The Reborn Dolls Phenomenon: Unleashing a Political, Social, and Emotional Storm in Brazil
In the midst of a tumultuous political and social situation, Brazil is facing an unexpected controversy: the rise of reborn dolls. These hyper-realistic replicas of babies have transcended their artistic or therapeutic function to become the target of criticism, mockery, legislative projects, and even violence. What seemed like an eccentric hobby has sparked a crisis that reveals the prejudices, the power of virality, and the deepest cultural fissures in the country.
### From TikTok to mass hysteria
It all started with a viral video: a young woman showed how she was “taking” her baby named Bento to the hospital. She packed his bag, gave him a bottle, weighed him. More than 16 million people watched it, and many did not realize that the supposed child was a reborn doll. Soon, social media was filled with imitations, criticisms, and ridicule.
In a country facing trials for attempted coups and a declining government popularity, the media focus shifted to these hyper-realistic figures. Although they have existed since the 90s, it was this wave of virality that brought the issue to the Brazilian Congress. There, at least 30 bills were presented to prevent the dolls from accessing public services such as healthcare or transportation. Some proposals reached the absurd, questioning whether they should be “castrated.”
The controversy escalated even further when a disturbing incident occurred: a man assaulted a real baby on the street, believing it was a doll. The episode, which ended without fatal consequences, showed the blurred line between the real and the symbolic that these figures have caused.
### More than dolls: misogyny, art, and expression
What presents itself as a debate about an extravagant trend actually conceals a form of attack against women. Sociologist Isabela Kalil points out that while men can collect video games or figures without criticism, women who interact with reborn dolls are labeled as unbalanced.
Artists like Larissa Vedolin, known on social media as Emily Reborn, receive death threats for showcasing their works. These dolls, which can cost up to 3,000 euros, are meticulously crafted: the skin is painted layer by layer, the hair is implanted strand by strand.
The reborn phenomenon also has a therapeutic component: some women who have lost children, therapy centers, or even film producers use these dolls. But none of that has prevented them from becoming objects of ridicule, stigma, and censorship.
### A mirror of anxieties
At its core, the scandal of reborn dolls in Brazil is not about toys, but about how a society projects its fears. The need to ridicule or censor this phenomenon seems to respond to a desire to control what deviates from the norm, especially if it is related to the feminine.
As Kalil points out, these figures serve as a symbol onto which to unload anxieties. The fervor is not explained by the facts, but by the social anxiety towards women who defy established roles. In a nation plagued by real conflicts, the fact that the focus of the debate is on silicone dolls says more about Brazil than any survey.
