Two Manitobans were charged recently for attempting to import child-sized sex dolls into Canada. This is a topic that, understandably, makes people uncomfortable but sticking our heads in the sand is not going to make pedophilia go away. As a doll researcher and as a parent I’ve been interested in the issue of child-sized sex dolls and how we deal with pedophilia as a society.
Sex dolls in general have increased in popularity over the past two decades due to advances in the materials used, greater availability, lower cost and increased cultural awareness. In recent years the CBSA has intercepted between 100 to 200 child-sized sex dolls per year. It is important to acknowledge that there is no consensus on whether dolls increase possible harm or whether they actually help prevent harm against real children.
It is irresponsible to say that these dolls definitely lead to action against real children. This is not a fact and it gives the impression that the dolls are the problem. There is a lack of research on the use and effects of child-sized sex dolls.
Does ownership of a child-sized sex doll likely indicate pedophilia? Yes, as consuming child pornography is a reliable indicator of pedophilia. But, there is no evidence that doll ownership is indicative of a higher risk to sexually abuse a child.
Ultimately law enforcement should investigate as they normally would upon discovery of child porn (including dolls), but, as creepy as this kind of doll is, it isn’t any more alarming to me than child pornography generally. Which — to be clear — is highly concerning and harmful.
The difficulty with this issue is how do we acknowledge the prevalence of pedophilia, but at the same time avoid normalizing an attraction to minors. I think it is possible to have both a rigid stance against sexual abuse and offer resources to support people with pedophilia.
Researchers have found that a lot of pedophiles will never sexually abuse a child. This is a small comfort as a parent, because I know for a fact that there are pedophiles in my community, just as there are pedophiles in most communities. This is where more research on how dolls are used could be helpful in determining whether they should perhaps be permitted in certain cases.
The numbers cited by experts in this field vary but they estimate that one to five per cent of men have pedophilia. This means that in Canada there are probably at least 400,000 men with pedophilia (400,000 would be one percent of 40 million, our approximate population).
There are very few resources to support pedophiles in dealing with their disorder.
What if there was a way to target pedophiles at risk of sexually abusing a child and giving them resources (therapy and possibly medication) that could support them in never approaching a real child? Education on the harms of child sexual abuse has also been used in other countries as a way of supporting pedophiles to avoid abuse. Sexually interfering with a child rightfully comes with serious criminal charges, so it is in the best interest of a pedophile to find ways of managing their condition without putting kids at risk.
An example of a treatment program for pedophilia that is often cited since it is unique in the world is Berlin’s Prevention Project Dunkelfeld. This facility offers truly anonymous treatment for people attracted to children. Their program aims to prevent child sexual abuse by targeting men who fear they may sexually abuse children. The Prevention Project Dunkelfeld treatment program integrates cognitive-behavioral options and medication. Participants are informed about the effects and side-effects of medication like SSRIs which reduce sexual desire.
An anonymous treatment program may not work in Canada due to the mandated reporting laws that keep many would-be patients from seeking help for their pedophilic interests. Considering the new dangers presented by kids using social media, we need a new approach and more resources for dealing with pedophilia.
A Manitoba man who was charged with possession of child pornography in September, 2022 died by suicide the day after his arrest.
I think that case demonstrates how dire the options are for people with pedophilia.
By ignoring this issue and leaving a gap in research and services, we are not protecting children to the extent that we should.
If we are not doing everything we can to prevent child sexual abuse then we are not doing enough. This is a topic worth facing head on and, while dolls might be part of the problem, they could also be part of the solution.
Sex dolls and pedophiles
- Artaxerxes II
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Sex dolls and pedophiles
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opini ... pedophiles:
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- Gabriele d'Annunzio
- Gabriele d'Annunzio
- FairBlueLove
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Re: Sex dolls and pedophiles
This made me laugh. Think how weird would be saying, today: "sticking our heads in the sand is not going to make homosexuality go away".but sticking our heads in the sand is not going to make pedophilia go away