“Reborn” Baby Dolls Cause Moral Panic in Brazil

Research suggests that surreal dolls have therapeutic benefits, but in Brazil, a country tackling a deep political crisis, the topic of “reborn” toy baby has led to the drafting of 30 bills by lawmakers on these shapes.

Social media, soap opera and newly proposed laws seemed to have surreal baby dolls everywhere. I wrote it Guardian is an article with a detailed article about hyperreal baby dolls in Latin America.

Approximately 30 bills related to these “reborn” dolls have been introduced throughout Brazil. This includes suggestions to prohibit public health receipts and prohibit collectors from using them to assert priorities in public services queues.

Babydoll controversy

The baby toy doll controversy reached a high on June 6th. The man slapped the four-month-old baby on the head, claiming that he mistaken the toddler for one of the dolls. He was arrested, but is now on bail and the baby is reportedly doing well.

Isabela Khalil, professor of political science and anthropology at FESPSP University, said:

A closer look reveals that the law prohibits not actually occurring. At least it hasn’t happened yet. However, there is one case of someone who reportedly tried to take the doll to a public hospital, according to a woman with a mental disorder.

Ideological trends among lawmakers

All lawmakers involved in drafting the counter-innovative baby bill are right-wing, far-right wing politicians.

“If the topic is trending, these politicians will propose laws about it, even if it doesn’t make sense,” said Khalil, who coordinates the research group on Brazil’s far right.

Khalil emphasized timing. The bill by right-wing and far-right lawmakers will simultaneously become suspicious of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for an attempted coup.

“So there are also factors that drive attention and agenda, especially when right-wing camps are at stake more than the Bolsonaro trial, when no one knows who will be coming out as their new leader,” she said.

Naturally, “reborn baby” influencers are trolling and even receiving death threats on social media. In this case, go from the right wing to the left.

They have therapeutic benefits

For anthropologist Khalil, this controversy reveals elements of pathology for women. Men are not criticized as badly as collecting behavioral figures or playing video games, as if they were surreal dolls and being a sign of mental illness.

In any case, these surreal baby dolls are used normally for treatment.

“Doll therapy improves the emotional state of people with dementia, reduces destructive behavior and promotes communication,” according to a 2022 survey.

The benefits are not limited to people with dementia. It benefits women with multiple chronic health conditions, including severe osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, bipolar and systemic anxiety disorders. We know that the doll will bring her comfort. They calm her down.