A social history of companion dolls is a mirror reflecting the anxieties and desires of the societies that created them. The reasons people have sought out artificial partners have changed dramatically over time, revealing much about the prevailing social conditions of each era.
In the pre-industrial age, the primary driver was extreme physical isolation. For sailors on year-long voyages or other individuals on the absolute fringes of society, a man-made companion was a desperate measure against crushing loneliness. In the mid-20th century, as society became more sexually liberated but still held rigid social norms, the inflatable doll emerged as a novelty item. It reflected a culture grappling with new freedoms but still laced with social awkwardness and a “boys will be boys” attitude. The modern era tells a different story. In a world that is more digitally connected yet more socially isolated than ever, the companion doll has found a new purpose. It has become a solution for the epidemic of loneliness, for the anxieties of modern dating, and for a growing desire for relationships without the conflict and compromise inherent in human partnership. The doll’s social role has shifted from a tool for physical isolation to a balm for emotional isolation.