Nothing to be ashamed of: sex robots for older adults with disabilities.

Journal of Medical Ethics
Nancy S Jecker

Abstract

This paper spotlights ways in which sexual capacities relate to central human capabilities, such as the ability to generate a personally meaningful story of one's life; be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy; experience bodily integrity; affiliate and bond with others; feel and express a range of human emotions; and choose a plan of life. It sets forth a dignity-based argument for affording older people access to sex robots as part of reasonable efforts to support their central human capabilities at a floor level. The argument develops stepwise: (1) first, I dispel ageism and negative stereotypes about later-life sexuality, showing their deep historical roots in medicine and science; (2) second, I set forth a positive argument, grounded in capability accounts of justice, for deploying sex robots for older people with disabilities; (3) finally, after responding to objections, I conclude that sex robots are a reasonable way to support later-life sexuality for persons with disabilities. While often depicted as a product for younger, able-bodied people, this paper is a bid for reimagining sex robots as a product for older, disabled people.

References

Apr 1, 1984·American Journal of Psychotherapy·J Money
Nov 10, 2004·Urology·Alfredo NicolosiUNKNOWN Global Study of Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors Investigators' Group
Jan 21, 2006·The Journal of Sexual Medicine·Ronald W LewisAntonio Martin-Morales
Aug 24, 2007·The New England Journal of Medicine·Stacy Tessler LindauLinda J Waite
Jan 25, 2011·Lancet·Jean-Claude MonfortRose-Marie Dröes
Jul 23, 2011·Age and Ageing·Abi Taylor, Margot A Gosney
Jun 28, 2012·Journal of Medical Ethics·Laura TarziaMichael Bauer
Oct 2, 2014·Health Care Analysis : HCA : Journal of Health Philosophy and Policy·Lieslot MahieuChris Gastmans
Apr 22, 2015·Journal of Sex Research·Anthony F Bogaert
Feb 7, 2017·Ageing and Society·Paul SimpsonKate Torkington
Sep 13, 2018·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Stacy Tessler LindauKristen Wroblewski

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 29, 2020·Journal of Medical Ethics·Robert Sparrow
Dec 9, 2020·Journal of Medical Ethics·Andria Bianchi
Jan 19, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Nancy S Jecker
Dec 5, 2020·Journal of Medical Ethics·Alexander A Boni-Saenz
Jan 15, 2021·Journal of Medical Ethics·Brian D Earp, Katarzyna Grunt-Mejer
Feb 16, 2021·History and Philosophy of the Life Sciences·Nancy S Jecker
May 6, 2021·Nature Reviews. Urology·Marieke Dewitte, Yacov Reisman
Mar 5, 2021··Elizabeth PhillipsNina J. Rothstein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The Lancet. Psychiatry
Katherine Russill
BMJ : British Medical Journal
C Thompson, P Kroker
L'unión médicale du Canada
G Blain
Journal of Medical Ethics
Alexander A Boni-Saenz
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved