‘Reborn’ baby dolls spark moral panic in Brazil

The topic of “reborn’ toy babies, in Brazil a country that is going through a serious political crisis has caused national concern. 30 bills have been drafted by Brazilian lawmakers regarding these figurines.

It seemed like hyper-realistic babies dolls were everywhere – on social media and in soap operas as well as in recently proposed laws. wrote The Guardian published an article in depth about the hyper-realistic baby dolls that are being sold in Latin America.

Around 30 bills related these “reborn dolls” have been introduced in Brazil. These include proposals to prevent them from receiving healthcare from the public sector and to stop collectors using them to get priority at public service queues.

Baby dolls and the controversy

The controversy surrounding baby dolls reached a worrying high on 6th June, when a male slapped an infant four months old on the head, saying he mistakenly thought the child was one of the dolls. The man was arrested but has been released on bail and the baby appears to be doing well.

Isabela Kalil a professor in political science and anthropology at FESPSP University said: “I don’t remember any other issue which, within such a short time, has generated so many bills on different levels of government.”

A closer look reveals that the laws are banning things that, in practice, have not occurred— at least not yet. There is a case where someone tried to bring a doll into a public health facility, and it was reportedly a woman suffering from a mental disorder.

The ideological bent of lawmakers

All the lawmakers who are involved in writing anti-reborn baby bills are of the right and extreme-right wings.

“If there is a trend, politicians will make laws that are not logical, even if the topic is popular,” said Kalil. He also coordinates a group of researchers who study the far-right in Brazil.

Kalil noted the timing. The bills of right-wingers and far-right lawmakers come suspiciously at the same time as former President Jair Bolsonaro who is currently on trial for a failed coup.

She said, “There is also a element of grabbing the attention and pushing a agenda, especially at a time when the right-wing is in crisis due to Bolsonaro’s trial and nobody knows who is going to be their next leader.”

It’s not surprising that “reborn baby”, influencers on social media are trolled, and some even receive death threat. In this instance, the threats come from both right-wingers and left-wingers.

The benefits of these products are therapeutic

Kalil is an anthropologist who believes this controversy shows a pathologisation of women. As if playing or owning hyper-realistic toys were a sign mental illness. This is misogynistic because men are not criticised as harshly for collecting action figurines or playing videogames.

The use of these realistic baby dolls in therapy is a success. 

A 2022 study found that “Doll Therapy improves the emotional condition of people with Alzheimer’s, reduces disruptive behaviors and promotes communications.” study.

Benefits may not be restricted to dementia patients. Women with severe osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis, as well bipolar disorders and general anxiety disorder have all benefited. It was found that dolls brought her comfort. She is calmed down by them.