Due in part to China's long-term one child policy, along with the preference for boy children, China now has about 33 million more men than women. The ratio is still high, 115 boys born for every 100 girls.
Can technology help? Stupid question.
(China builds robot wives video)
As far as I know, the first really explicit depiction of a wife robot built to order may be found in Alice W. Fuller's 1895 story A Wife Manufactured to Order:
"Now, young man, what can I do for you? Want a life-companion, a pleasant one? Man of means, no doubt, and can enjoy yourself; a little fun now and then with the boys and no harm at all -- none in the least... Now, sir, I can get you up any style you want -- wax, but can't be detected."
"Do you mean to say you manufacture a woman out of wax, who will talk?"
"That's just what I do; you give me the subjects you most enjoy talking upon, and tell me what kind of a looking wife you want, and leave the rest to me, and you will never regret it. I will furnish as many 'phones' as you wish; most men don't care for such a variety for a wife -- too much talk, you know."
(Read more about the manufactured wife)
Another depiction of this possibility may be found in Fritz Leiber's mechanical bride in 1954.
Even if you don't get yourself a robotic girlfriend (or, let's face it, boyfriend), you can still read about the options:
Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?'' - Isaac Asimov (1940)
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Humanoid Robots Building Humanoid Robots
''Pardon me, Struthers,' he broke in suddenly... 'haven't you a section of the factory where only robot labor is employed?''
Stratospheric Solar Geoengineering From Harvard
'Pina2bo would have to operate full blast for many years to put as much SO2 into the stratosphere as its namesake had done in a few minutes.'