Gynoid (from Greek gynē - woman) is a term used to describe a robot designed to look like a human female, as compared to an android modeled after a male. The term is not common, however, with "android" often being used to refer to both 'genders' of robot. The portmanteaus "fembot" (female robot) and "feminoid" (female android) have also been used sparingly. "Gynoid" alone was first used in the writings of British science fiction author Gwyneth Jones and later by Richard Calder.
Early concepts
From 600 BC onward legends of talking bronze and clay statues coming to life have been a regular occurrence in the works of classical authors such as: Homer, Plato, Pindar, Tacitus, and Pliny. In Book 18 of the Iliad, Hephaestus the god of all mechanical arts, was assisted by two moving female statues made from gold - "living young damsels, filled with minds and wisdoms". Another legend has Hephaestus being commanded by Zeus to create the first woman, Pandora, from out of clay. The myth of Pygmalion, king of Cyprus, tells of a lonely man who sculpted his ideal woman from ivory, Galatea, and then promptly fell in love with her after the goddess Aphrodite brings her to life. Variations on this recurrent theme of loving an artificial creation appear in E.T.A. Hoffmann's gothic short story Der Sandmann (1817) in which the love object is the automaton Olympia, in Léo Delibes' ballet Coppélia (1870) where it is the eponymous dancing doll, and in countless recent science fiction films and novels.
Since the Renaissance, inventors began considering machines for more realistic yet aesthetic purposes. In 1540, Italian inventor Gianello Torriano of Cremona made automata for the amusement of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, including a life-sized girl plucking a lute. The girl could walk in straight lines or circles and tilt her head. It still exists and now resides in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. During the 1640s, the French philosopher René Descartes is reputed to have travelled with an artificial female companion called Francine, named after his daughter. Austrian Friedrich von Knauss developed a "writing doll" in 1760 capable of writing up to 107 words through dictation. By 1773, the Jaquet-Droz brothers in France had developed a series of life-like mechanical puppets which included a sixteen year old female musician. The musician played a piano with fingers on the appropriate keys and was designed to simulate breathing as well as turn her head sideways and bow at the end of each performance. Mechanist Les Maillardet is credited in inspiring the invention of "The Philadelphia Doll" (1812) which was capable of writing in English and French and drew landscapes. In 1823, Johann Nepomuk Maelzel had manufactured a doll that could state "Ma-ma" and "Pa-pa". By 1891, Thomas Edison developed this work further by patenting his Talking Doll, utilising a wax cylinder that recited "Mary Had a Little Lamb", based on Maelzel's earlier idea. Initially to advertise his phonograph, more than 500 were produced.
Modern developments
The industrial revolution and in particular since World War II, the development of cybernetics and the concept of artificial intelligence led to more complex ideas of robots and androids. Whereas robots in the past have performed routine and mundane tasks, a fully independent gynoid has yet to be developed. Protoype gynoids are the Repliee Q1 family, including Repliee R1 (resembling a little girl) and its successors Repliee Q1 and Repliee Q2.
Role of gynoids in science fiction
Science fiction storytellers have widely used humanoid robots, sometimes as part of the look and feel of their fictional worlds, but often so as invite the audience to react to the robot character as if it were human. Stories using androids can explore issues such as what it means to be human. At what point do androids become so human-like that they deserve the rights that society grants to humans? For example, Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (which was adapted into the film, Blade Runner), deals with a world in which androids are so realistic that only special equipment can distinguish them from humans. However, androids are treated as inferior to humans. The action revolves around a bounty hunter employed to track down escaped androids who are masquerading as humans.
Stories that specifically need gynoids (as opposed to genderless humanoid robots) often invite the audience to consider issues of gender relations and gender roles. Many fictional gynoids are made to resemble attractive young women, bringing issues of romance and sexual relations into play. For example, should societies approve or tolerate gynoids being owned by male humans as sex toys or sex slaves (and by extension, how does this reflect on the treatment of human females by their males)? Stories such as the The Stepford Wives, Weird Science, and Chobits have dealt thoughtfully with these issues. See also Sex in science fiction.
List of fictional gynoids
- The list below includes gynoids or cyborgs with a female appearance.
Gynoids in cinema
- The Alienator, from Alienator (1989).
- Alsatia Zevo, from Toys (1992).
- Androids in Westworld (1973).
- Annalee Call, from Alien: Resurrection (1997).
- Assorted gynoids, from Robot Stories (2003).
- Blade Runner gynoids:
- Pris, from Blade Runner (1982).
- Rachael Tyrell, from Blade Runner (1982).
- Zhora, from Blade Runner (1982).
- Cassandra, from Android (1982).
- Chalmers, from Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983).
- Cherry 2000, from Cherry 2000 (1987).
- Dot Matrix, from Spaceballs (1987)..
- Eve VIII, from Eve of Destruction (1991).
- Fembots, from Austin Powers (1997, 1999, 2002).
- Galatea, from Bicentennial Man (1999).
- Galaxina, from Galaxina (1980).
- Jessica, from Screamers (1995).
- KAY-Em 14, from Jason X (2001).
- Lana and Greta, from Grid Runners (aka Virtual Combat) (1994).
- Lisa, from Weird Science (1985).
- Maria (aka Futura, Hel, or the Robotrix), perhaps the original film gynoid in Metropolis (1927).
- Niya, from Humanoid Woman (aka Cherez ternii k zvyozdam) (1981).
- Olga, from The Perfect Woman (1949).
- Pleasure droids in Cyberzone (1995).
- Replacement women in The Stepford Wives (1975) and the 2004 remake.
- Star Trek gynoids:
- Ilia, from Star Trek: The Motion Picture, after being converted into a nano-machine being by Vger (1979).
- Syns, synthetic females from Future Syn (2004).
- T-X (Terminatrix), from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003).
Gynoids in television
- Android version of Calliope Jones on Days of our Lives (1985).
- Andromeda, from A for Andromeda (1961) and The Andromeda Breakthrough (1962).
- Andromeda (2000 - 2004) gynoids:
- A.N.I. (Android Nurse Interface), from Mercy Point (1998 - 1999).
- April and Buffybot, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 - 2004).
- Ashley, from Cybergirl (2001 - ).
- Betty, in "Directly from My Heart to You" an episode from Twisted Tales (1996).
- Eve Edison, from Mann & Machine (1992).
- Fembots, from the TV series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman (1976,1978).
- Battlestar Galactica gynoids:
- Number Three alias "D'anna Biers", from Battlestar Galactica (2003).
- Number Six alias "Shelly Godfrey" or "Gina", from Battlestar Galactica (2003).
- Number Eight alias "Sharon Valerii", from Battlestar Galactica (2003).
- Outer Limits gynoids:
- Mary 25, in "Mary 25" an episode from The Outer Limits (1998).
- Mona Lisa, in "Mona Lisa" an episode from The Outer Limits (2003).
- Valerie 23, in "Valerie 23" an episode from The Outer Limits (1995).
- Rayna Armitraj, from Earth: Final Conflict (1997-2002).
- Rhoda, from My Living Doll (1964 - 1965).
- Star Trek gynoids:
- Andrea, in "What are Little Girls Made Of?" an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series (1966).
- Andromedan gynoids, in "I, Mudd" an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series (1967).
- Dr. Juliana Tainer, a replica of Data's 'mother' in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Inheritance" (1993).
- Lal, a 'daughter' built by Data, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Offspring" (1990).
- Losira replicants, in "That Which Survives" an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series (1969).
- Rayna Kapec, in "Requiem for Methuselah" an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series (1969).
- Ruth, in "Shore Leave" an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series (1966).
- Stargate SG-1 gynoids:
- Samantha Carter Android and "RepliCarter," from various episodes (1998, 2002, 2004).
- Reese, in the episode "Menace" (2002).
- Second, Fourth, and Sixth, in the episode "Unnatural Selection" (2003).
- THELMA, from Space Cases (1996-1997).
- Twilight Zone gynoids:
- Alicia, in "The Lonely" an episode from The Twilight Zone (1959).
- Verda, in "The Android Machine" and "Revolt of the Androids" episodes from Lost in Space (1966).
- VICI and Vanessa from Small Wonder (1985-1989).
Gynoids in animation
- Bubblegum Crisis gynoids:
- 33-S 'Sexaroids' Sylvie, Anri, Lou, Meg and Nam from the original Bubblegum Crisis OVA series (ep. #5 & #6) (1987).
- Additional female boomers (notably the 33-C and 55-C types) appearing throughout the series. (1987).
- Chobits gynoids:
- R. Dorothy Wayneright, from The Big O (1999 - ).
- Dot Matrix, from ReBoot (1994-2001).
- Fembots, from Futurama (1999-2003).
- Gally (aka Alita), from Battle Angel Alita (Manga 1991-1995, OVA 1993, Manga 2001 - ).
- Ghost in the Shell gynoids:
- Geisha robots from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (first episode) (2002).
- Motoko Kusanagi, from Ghost in the Shell (1995).
- Operators from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG (2002,2004).
- Project 2501 host shell, from Ghost in the Shell (1995).
- Sexaroids, from Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004).
- "Jenny" XJ-9 Wakeman, from My Life as a Teenage Robot (2003 - ).
- Lesliebots, from The Venture Bros. episode "Past Tense" (2004).
- Maria, the mysterious girl in Metropolis (2001).
- May, from Hand Maid May (2000).
- Naomi Armitage, from Armitage III (1997) .
- Pixie, from Buttobi CPU (1997).
- Rya, from the animated web series Bonus Stage (2004-2005).
- Saber Marionette gynoids:
- Bloodberry, from Saber Marionette R/J/J Again/J To X (1995-1999).
- Cherry, from Saber Marionette R/J/J Again/J To X (1995-1999).
- Lime, from Saber Marionette R/J/J Again/J To X (1995-1999).
- Marine, from Saber Marionette J Again (1997).
- Several additional 'marionettes' from Saber Marionette R/J/J Again/J To X (1995-1999).
- Shinku, from Rozen Maiden (2004-2006).
- Six of One, from Tripping the Rift (2004 - ).
- Solty, from Solty Rei (2005-2006).
- Transformers, such as Nightbird, Autobot Elita One and the Decepticon Thunderblast (1984-1987).
- Bubblegum Crisis gynoids:
Gynoids in literature/comics/theatre
- Cho, from Divine Endurance [1] (1984).
- Dee Model, from Ken MacLeod's The Stone Canal, a gynoid within the book, who proved to be more than "just a fucking machine" (2001).
- Disposable women, from an early issue of Mad Magazine (1950s).
- Hadaly, from Viller's de L'Isle Adam's novel L'Eve future (1879).
- Helen O'Loy, from Lester del Rey's novel Helen O'Loy (1938).
- Jaycie Triplethree (or JC 333), from the play by Alan Ayckbourn Comic Potential (1998).
- Jennifer Chow in the play The Intelligent Design of Jennnifer Chow (2005).
- Mahoro, from Mahoromatic 1-2 (2000-2003).
- Mecha Rinrin in Sister Princess (2002?).
- Melfina, from Outlaw Star (Manga 1997-present, OVA 1998).
- NAN 300F, from the play by Alan Ayckbourn Henceforward... (1987).
- Olympia, from Jacques Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann (1881).
- Ping, from the web comic Megatokyo (2000 - ).
- Reverie (aka Hoshino Yumemi), from the visual internet novel Planetarian (2004.
- Star Wars gynoids:
- Guri, assistant to Prince Xizor in Shadows of the Empire (1996).
Gynoids in video games
- Dural, from Virtua Fighter videogame series by SEGA/AM#2 (1993?).
- ToHeart gynoids:
- Xenosaga gynoids:
- Petra, from Ultima VII Part Two: Serpent Isle (1992).
- Several gynoids featured throughout the Unreal series (1998-2006).
- Supervisor droid, which controls the Electrocorp factory in Rise of the Robots (1994).
- WD40, from Space Quest V (1993).
Miscellaneous notes:
- Gynoids appearing in both anime and manga are listed in the animation category.
- There are several names that are synonymous with the word "gynoid" in anime and manga, for example: persocom, marionette, and cyberdoll.
- Japanese illustrator Hajime Sorayama is well known for having female-shaped robots among his preferred themes.
References
- Adams, Alison (1998) Artificial Knowing: Gender and the Thinking Machine. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-12962-1
- Balsamo, Anne (1996) Technologies of the Gendered Body: Reading Cyborg Women. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. ISBN 0-8223-1686-2
- Haraway, Donna J. (1991) Simians, Cyborgs and Women: The Reinvention of Nature. New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-90386-6
- Jordana, Ludmilla (1989) Sexual Visions: Images of Gender in Science and Medicine between the Eighteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press. ISBN 0-299-12290-5
- Leman, Joy (1991) "Wise Scientists and Female Androids: Class and Gender in Science Fiction." In, Corner, John, editor. Popular Television in Britain. London: BFI Publishing. ISBN 0-85170-269-4
- Warner, Marina (2000) reprint Monuments and Maidens: The Allegory of the Female Form. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press. ISBN 0-520-22733-6
Further reading
- Gaby Wood. Edison's Eve: A Magical History of the Quest for Mechanical Life. (2002).