the speaker or writer enact his or her own identity?…What perspective on social goods in this piece of language communicating (i.e. what is being communicated as to what is taken to be ‘normal’, ‘right’, ‘good’, ‘correct’, ‘proper’, ‘appropriate’, ‘valuable’, ‘the way things are’, ‘the way things ought to be’, ‘high status or low status’, ‘like me or not like me’, and so forth?…How does this piece of language connect or disconnect things; how does it make one thing relevant or irrelevant to another? (Gee, 2011, p.18–19).

References

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Acknowledgements

Thank you to the anonymous reviewers for their careful engagement and helpful comments. Thanks also to Dr. Ummni Khan and Dr. Megan Rivers-Moore for their feedback on the original manuscript and to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for contributing to this research by awarding Delphine DiTecco the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Masters and Lara Karaian an Insight Grant.

Funding

No funding was provided for the research or writing of this manuscript. However, this research was indirectly supported by the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship-Masters (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council), awarded in 2019 to Delphine DiTecco, as well as a SSHRC Insight Grant awarded to Lara Karaian.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Contributions

The study conception and design was developed by Delphine DiTecco, with recommendations and final approval by Dr. Lara Karaian. Material preparation and data collection was performed by Delphine DiTecco. Analysis was performed by Delphine DiTecco and Dr. Lara Karaian. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Delphine DiTecco and Dr. Lara Karaian. Both authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Delphine DiTecco.

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Conflict of Interest

Authors Delphine DiTecco and Lara Karaian have no relevant financial or non-financial interests or any other conflicts of interests to disclose.

Ethical Approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Appendix A

Appendix A

Sample of Online News Articles

 

Title

Author(s) (Date)

News outlet

1

AI sex robots will turn down steamy encounters “if they’re not in the mood” or are being treated with disrespect, claims inventor.

Weston, P. (2018, June 18)

Daily Mail

2

America’s first ‘robot sex brothel’ is bad news for our culture.

Burke, M. (2018, September 28)

The Daily Signal

3

An alien-themed brothel just bought a sex robot.

Robitzki (2019, November 15)

Futurism

4

ANDROIDS MAY REPLACE HUMANS IN BROTHELS, BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS ROBOT SEX.

Yenisey, Z. (2016, August 23)

Maxim

5

A sex doll brothel is coming to Toronto.

Barden, D. (2018, August 28)

Huffpost

6

A sex doll that can talk - but is it perfect Harmony?

Wakefield (2017, May 15)

BBC News

7

A sex robot shop is coming to Houston—or, at least, it’s trying to.

Grasso, S. (2018, October 3)

Daily Dot

8

As sexbot technology advances, ethical and legal questions linger.

Mellgard, P. (2015, September 22)

HuffPost Canada

9

At last, a cure for feminism: Sex robots.

Orr (2016, June 10)

The Guardian

10

A UFO-themed brothel is now providing remote services for its alien sex robots.

Dunn, T. (2019, November 7)

Boing Boing

11

Australian tech expert issues dire warning about the dangers of killer sex robots.

Austin, M. (2017, September 9)

Digitaltrends

12

Austrian brothel buys a SECOND sex doll after its first became more popular with customers than real women.

Joseph, A. (2017, August 21)

Daily Mail

13

BAN THIS FILTH Sex robot dubbed Frigid Farrah because it allows randy pervs to simulate RAPE must be banned, campaigner says.

Godden (2017, September 21)

The Sun

14

Britain could get sex robot brothel with ‘hyperrealistic’ human-like dolls.

Rogers, J. (2017, April 24)

Express

15

Brothel is ‘renting out sex robot for £88 an hour.’

White (2017, July 9)

Metro

16

Brothels will offer robot prostitutes by 2050, researchers predict.

News Corp Australian Papers (2015, October 21)

FoxNews

17

Calgarians can now rent a sex doll from the comfort of their home.

Rose, B. (2020, January 2)

CTV News

18

Calgary has a sex doll rental service and, yes, they clean them.

Anderson, D. (2020, January 9)

CBC News

19

California cult leader Unicole Unicron plans sex-robot brothel—with a twist.

Shugerman (2018, October 1)

The Daily Beast

20

Call for a ban on child sex robots.

Wakefield (2017, July 5)

BBC News

21

Campaign Launched Against ‘Harmful’ Sex Robots.

Ellyatt, H. (2015, September 15)

CNBC

22

Canadian company plans robot brothel in Houston.

Lozano (2018, September 27)

CTV News

23

Can sex robots improve quality of life for elderly, disabled people who don’t have human companionship?

Murti, A. (2020, December 5)

The Swaddle

24

City ready to regulate burgeoning Edmonton sex doll industry.

Parsons, P (2019, February 15)

Calgary Herald

25

Claims about social benefits of sex robots greatly overstated, say experts.

Davis, N. (2018, June 4)

The Guardian

26

Controversial “consensual” sex robot brothel claims to be world’s first.

Ritschel, C.

(2018, November 8)

The Independent

27

Controversial sex doll brothel quietly opens in Toronto.

O’Neil, L.

(2019, January 3)

BlogTO

28

Could a sex robot brothel work in New Orleans?

Galbraith, A.

(2018, September 24)

Very Local

29

Country’s first “robot sex brothel” set to open in Texas prompts backlash: Report.

Brown, B.

(2018, September 25)

Fox News

30

Cyborg sex cafe?

Hunter, B.

(2016, October 7)

Toronto Sun

31

Dad lets sex robot spend time with his kids.

Pearce, A.

(2018, January 31)

Yahoo Lifestyle

32

Daily Poll: Do you support a ‘sex doll brothel’ opening in Vancouver?

Crawford, T.

(2018, September, 2016)

Vancouver Sun

33

Dawn of the sexbots.

Crist, R.

(2017, August 10)

Cnet

34

Dead-spouse sex dolls? We’ll regret it in the mourning.

Menon, V.

(2018, October 17)

Toronto Star

35

DIRTY ANDROIDS First owner of ‘world’s most advanced sex robot’ says she’s so lifelike he’s considering making her his full-time GIRLFRIEND.

du Cann, G.

(2018, August 6)

The Sun

36

Don’t have sex with robots, say ethicists.

Hale-Stern, K.

(2015, September 15)

Gizmodo

37

Don’t worry about sex robots. They won’t ruin sex.

Dickson, E.

(2016)

Washington Post

38

Do you take this robot…

Williams, A.

(2019, January 19)

The New York Times

39

Everything you should know about the proposed sex robot brothel in Houston.

Soloman, D.

(2018, October 3)

Texas Monthly

40

Feminists demand Paris sex doll brothel be shut for fueling rape fantasies.

Papenfuss, M.

(2018, Mar 20)

Huffpost

41

First of its kind ‘sex doll experience’ club opens in Las Vegas to outrage from neighbors - but owners insist it is NOT a brothel.

Wright, M.

(2020, February 4)

Daily Mail

42

First robot brothel opens in Russia aimed at Moscow’s city workers and entrepreneurs.

Dyer, C.

(2018, October 3)

Daily Mail

43

First sex doll brothel in Paris faces calls to close because it ‘fuels rape fantasies.‘

Rahman, K.

(2018, March 20)

Daily Mail

44

First sex doll-only brothel opens in Germany following success of Austrian outlet as bizarre trend spreads across Europe.

Day, H.

(2017, October 18)

Daily Mail

45

First US sex robot brothel will soon open in Texas.

Miley, J.

(2018, September 26)

Interesting Engineering

46

FOXSexpert: Could robots be the future of love and sex?

Fulbright, Y. K.

(2015, March 25)

Fox News

47

France’s first sex doll brothel is saved from closure after police investigation despite claims it ‘fuels rape fantasies.‘

Davies, G., & Rahman, K.

(2018, March 21)

Daily Mail

48

Gateshead ‘try before you buy’ sex doll firm fined.

N.A.

(2018, June 18)

BBC News

49

Having sex with robots is really, really bad, Campaign Against Sex Robots say.

Moyer, J. Wm.

(2015, September 15)

Washington Post

50

Hong Kong’s first sex doll brothel offering ‘try before you buy’ service is raided and shut down by police.

Cheng, K.

(2018, December 4)

Daily Mail

51

Houston has a problem with Canadian company’s plan to build “robot brothel.”

The Associated Press

(2018, September 30)

CTV News

52

Houston lawmakers aim to block first U.S. sex-robot brothel.

Shugerman, E.

(2018b, October 1)

The Daily Beast

53

Houston mayor pushes back against “sex robot brothel”: Not “sort of business that I want.”

Bludau, J.

(2018, September 27)

USA TODAY

54

Houston mayor wants to ‘regulate’ robot sex brothel coming to Texas.

Riotta, C.

(2018, September 27)

The Independent

55

Houston officials halt construction of “robot brothel.“

Associated Press

(2018, September 30)

Daily Mail

56

Houston officials halt plans to open first US “sex robot brothel” in city.

Barnes, T.

(2018, October 1)

The Independent

57

Houston short circuits Canadian company’s plan to open robot brothel.

Lozano, J. A.

(2018, October 3)

Global News

58

Houston’s ‘robot sex brothel’ faces city hurdle: Report.

N.A.

(2018, October 1)

Fox News

59

How to build your own SEX ROBOT: Inventor to publish handbook after success of his Scarlett Johansson lookalike droid.

Griffiths, S.

(2016, August 1)

Daily Mail

60

‘Interactive’ sex doll breaks down after huge number customers try it out at Austrian electronics fair.

Malm, S.

(2018, September 3)

Daily Mail

61

Is this the end for a sex robot brothel in Houston?

Martin, F.

(2018, October 17)

Houston Public Media

62

Italy’s first sex doll brothel is raided by police and SHUT DOWN just nine days after opening amid fears dolls were not cleaned properly after each use.

Mailonline Reporter,

(2018, September 13)

Daily Mail

63

Italy’s first sex doll brothel says it is ‘booked out for WEEKS’ as it opens its doors today.

Moore, C.

(2018, September 3)

Daily Mail

64

“Keep robot brothels out of Houston”: Sex doll company faces pushback.

Dart, T.

(2018, October 2)

The Guardian

65

Last week in tech: sex robots.

Wilson, K.

(2018, April 28)

The Georgia Straight

66

Looks like the first U.S. robot brothel isn’t happening … yet.

Wagstaff, k.

(2018, October 3)

Mashable Tech

67

Love among the robots.

Sibley, R.

(2008, January 28)

Ottawa Citizen

68

Mayor, community groups push back on Canadian company’s proposed robot brothel in Houston.

Lozano, J. A.

(2018, September 27)

The Associated Press

69

Mayor, others push back on proposed robot brothel in Houston.

Associated Press

(2018, September 27)

Daily Mail

70

Mayor pushes back over ‘robot brothel’ coming to Houston.

Bludau, J.

(2018, September 26)

KHOU 11

71

Mayor says no to sex doll brothels in Michigan town.

Reindl, J.

(2019, February 7)

USA Today

72

Mississauga files charges against rental sex doll business.

Cornwell, S.

(2017, December 17)

Toronto Star/Hamilton Spectatora

73

MON DIEU! First sex doll brothel opens in Paris.

Hunter, B.

(2018, January 31)

Toronto Sun

74

Mother who runs a sex doll business reveals customers’ VERY exacting requests - from creating replicas of pornstars to horror film character lookalikes.

Toureille, C.

(2019, June 17)

Daily Mail

75

Nevada brothel workers fight back against the rise of “dehumanizing and dangerous” sex robots, claiming the technology only promotes violence against women.

N.A.

(2018, September 19)

Daily Mail

76

New report finds no evidence that having sex with robots is healthy.

Guarino, B.

(2018, June 4)

Washington Post

77

No, Houston won’t be getting a sex robot brothel.

Sorto, G.

(2018, October 4)

Business Insider

78

North America’s first known sex doll brothel opening in Toronto.

Moon J. & Floody C. (2018, August 27)

The Star/The Hamilton Spectatora

79

One in five Germans wants a robot sex doll - and six per cent of adults say they could fall in LOVE with one.

Malm, S.

(2018, January 10)

Daily Mail

80

One of the world’s most famous sex robots can now revoke her consent.

Gemmill, A.

(2018, June 24)

Dazed

81

Owner of world’s first sex doll brothel says he has been inundated with requests for paedophile and rape sessions.

Pleasance, C.

(2017, October 9)

Daily Mail

82

PAGET: Why a sex doll ‘brothel’ might actually be a good thing.

Paget, S.

(2018, September 17)

Toronto Sun

83

Paris sex doll ‘brothel’ criticized for fueling rape fantasies.

Grasso, S.

(2018, March 20)

Daily Dot

84

Police shut down sex robot brothel two weeks after it opened.

Matthews, A.

(2018, September 14)

New York Post/ The Sun

85

Posters advertising sex doll brothel plastered in downtown Vancouver.

Woodward, J.

(2018, September 25)

CTV News

86

Proposed “sex robot brothel” blocked by Houston government: “We are not Sin City.”

Shannon, J.

(2018, October 4)

USA TODAY

87

Robots and sex: Creepy or cool?

Moosa, T.

(2014, April 7)

The Guardian

88

Robot sex act to be offered with your latte at Swiss café.

Reid, D.

(2016, November 3)

CNBC

89

“Robot sex brothel” slated to open is not wanted, Houston’s mayor says.

Brown, B.

(2018, September 26)

Fox News

90

Robots may change the sex industry but could they replace intimacy?

Opray, M.

(2017, April 5)

The Guardian

91

Robots: The gateway to ‘mind-blowing sex’?

Roach, J.

(2012, April 25)

NBC

92

Russia’s first sex robot brothel opens ahead of World Cup in a bid to cash in on fans… and players.

Stewart, W.

(2018, May 10)

Daily Mail

93

Scientists fear sex robots could be bad for society.

Hanson, H.

(2015, September 15)

HuffPost Canada

94

Sex and marriage with robots? It could happen.

Choi, C. Q. 2

(2007, October 12)

NBC

95

Sexbots will wreck marriage and save the economy.

Kummer, L.

(2019, November 21)

Fabius Maximus Website

96

Sex doll brothel not going ahead in North York plaza, councillor says.

Draaisma, M

(2018, August 31)

CBC News

97

Sex doll brothel opening in Toronto.

Mok, T.

(2018, August 25)

BlogTO

98

Sex-dolls brothel opens in Spain and many predict sex-robots tourism soon to follow.

Rodriguez, C.

(2017, February 28)

Forbes

99

Sex doll ‘brothel’: Paris council to decide on future of Xdolls games centre.

N.A.

(2018, March 19)

BBC News

100

Sex doll brothel proposed for Vancouver raises eyebrows and objections.

Little, S., & Urquhart, C.

(2018, September 27)

Global News

101

Sex doll brothels are now a thing. What will happen to real-life sex workers?

Dickson, E.J.

(2018, November 26)

Vox

102

Sex doll ‘brothel’ sparks opposition in Toronto.

Yuen, J.

(2018, August 28)

Vancouver Sun

103

Sex-doll brothels? Tacky, yes, but better than the human version.

Bennett, C.

(2018, March 25)

The Guardian

104

Sex doll brothel won’t open in planned North York location, after all.

Moon, J.

(2018, August 31)

Toronto Star

105

Sex doll ‘brothel’: Xdolls escapes Paris council censure.

N.A.

(2018, March 22)

BBC News

106

Sex doll company opens the first North American brothel where customers pay to have sex with high-tech, silicone dolls.

Dailymail.com Reporter, (2018, August 28)

Daily Mail

107

Sex doll ‘escort’ service set to open in Kamloop.

N.A.

(2018, November 22)

CTV News

108

Sex doll rentals licensed in Kamloops, doll brothel opens in Vancouver.

Shore, R

(2018, November 22)

Calgary Herald/ The Province/Vancouver Suna

109

Sex doll rentals open for door-to-door service in Edmonton.

Short, D.

(2019, February 12)

Calgary Herald

110

Sex doll rental trend reaches Edmonton.

Maimann, K.

(2019, February 11)

Toronto Star

111

Sex, love and robots: Is this the end of intimacy?

Wiseman, E.

(2015, December 13)

The Observer

112

Sex robot brothel not welcome in Harris County either.

Homer, M.

(2018, October 23)

KHOU 11

113

Sex robot brothels are now banned in Houston. But people can still have sex with them.

Martinez, M.

(2018, October 3)

Fort Worth Star Telegram

114

Sex robot brothels are to become commonplace on the streets of Britain says professor.

Dunn, J.

(2016, August 23)

Daily Mail

115

Sex robot brothels? Houston and Vancouver face unwelcome guests in cities.

Dennin, J.

(2018, September 29)

Inverse

116

Sex robot brothels proliferating, because they are legal.

Banzhaf, J. F.

(2019, November 18)

Value Walk

117

Sex robots – A disturbing look inside one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

Cotton, B.

(2018, October 18)

Business Leader

118

Sex robots a reality by 2050, researchers predict.

Moye, D.

(2012, May 3)

HuffPost Canada

119

Sex robots are coming, and they’re not as skeevy as you think.

Baggaley, K.

(2017, June 2)

NBC News

120

Sex robots are definitely coming in the future.

N.A.

(2015, September 29)

New York Post

121

Sex robots are not just the future, they’re already here.

Rudick,T.

(2012, April 22)

CultureMap Austin

122

Sex robots are now a thing, officials are freaking out, and experts are like, “Here we go.“

Montgomery, B.

(2018, October 7)

BuzzFeed News

123

Sex robots could “change humanity forever”: Expert warns the rise of realistic dolls may “take meaning out of our lives” by making sex “too easy.”

O’Neil, M.

(2018, April 9)

Daily Mail

124

Sex robots could put us out of work: porn stars.

Parker, C.

(2017, October 8)

The Sun

125

Sex robots: Even better than the real thing?

Sweeney, T.

(2017, May 1)

The Irish Times

126

Sex robots: Innovation driven by male masturbatory fantasy is no revolution.

Moore, S.

(2017, July 5)

The Guardian

127

Sex robots may soon be able to turn down sexual advances from humans.

Bonnington, C.

(2018, June 18)

Daily Dot

128

Sex robots: Meet Roxxxy, robot that comes with ‘Skank Mode’ [NSFW, VIDEO].

Koplowitz, H.

(2012, March 20)

International Buisness Times

129

Sex robots offer real benefits to society — and to women.

deLargie, V.

(2017, July 26)

iNews

130

Sex robots: Perverted or practical in fight against sex trafficking.

Taylor, L.

(2017, July 20)

Reuters

131

SEX ROBOTS: The future of sex.

Braun, L.

(2018, March 11)

Toronto Sun

132

Sex robots the future of sex tourism: Academics.

QMI Agency

(2012, April 19)

Toronto Sun

133

Sex robots trigger debate about gender and sexism: DiManno.

DiManno, R.

(2017, July 6)

Toronto Star

134

Sex robots will be ‘detrimental’ to society, ethicists say.

O’Neil, L.

(2015, September 17)

CBC News

135

Should we ban sex robots?

Speed, B.

(2015, September 18)

The New Statesman

136

Should we regulate sex robots?

Goodall, R.

(2020, March 1)

The Boar

137

Sometimes a ‘sex robot brothel’ is not a ‘sex robot brothel.‘

Clark-Flory, T.

(2018, October, 2)

Jezebel

138

SWEDE & SOUR: Feminists want ‘dangerous’ sex robots banned.

Hunter, B.

(2019, February 21)

Toronto Sun

139

Swedish feminists demand a ban on sex robots because they dehumanise women just like pornography.

Vincent, M.

(2019, February 21)

Daily Mail

140

Swiss sex cafe considers using robotic prostitutes.

Licata, E.

(2016, November 27)

Fox News

141

Technology gives rise to ‘digisexuality,‘ an alternative to human partners.

Bresge, A.

(2019, December 30)

CTV News

142

The neighbours won’t be too pleased’: UK’s first sex doll brothel opens in tiny Scottish village as ‘entrepreneur’ begins charging punters £60-an-hour to visit his ordinary semi-detached home to use his lifelike companion.

Boyd, C.

(2018, February 11)

Daily Mail

143

The race to build the world’s first sex robot.

Kleeman, J.

(2017, April 27)

The Guardian

144

There’s now a sex doll brothel in Mississauga.

O’Neil, L.

(2019, November)

BlogTO

145

The tricky ethics of sex robots.

Shen, F. X.,

(2019, February 14)

Daily Beast

146

The trouble with sex robots.

Bates, L.

(2017, July 17)

The New York Times

147

The truth about sex robots: Panic, pleasure and a candlelit dinner.

Trout, C.

(2018, June 5)

Engadget

148

This Japanese sex robot brothel offers male dolls for bisexuals.

Pandey, S.

(2019, May 2)

NewsBytes

149

Toronto businessman brings sex robot brothel to the Galleria area.

Wrigley, D.

(2018, September 21)

ABC News

150

Toronto sex doll brothel planning expansion to United States.

Mok, T.

(2018, September 21)

BlogTO

151

Toronto’s first sex doll brothel has been open for a year.

O’Neil, L.

(2018, August 28)

BlogTO

152

Toronto shuts down sex doll brothel one week before it opens.

O’Neil, L.

(2018, August 30)

BlogTO

153

Vancouver sex doll brothel a sign of diminishing demand for sex workers, says professor.

Green, M.

(2018, September 26)

The Star

154

Vancouver’s first ‘sex doll brothel’ could be opening soon.

Robinson, M.

(2018, September 26)

Vancouver Sun

155

WATCH: This Swiss brothel employs just sex robots.

Staff Reporter

(2019, November 12)

IOL

156

We’re talking about “sex robots” now. We’ve been here before.

Burton, T. I.

(2018, May 4)

Vox

157

We will soon have sentient sex robots. Will they be able to consent?

Murti, A.

(2020, December 12)

The Swaddle

158

What the sex robots will teach us.

Kerner, I.

(2018, March 13)

CNN

159

Where Are They Now? Kamloops sex doll startup put on hold, moved to Alberta.

Protestio, M

(2019, December 30)

The Province/ Vancouver Suna

160

Why a sex robot should have rights too.

Brooks, V.

(2018, April 5)

inews

161

Why the world might need robotic prostitutes.

The Week Staff

(2015, January 8)

The Week

162

Will sex robots become the new norm? Report looks at uses of life-like robots.

Bowerman, M.

(2017, July 5)

USA TODAY

163

Wired for romance.

Lloyd, S.

(2007, November 25)

Los Angeles Times

164

World’s first sex doll brothel caters to those who don’t want human touch.

Moye, D. & McGonigal, C.

(2018, April 18)

Huffpost

165

Wouldn’t you know it, having dex with robots isn’t healthy.

Smothers, H.

(2018, June 6)

Cosmopolitan

166

You can sleep with the latest sex robots at this brothel—but only if they say ‘yes.’

Spitznagel, E.

(2018, November 27)

Observer

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DiTecco, D., Karaian, L. New Technology, Same Old Stigma: Media Narratives of Sex Robots and Sex Work. Sexuality & Culture 27, 539–569 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-022-10027-1

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