Our culture selectively approves of some non-human attachments while ridiculing others. A man lovingly restoring a vintage car is praised for his dedication. A woman who dresses up her dog and talks to it like a child is seen as quirky, but lovable. A teenager who cries when their favorite video game character dies is understood as being emotionally engaged. Yet when someone forms a bond with a female sex doll, even if it brings them comfort, they are often labeled as deviant or pathetic.

This double standard stems largely from the intersection of sexuality and judgment. As a society, we are still deeply uncomfortable with open expressions of sexual autonomy—particularly those that deviate from the traditional mold of human-to-human intimacy. Cheap sex dolls, by their very nature, confront these discomforts head-on. They represent a person’s ability to find satisfaction, emotional or sexual, without needing another human being’s validation. And that, to many, is threatening. But is it really so different from other forms of solitary joy?