Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex Machines as Mediatized Sexualities: Ethical and Social Implications

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Responsibility and Resistance

Part of the book series: Ethik in mediatisierten Welten ((EMW))

Abstract

Sex machines are also communication practices. This chapter considers sexual interactions with technological devices as mediatized sexualities. Media are integrated in the definition of most of the contexts of human life—and the combination of the mediatization perspective with an Actor-Network Theory enables an organic cross-disciplinary discussion about technologies across specific socio-cultural fields. Sex machines, hybrids of fundamental humanness and either or both artificiality and artifactuality, push the boundaries and raise social and ethical discussions about the limits of the integrated circuit involving society, individuals, culture, values, interactivity and intercourse. Therefore, a consideration of sex machines enriches media discussions on technologies, communicative, social and cultural practices and ethical debates. This chapter starts with a discussion on how sex machines belong to the world of mediatized sexualities. After an introductory section on mediatization, ethics and sex machines, the argument builds on a typology of sex machines (similarity, extension, substitution, sublimation, sensuality and creativity) to provide a discussion on ethical issues. The debates consider, amongst others, robots, surveillance, psychological, sociological and body-related concerns, which are also relevant for media and communication studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Addady, M. (2016, February 4). The first Playboy without nudity is here. Fortune, http://fortune.com/2016/02/04/playboy-no-nudity/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Albury, K., Burgess, J., Light, B., Race, K., & Wilken, R. (2017). Data cultures of mobile dating and hook-up apps. Emerging issues for critical social science research. Big Data & Society, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951717720950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andrejevic, M. (2016). Theorizing drones and droning theory. In A. Završnik (Ed.), Drones and unmanned aerial systems (pp. 21–43). Cham: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Archibald, T. (2005). Sex machines. Photographs and interviews. New York: Daniel 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asimov, I. (2007). Alle Roboter-Geschichten. Köln: Bastei-Lübbe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auhagen, A. E. (2002). Freundschaft und Globalisierung. In W. Hantel-Quitmann & P. Kastner (Eds.), Die Globalisierung der Intimität. Die Zukunft intimer Beziehungen im Zeitalter der Globalisierung (pp. 87–115). Gießen: Psychosozial-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bad Dragon (2017). Custom, hand-made fantasy sex toys and dildos – Bad Dragon! http://bad-dragon.com/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Bataille, G. (2008). Visions of excess. Selected writings, 1927–1939. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellinger, A., & Krieger, D. J. (2006). Einführung in die Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie. In A. Bellinger & D. J. Krieger (Eds.), ANThology. Ein einführendes Handbuch zur Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie (pp. 13–50). Bielefeld: transcript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bendel, O. (2015). Surgical, therapeutic, nursing and sex robots in machine and information ethics. In S. P. van Rysewyk & M. Pontier (Eds.), Machine medical ethics (pp. 17–32). Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catellani, A. (2016). Ethical communication in a connected world. Journal of Communication Management, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1108/jcom-11-2015-0088.

  • Cohen, J. J. (1996). Monster culture (seven theses). In J. J. Cohen (Ed.), Monster theory (pp. 3–25). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, A. (2016). The color of kink. Black women, BDSM, and pornography. New York: NYU Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • DEDA. (2017). Data Ethics Decision Aid (DEDA). Utrecht Data School, http://dataschool.nl/research/deda/?lang=en. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Delvaux, M. (2017). Report with recommendations to the Commission on Civil Law Rules on Robotics (2015/2103) (INL). http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2017-0005&language=EN. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Duller, N., & Rodriguez-Amat, J. R. (2012). Deconstructing sex machines. Nyx, a nocturnal, 7, 100–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eerikäinen, H. (2003). Was ist das Sexuelle am Cybersex? Über das Begehren nach Organen ohne Körper (trans: Cuckett, R.). Zeitschrift für Sexualforschung, 16(4), 328–361. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2003-44854.

  • Fleshlight. (2017). Fleshlight.com – Shop Adult Sex Toys & Male Pleasure Products. https://www.fleshlight.eu. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Foucault, M. (1978 [1976]). The history of sexuality. Vol. 1: An introduction (trans: Hurley, R.). New York: Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, M. (1983). Sexualität und Wahrheit. Der Wille zum Wissen. Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, M. (2006 [1966]). Utopian body. In C. A. Jones (Ed.), Sensorium. Embodied experience, technology and contemporary art (pp. 229–234). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenzfurthner, J., Friesinger, G., & Fabry, D. (Eds.). (2008). PrOnnovation? Pornography and technological innovation. San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenzfurthner, J., Friesinger, G., Fabry, D., & Ballhausen, T. (Eds.). (2009). Do androids sleep with electric sheep? Critical perspectives on sexuality and pornography in science and social fiction. San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenzfurthner, J., Friesinger, G., & Fabry, D. (Eds.). (2011). Of intercourse and intracourse. Sexuality, biomodification and the techno-social sphere. San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenzfurthner, J., Friesinger, G., & Fabry, D. (Eds.). (2013). Screw the system. Explorations of spaces, games and politics through sexuality and technology. San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurley, G. (2015, April 30). Is this the dawn of the sexbots? Vanity Fair, http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/04/sexbots-realdoll-sex-toys. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Haraway, D. (2004). The Haraway reader. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell, L. (2007, June 10). “So who wants to f**k a robot?” Underwire|Wired, https://web.archive.org/web/20140331081140/http://www.wired.com/2007/10/so-who-wants-to/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Hepp, A., & “Communicative Figurations” research network (2017). Transforming communications. Media-related changes in times of deep mediatization. Communicative Figurations Working Paper. Bremen: ZeMKI. http://www.kommunikative-figurationen.de/fileadmin/redak_kofi/Arbeitspapiere/CoFi_EWP_Hepp-Research-Network.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Kang, M. (2005). Building the sex machine. The subversive potential of the female robot. Intertexts, 9, 5–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kannabiran, G., Bardzell, S., & Bardzell, J. (2011). How HCI talks about sexuality. Discursive strategies, blind spots, and opportunities for future research. In CHI 11: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 695–704). New York: ACM. https://doi.org/10.1145/1978942.1979043.

  • Khalid, A. B. (2015, October 13). IGP: Love and Sex with Robots conference illegal. The Star Online, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFDuUVxpMeQ&t=1s. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Kiiroo. (2017). KIIROO—Onyx and Pearl Couple set. Kiiroo Interact. Sex Toys Men Women. https://www.kiiroo.com. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Kipper, G., & Rampolla, J. (2012). Augmented reality. An emerging technologies guide to AR. Waltham: Syngress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleeman, J. (2017, April 26). The race to build the world’s first sex robot. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/27/race-to-build-world-first-sex-robot. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Krotz, F. (2007). Mediatisierung. Fallstudien zum Wandel von Kommunikation. Wiesbaden: VS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krotz, F. (2014). Intimate communication on the Internet. How digital media are changing our lives at the microlevel. In E. L. Wyss (Ed.), Communication of love. Mediatized intimacy from love letters to SMS (pp. 79–92). Bielefeld: transcript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Latour, B. (2010). Eine neue Soziologie für eine neue Gesellschaft. Einführung in die Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie (trans: Roßler, G.). Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, I. (2009). From science fiction to pornography. The cultural representations of sex machines. In J. Grenzfurthner, G. Friesinger, D. Fabry, & T. Ballhausen (Eds.), Do androids sleep with electric sheep? Critical perspectives on sexuality and pornography in science and social fiction (pp. 94–115). San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levins, H. (1996). American sex machines. The hidden history of sex at the U. S. Patent Office. Holbrook: Adams Media Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, D. (2007). Robot prostitutes as alternatives to human sex workers. ICRA 2007. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237462932_Robot_Prostitutes_as_Alternatives_to_Human_Sex_Workers. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Levy, D. (2012). The ethics of robot prostitution. In P. Lin, K. Abney, & G. Bekey (Eds.), Robot ethics: The ethical and social implications of robotics (pp. 223–232). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, P. (2012). Introduction to robot ethics. In P. Lin, K. Abney, & G. Bekey (Eds.), Robot ethics: The ethical and social implications of robotics (pp. 3–15). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutschinger, S., & Binx (2008). Introducing cyberorgasm. Utopia, eschatology and apocalypse of the fucking machine. In J. Grenzfurthner, G. Friesinger, & D. Fabry (Eds.), prOnnovation? Pornography and technological innovation (pp. 80–83). San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machulis, K. (2009). Biometrics in the bedroom. In J. Grenzfurthner, G. Friesinger, & D. Fabry (Eds.), Of intercourse and intracourse. Sexuality, biomodification and the techno-social sphere (pp. 48–52). San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maiberg, E. (2017, April 25). Don’t let this robot suck your dick. Motherboard, https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/dont-let-this-robot-suck-your-dick. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Maines, R. P. (2001). The technology of orgasm. “Hysteria”, the vibrator, and women’s sexual satisfaction. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNally, P., & Inayatullah, S. (1988). The rights of robots. Technology, culture and law in the 21st century. Futures, 20(2), 119–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mock, T. (2006). Was ist ein Medium? Publizistik, 51(2), 183–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mori, M. (2012 [1970]). The uncanny valley (trans. K. F. MacDorman & N. Kageki). IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine, 19(2), 98–100. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254060168_The_Uncanny_Valley_From_the_Field. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Owsianik, J. (2015a, August 4). Teledildonic disruption. A timeline of the patent controlling the remote sex market. Future of Sex, http://futureofsex.net/remote-sex/teledildonic-disruption-a-timeline-of-the-patent-controlling-the-remote-sex-market/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Owsianik, J. (2015b, October 10). Online sex news. Defendants’ counterclaims call ‘teledildonics’ patent invalid. Future of Sex, http://futureofsex.net/remote-sex/online-sex-news-vibease-counterclaim-calls-teledildonics-patent-invalid/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Owsianik, J., Dawson, R., & Cole, B. (n. d.). Future of sex report. Future of Sex. http://futureofsex.net/Future_of_Sex_Report.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Pat. US 6368268 B1. (2002). Method and device for interactive virtual control of sexual aids using digital computer networks. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6368268B1/en. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Petrakovitz, C. (2017). Your “Westworld” sexbot is even closer now, thanks to RealDoll. CNET, 15 April 2017. https://www.cnet.com/news/realdoll-harmony-ai-app-realbotix-sexbot/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Pfadenhauer, M., & Dukat, C. (2014). Künstlich begleitet. Der Roboter als neuer bester Freund des Menschen? In T. Grenz & G. Möll (Eds.), Unter Mediatisierungsdruck (pp. 189–210). Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pornhub (2017, February 4). Pornhub’s 2016 year in review. Pornhub Insights, https://www.pornhub.com/insights/2016-year-in-review. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Pounder, J., & Cherian, E. (2017). Speakeasy. The future answers to you. London: Mindshare, J. Walter Thompson. http://www.mindshareworld.com/sites/default/files/Speakeasy.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Rath, M. (2014). Ethik der mediatisierten Welt. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Redan, B. (2014). Rights for robots! Ethics Quarterly, 98, 5–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reporter ohne Grenzen (2016). Rangliste der Pressefreiheit 2016. https://www.reporter-ohne-grenzen.de/fileadmin/Redaktion/Presse/Downloads/Ranglisten/Rangliste_2016/Rangliste_der_Pressefreiheit_2016.pdf. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Rheingold, H. (1991). Virtual reality. New York: Touchstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royakkers, L., & van Est, R. (2015). A literature review on new robotics. Automation from love to war. International Journal of Social Robotics, 7(5), 549–570. https://doi.org/10.1007/S.12369-015-0295-x.

  • Sarikakis, K., & Rodriguez-Amat, J. R. (2012). Human rights online or on the line? The role of new (social) media in human rights protection. In M. Nowak, K. M. Januszewski, & T. Hofstätter (Eds.), All human rights for all (pp. 552–660). Wien: Neuer Wissenschaftlicher Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarikakis, K., & Rodriguez-Amat, J. R. (2013). Regulating media convergence: Supranational global paradigms. In S. Diehl & M. Karmasin (Eds.), Media and convergence management (pp. 337–350). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Schanze, J., & Malek-Mahdavi, J. (2010). Interview with Joseph Weizenbaum. In Plug and Pray. Mascha Film.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeßlen, G. (2011a). Träumen Androiden von elektronischen Orgasmen? Sex-Fantasien in der Hightech-Welt I. Berlin: Bertz + Fischer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeßlen, G. (2011b). Der virtuelle Garten der Lüste. Sex Fantasien in der Hightech-Welt II. Berlin: Bertz + Fischer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeßlen, G. (2012). Future Sex in Queertopia. Sex Fantasien in der Hightech-Welt III. Berlin: Bertz + Fischer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharkey, A., & Sharkey, N. (2010). Granny and the robots: Ethical issues in robot care for the elderly. Ethics and Information Technology, 14, 27–40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-010-9234-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, A. (2009). More’s law. In J. Grenzfurthner, G. Friesinger, & D. Fabry (Eds.), Of intercourse and intracourse. Sexuality, biomodification and the techno-social sphere (pp. 150–156). San Francisco: Re/Search.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tallon-Hicks, Y. (2017, March 3). How tech is reshaping male masturbation. Mashable, http://mashable.com/2016/03/02/male-masturbation-technology/. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Turkle, S. (2011). Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valverde, M. (1989). Beyond gender dangers and private pleasures. Theory and ethics in the sex debates. Feminist Studies, 15(2), 237–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warner, M. (2000). The trouble with normal. Sex, politics, and the ethics of queer life. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiegerling, K. (2015). Grenzen und Gefahren der Institutionalisierung von Bereichsethiken. In M. Maring (Ed.), Vom Praktisch-Werden der Ethik in interdisziplinärer Sicht. Ansätze und Beispiele der Institutionalisierung, Konkretisierung und Implementierung der Ethik (pp. 393–402). Karlsruhe: KIT Scientific Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Withnall, A. (2017, January 10). State should provide sex workers for people with disabilities, says German MP. Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/germany-sexual-assistance-prostitution-disabled-people-greens-scharfenberg-a7519721.html. Accessed 1 Mar 2019.

  • Yeoman, I., & Mars, M. (2012). Robots, men and sex tourism. Futures, 44(4), 365–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zwitter, A. (2014). Big data ethics. Big Data & Society, 1(2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951714559253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Medien- und Kommunikationswissenschaft, Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Österreich

    Nicole Duller

  2. Department of Media Arts and Communication, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK

    Joan Ramon Rodriguez-Amat

Authors
  1. Nicole Duller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joan Ramon Rodriguez-Amat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Duller .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria

    Tobias Eberwein

  2. Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria

    Matthias Karmasin

  3. Universität Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Friedrich Krotz

  4. Pädagogische Hochschule Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany

    Matthias Rath

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Duller, N., Rodriguez-Amat, J.R. (2019). Sex Machines as Mediatized Sexualities: Ethical and Social Implications. In: Eberwein, T., Karmasin, M., Krotz, F., Rath, M. (eds) Responsibility and Resistance. Ethik in mediatisierten Welten. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-26212-9_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation