So a topic that has been rumbling about in my mind after a article appeared here in the Escapist, and was only reinforced by a couple of topics I've seen since on Reddit AND while browsing through some old anime and manga of mine;
What would happen if women were suddenly no longer needed for their social/ "human" aspects and were only useful for creating children?
It's a concept explored or implied but not explored by a lot of media, particularly in anime/manga like Ghost in the Shell, DearS, Chobits, Saber Marionette J or games like Deus Ex, Become Human etc. The trope/example normally has women being the ones replaced/lessened (or implied to be) but it extends to men as well, and leads to the question in the title;
What would be the Social/Cultural Ramifications of one sex losing a significant portion of their power/purpose? (Or even both sexes).
Though obviously the topic itself could probably hold the discussion as it is, I'll give the basic outline of a scenario to help guide it should it have a bit of trouble on it's own. This is a basic outline of a plot/world setting that I came up with based on a writing prompt I saw on Reddit (and part of what inspired the idea for the question in the first place);
What would happen if women were suddenly no longer needed for their social/ "human" aspects and were only useful for creating children?
It's a concept explored or implied but not explored by a lot of media, particularly in anime/manga like Ghost in the Shell, DearS, Chobits, Saber Marionette J or games like Deus Ex, Become Human etc. The trope/example normally has women being the ones replaced/lessened (or implied to be) but it extends to men as well, and leads to the question in the title;
What would be the Social/Cultural Ramifications of one sex losing a significant portion of their power/purpose? (Or even both sexes).
Though obviously the topic itself could probably hold the discussion as it is, I'll give the basic outline of a scenario to help guide it should it have a bit of trouble on it's own. This is a basic outline of a plot/world setting that I came up with based on a writing prompt I saw on Reddit (and part of what inspired the idea for the question in the first place);
Year 2025
A wealthy owner and head researcher of a bio-medical company - think Tony Stark, but without the assholish bit - is happily married in what only could described as an idyllic marriage to a beautiful and lovely woman he has known for over a decade. His company mostly deals in research and development contracts including things like medication, treatment for burns, skin diseases, muscle regrowth and strengthening etc., limited robotics and cybernetics research for prosthetic and augmentations, reversing/controlling brain damage and even a small division for AI research, partly for the money and partly because the Owner enjoys it. The company is fairly wealthy and well-off due to patents and products sold to and employed by many governments and businesses, though it has expressed interest into moving into the commercial market to make more profit.
One night the Owner's life is destroyed when on the way home from a party he and his wife are struck by a drunk driver. His wife is killed and he himself is crippled, with his left leg becoming almost useless and requiring some of his company's technology to even be mobile. He also suffers from notable disfigurement on on his face. To him though, the only loss that matters is that of his beloved wife and how he'll never get to see or live with her again.
He spends several years falling deeper into depression, even as he tries to become more social and meet and perhaps love someone else. He cannot find someone that he sees as even being close to his wife, and sees either deceit or greed in every woman he meets, if not outfit rejection because of his handicap; which he has declined to have fully fixed as a reminder of what he has lost.
He gets caught up in the reports and studies on the troubles people around the world, especially the young, are having socializing and finding "the one" so to say. How divorces become more common, relationships are becoming shallower, people have trouble meeting or caring about people in any real way etc. and growing rise of depression and loneliness, particularly among young men.
He resolves to solve this problem the only way he knows how;
He decides to build a solution to loneliness. Something his company can market and sell, and perhaps even help himself.
Using his company's resources and under the pretense of just continuing their previous work, he instead embarks upon his new goal.
6 years later, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, his company is slated to have it's first truly commercial product be unveiled. The entire show goes by without anything being unveiled, until the very last display is to be made. On stage is only the event's hostess - a woman named Eva, who had been greeting and announcing each event and display all through the conference. It is then that the Owner walks up and announces that Eva is the demonstration of their company's new product; a walking, talking female android. The entire conference had been interacting with her the ENTIRE TIME, not a single soul had suspected that she was anything but human, even those who had shook her hand or touched her (such as the child she hugged during one of the earlier displays).
EVA (the brand name) androids were to start being available within the year. Personal assistants or companions, available any (legal) way you wanted. Able to do or mimic almost anything. A companion as beautiful as Christian Hendricks? Done. As intelligent as a noble laureate doctor? Available. As fit and active as a professional athlete? Difficult, but available.
Programmed to have any personality you desired, with an interest in any hobby or skill you might want (though extremely precise/complicated skills such as dancing are still in the works), with the looks you want. Pick one off the line, or pay a few thousand extra for one-custom built for you. Walk right up and hug her, kiss her or do something more intimate and you'll barely tell the difference between her and real flesh-and-blood, if you even can.
The reception of course is lukewarm at first. While the tech world is EXTREMELY interested that an AI just passed the Turing Test and the combination of fine technologies that must've gone into making such a creation, the rest of the world is "meh'd" at the idea. Surely this would just be the field of eccentrics and the wealthy, especially given the price.
At first it is. Few can afford the EVAs, and they aren't exactly seen as being "wholesome" or respectable. But two years later, the Owner announces a new generation of EVAs that are even more life-like and realistic...and more importantly that thanks to refinements in production and reduced cost of materials, the price comes down to the point where a good mid-high grade model costs no more than a decent car today would. You can go to the bank, get approved for a small-moderate loan and walk up to a store to pick out your new life companion, or even get a payment plan much like getting a car or phone today.
The ADAM (male version) of the line, exists, but has developed much more slowly and is far less robust than the EVA line being mainly relegated to the realm military and research work as it isn't "nearly as nice as the lady models". Some have even suggest that the Owner has deliberately hindered the development of the ADAM line for one reason or another (ranging from lack of interest to hatred of men, each idea more conspiratorial than the last).
It is in this state we find the world; what happens when half the world's population suddenly finds themselves being replaceable....by robots? That nearly anyone with a job can afford?
A wealthy owner and head researcher of a bio-medical company - think Tony Stark, but without the assholish bit - is happily married in what only could described as an idyllic marriage to a beautiful and lovely woman he has known for over a decade. His company mostly deals in research and development contracts including things like medication, treatment for burns, skin diseases, muscle regrowth and strengthening etc., limited robotics and cybernetics research for prosthetic and augmentations, reversing/controlling brain damage and even a small division for AI research, partly for the money and partly because the Owner enjoys it. The company is fairly wealthy and well-off due to patents and products sold to and employed by many governments and businesses, though it has expressed interest into moving into the commercial market to make more profit.
One night the Owner's life is destroyed when on the way home from a party he and his wife are struck by a drunk driver. His wife is killed and he himself is crippled, with his left leg becoming almost useless and requiring some of his company's technology to even be mobile. He also suffers from notable disfigurement on on his face. To him though, the only loss that matters is that of his beloved wife and how he'll never get to see or live with her again.
He spends several years falling deeper into depression, even as he tries to become more social and meet and perhaps love someone else. He cannot find someone that he sees as even being close to his wife, and sees either deceit or greed in every woman he meets, if not outfit rejection because of his handicap; which he has declined to have fully fixed as a reminder of what he has lost.
He gets caught up in the reports and studies on the troubles people around the world, especially the young, are having socializing and finding "the one" so to say. How divorces become more common, relationships are becoming shallower, people have trouble meeting or caring about people in any real way etc. and growing rise of depression and loneliness, particularly among young men.
He resolves to solve this problem the only way he knows how;
He decides to build a solution to loneliness. Something his company can market and sell, and perhaps even help himself.
Using his company's resources and under the pretense of just continuing their previous work, he instead embarks upon his new goal.
6 years later, at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, his company is slated to have it's first truly commercial product be unveiled. The entire show goes by without anything being unveiled, until the very last display is to be made. On stage is only the event's hostess - a woman named Eva, who had been greeting and announcing each event and display all through the conference. It is then that the Owner walks up and announces that Eva is the demonstration of their company's new product; a walking, talking female android. The entire conference had been interacting with her the ENTIRE TIME, not a single soul had suspected that she was anything but human, even those who had shook her hand or touched her (such as the child she hugged during one of the earlier displays).
EVA (the brand name) androids were to start being available within the year. Personal assistants or companions, available any (legal) way you wanted. Able to do or mimic almost anything. A companion as beautiful as Christian Hendricks? Done. As intelligent as a noble laureate doctor? Available. As fit and active as a professional athlete? Difficult, but available.
Programmed to have any personality you desired, with an interest in any hobby or skill you might want (though extremely precise/complicated skills such as dancing are still in the works), with the looks you want. Pick one off the line, or pay a few thousand extra for one-custom built for you. Walk right up and hug her, kiss her or do something more intimate and you'll barely tell the difference between her and real flesh-and-blood, if you even can.
The reception of course is lukewarm at first. While the tech world is EXTREMELY interested that an AI just passed the Turing Test and the combination of fine technologies that must've gone into making such a creation, the rest of the world is "meh'd" at the idea. Surely this would just be the field of eccentrics and the wealthy, especially given the price.
At first it is. Few can afford the EVAs, and they aren't exactly seen as being "wholesome" or respectable. But two years later, the Owner announces a new generation of EVAs that are even more life-like and realistic...and more importantly that thanks to refinements in production and reduced cost of materials, the price comes down to the point where a good mid-high grade model costs no more than a decent car today would. You can go to the bank, get approved for a small-moderate loan and walk up to a store to pick out your new life companion, or even get a payment plan much like getting a car or phone today.
The ADAM (male version) of the line, exists, but has developed much more slowly and is far less robust than the EVA line being mainly relegated to the realm military and research work as it isn't "nearly as nice as the lady models". Some have even suggest that the Owner has deliberately hindered the development of the ADAM line for one reason or another (ranging from lack of interest to hatred of men, each idea more conspiratorial than the last).
It is in this state we find the world; what happens when half the world's population suddenly finds themselves being replaceable....by robots? That nearly anyone with a job can afford?
