Male homosocial bonds and perceptions of human–robot relationships in an online sex doll forum

Middleweek, B

Male homosocial bonds and perceptions of human–robot relationships in an online sex doll forum

Middleweek, B

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Publisher:: SAGE Publications
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sexualities, pp. 136346072093238-136346072093238

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Middleweek, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0359-7303
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-02T23:27:50Z
dc.date.available	2020-07-02T23:27:50Z
dc.identifier.citation	Sexualities, pp. 136346072093238-136346072093238
dc.identifier.issn	1363-4607
dc.identifier.issn	1461-7382
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141716
dc.description.abstract	<jats:p> Debates about human–machine relationships have intensified following the launch of the world’s first commercially available sex robot ‘Harmony’, a hyperrealistic sex doll with AI-capabilities. With the likely consumer market for these devices among white, male, heterosexual sex-doll owners, their views about sex robot technology and the niche online communities in which they discuss their doll relationships have received little scholarly attention. Through a qualitative analysis of the discursive practices of male users of a major sex doll forum, this study found complex and dynamic homosocial relations characterized men’s online interactions. In their discussion of a sex robot future, men negotiate competing structures of masculinity and sexuality and create a safe, online space for others to express their sexual desires and preferences. Using the concept of the ‘seam’ or join, the results reveal the way male users of sex dolls position themselves subjectively and are positioned by technology and the increasingly porous interface between human and machine. </jats:p>
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	SAGE Publications
dc.relation.ispartof	Sexualities
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/1363460720932383
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.rights.uri	Middleweek, Belinda Male homosocial bonds and perceptions of human–robot relationships in an online sex doll forum. Sexualities 29 Jun 2020 136346072093238-136346072093238 Copyright © [2020] (Copyright Holder). DOI: [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1363460720932383]
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1699 Other Studies in Human Society, 2002 Cultural Studies
dc.subject.classification	Gender Studies
dc.title	Male homosocial bonds and perceptions of human–robot relationships in an online sex doll forum
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1699 Other Studies in Human Society
utslib.for	2002 Cultural Studies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Journalism Program
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	recently_added	*
dc.date.updated	2020-07-02T23:27:40Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online

Abstract:

Debates about human–machine relationships have intensified following the launch of the world’s first commercially available sex robot ‘Harmony’, a hyperrealistic sex doll with AI-capabilities. With the likely consumer market for these devices among white, male, heterosexual sex-doll owners, their views about sex robot technology and the niche online communities in which they discuss their doll relationships have received little scholarly attention. Through a qualitative analysis of the discursive practices of male users of a major sex doll forum, this study found complex and dynamic homosocial relations characterized men’s online interactions. In their discussion of a sex robot future, men negotiate competing structures of masculinity and sexuality and create a safe, online space for others to express their sexual desires and preferences. Using the concept of the ‘seam’ or join, the results reveal the way male users of sex dolls position themselves subjectively and are positioned by technology and the increasingly porous interface between human and machine.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141716