When I first encountered the Karen Sex Doll, my reactions were unambiguous. I was appalled – not only in terms of sexism but also the implications of this invention regarding intimacy and relationships. I mean, how could this possibly entertain someone, or be considered normal in our society? What purpose does it serve, besides being an object of lust and voyeurism? It felt like a betrayal to everything I stand for as a person.
Seeing a photorealistic ‘person’ intended for sexual purposes made me realize just how much our society commodifies the body, particularly female bodies. It brings home the saying ‘sex sells’ in the worst possible way. It is a testament to the toxic effects of patriarchy that this product even exists, voiding individuals of humanity in the process.
The Karen Sex Doll made me contemplate questions like: are we becoming too robotic and materialistic? Does this doll replace the need for interpersonal intimacy and connection? Sadly, the answer to both these questions seemed to me, unequivocally, yes. To me, it seemed that the price we pay for such a product is too steep; the potential emotional or social consequences can’t be weighed in monetary terms.
The Karen Sex Doll implies there is something wrong with real people – that they are no longer satisfactory. With its commercialization, our society has gone to a low where something so artificial is considered an acceptable substitute instead of real, intimate relationships. It highlights a glaring gap in people’s understanding of intimacy – the lack of it. It flagrantly demonstrates how much the world is embracing a singularly materialistic and transactional way of looking at relationships.
Ironically, sex toys the Karen Sex Doll is supposed to be the ultimate ‘innovation of intimacy’, whereas for me, it is exactly the opposite. It reduces intimacy to a mere sexual fantasy, something you can buy in a store. It ignores the true meaning and practice of a loving relationship. It sells the idea that money can buy human affection, which in turn can be used to fill sexual and emotional voids.
I believe that the presence of Karen Sex Doll not only devalues relationships, but also promotes an unhealthy and dehumanized view of sex. While it may ‘seem like’ a sexual partner, it is not a real human being and has no capacity to form a real relationship. Therefore, buying such a doll reflects and further embeds a mentality where human connections have little to no value.
This commercialization of the body reflects a broader issue of objectification, that women’s bodies are nothing more than dolls and are owned solely for the pleasure of others. Moreover, such commodified or commodizable relationships are promoted, supported and even sought after, vibrators when in reality, they undermine the importance of true partnership.
Moreover, it’s a sign of male entitlement to treat women as disposable objects, only existing to satisfy their needs. It can also be seen as a furthering of the idea that women should be ‘perfect’ to have value, and that men are entitled to sex whenever they want it. This further contributes to the objectification of women, creating an environment of gender oppression.
Finally, the Karen Sex Doll is a reminder of how we, as a planet, have moved far away from investing in relationships. It is a sign of a world that is increasingly disconnected; where people are disconnected from one another and from themselves. A world where we constantly seek physical fulfilment, but ultimately end up feeling empty, because real intimacy is the only form of fulfilment that can truly satisfy us.