Sex Technology: The Turn to Sexuality in the Age of Robots

• In Event: Digital Sexualities, Biomedical Practice, and Queer Realities: Activism & Sex Robots

Abstract

This paper focuses on the concept of emotion to explore the changing ideas of sexual love from humans to robots. With the rise of robotic technology and bionics, the sex object is moving towards robots. A sex machine is no longer a metaphor; instead, it inspires inventors to create more pleasure and ‘well-being’ for men and women alike. The birth of sex robots indeed challenges moral, religious and gender values. Approaching queer theory and textual reading, the paper will conceptualise the materiality of love through brief discussions of mythology, sci-fi and real-life robots. In history, female bodies were playfully regarded as sex machines or sex slaves. Hopefully, sexuality can be transformed into clean and safe behaviour in the future. While controversial and seemingly anti-ethical, this issue of robot fetishism helps to face ‘humanity’ (esp. genetic lust), reconstruct sexual ideology, and rethink sexual morality.

Author

• Terence H. W. Shih, St. John's University, Taiwan