By John Q. Hosedrinker 
French consumer protection authorities have reported Shein to authorities for allegedly selling childlike sex dolls on its website. The DGCCRF cited the online descriptions and categorization of the dolls as potentially constituting child pornography. In response, Shein removed the products and initiated an investigation into how the listings bypassed its screening measures. The company is also reviewing its marketplace to remove any similar items sold by third-party vendors.
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Shein accused of selling childlike sex dolls in France, and it’s certainly a topic that’s stirring up a lot of reactions. It’s almost unbelievable, but it seems there are allegations that the online retailer has been selling dolls that appear to be designed to look like children. That image of dolls that resemble children brings a lot of concerns.
The immediate reaction is often one of shock. The idea of a company potentially profiting from items that could be seen as exploiting or sexualizing children is deeply troubling. The thought of this happening in France, or anywhere for that matter, is quite unsettling. Some people are already imagining all sorts of scenarios, and the mind can really go there.
And this discussion leads into the complex ethical question of thoughts versus actions. Some might argue that as a society, we struggle with the idea of regulating thoughts. What about the people with these interests? Should they have an outlet for their desires? It’s a complicated question, and the answers are not simple. Are these dolls a form of therapy for some, or are they providing an avenue for destructive behavior? There are obvious comparisons to adult films with “teen” themes.
Then there’s the question of whether or not these dolls actually pose a threat, if they help mitigate the actions of potential abusers. Are they a tool to prevent harm to real children, or something else entirely? Some people suggest registering individuals with such interests and monitoring their online activity, including requiring a lifetime assessment program. There is a wide array of opinions. The important thing is what harm reduction to real child victims can we achieve?
It’s definitely the kind of thing that makes you wonder about the long game. What’s the impact of normalizing these products? What are the potential consequences? The potential for harm reduction to child victims is a critical consideration.
It’s been mentioned that this is just the tip of the iceberg and it’s going to be a real problem for any online retailer that doesn’t thoroughly check its listings. The internet has made things like this a lot easier. If money or profit is involved, someone is going to try to exploit the system. You have to expect this.
There are also opinions on the company itself. The feeling is that expecting ethical behavior from some businesses is a fool’s errand. The fact that Shein might be involved doesn’t come as a surprise to some. It’s a company with a reputation, and this might just be the latest scandal in a string of issues.
And the question is asked: What exactly is the problem? It is better that these people abuse dolls instead of real kids? There are multiple viewpoints on this. There is also the question of whether this is more of a West-centric problem.
On a side note, there is another discussion on the nature of these products, some suggesting that these dolls are not marketed as such, that the specifications are not highlighted, so people may think they are purchasing a different product. Some feel it is clear that they look like children.
This all touches on the issue of normalization. If someone has disturbing thoughts but doesn’t act on them, does it matter? Maybe the creation of these items could lead to further harm, or maybe not.
There are strong feelings about this. There are those who feel that anyone with these kinds of interests should have some form of outlet for them as opposed to actually acting upon them. However, many feel that normalizing these behaviors by openly selling products such as this is problematic.