Basing your doll on other cultures. Okay or not?

I do not see why it would matter to anyone no matter what you did with your doll. There is ugliness in our world and sometimes an artistic look into the deeper levels of our humanity is important for growth. Books portray people how the author chooses to show them... movies do the same thing. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and do what they are drawn to. Characters which many of our dolls are made to embody are flawed... if they aren't than what kind of story could possibly be created. Now I would be more bothered by rape or abusive scenes than I would care if some one made a character that was a stereo type Muslim, ghetto, white trash, Asian, aboriginal, ect..... So that is just my opinion.

 

The thing is though, stereotypes actually affect real groups of people. Rape and abuse are also horrible things because they are despicable acts inflicted upon a person or persons. Stereotypes affect a group of people and how society as a whole views them.

Media is not created in a vacuum and the thing about media is that it is constantly scrutinised and criticised and if it isn't, it should be because it's how we grow as a community. One person's doll wearing a war bonnet in their own bedroom might not seem like such a big deal, but that person goes out thinking that it's okay to appropriate war bonnets even though it's really, really not. Someone who buys a gollywog for their kids is teaching their kids that it's okay to laugh at 'funny faced' aboriginal people. Media that represents islamic people as terrorists causes entire generations of western world people to grow up believing that anyone who is wearing muslim clothing is free to be shouted at, mocked and told to 'go back to your own country, terrorist!' Stereotypical representations and brandishing harmful generalisations causes real, lasting hurt to people and cultures and as decent human beings it is our obligation to minimise that suffering where we can.

Dismantling cultural stereotypes is important work and stereotypes need to be criticised and challenged where we find them. As such, it may not seem like a big deal to someone that they have a stereotypical doll that they haven't done much research on and are basing on what 'everybody knows' about 'x' group of people, but in actuality, reinforcing what 'everybody knows' about that group of people and not actually going out and learning what the group of people really are like and really believe, is severly culturally hurtful.

 

It's great to see some wonderfully thought out responses on this thread. I agree that there is a big difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation. The best way to figure out where the line that shouldn't be crossed is, is to learn about the culture in question and listen to those who belong to it. And I agree Chibihaku, that media is not created in a vacuum, and our dolls become media as soon as we start putting their photos and stories online, so sensitivity to culture/race/gender/etc is very important.

 

YES! Thank you for saying this.

Was James Fenimore Cooper wrong when he created Mohican characters when clearly he didn't share their background? Was Alexandre Dumas crossing the line when he wrote The Three Musketeers, even though he had African blood running through his veins? And what about Tolkien's Elves? Don't know, but I seem to remember that this man was born in the UK.

For as long as their are stories and there is art, people have created characters that don't share their background. It's okay. The movie 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' was based on a novel written by an American. The director of this movie is British, as is the screenplay writer. And yet, this movie does a really good job at portraying 17th century Holland.

 

If you actually know the culture well enough to present it correctly, i don't see any issues with that. but never appropriate a culture, that is just put right rude.

 

I agree with what many people are saying; as long as it's respectful and you aren't mocking the culture or just making a stereotyped caricature, then it shouldn't be a problem... If you do your research and present it respectfully then I think it's a nice idea.

Also imo cultural appropriation is when people apply things from a culture to themselves even though they don't belong to that culture and are not claimed by that culture... for instance, wearing clothing from, speaking in accents of, or calling oneself certain labels belonging to a different culture, as if those things were funny or cute and could be worn like accessories and aren't important parts of people's lives and cultures...

If you have doubts about something you're about to do because you're afraid it might be hurtful to people of other groups than yourself, it never ever hurts to play it safe and just hold off on it until you understand the topic better or have a better idea of how it would make people feel. If you've done research and discussed it with others and feel as if you can do it respectfully, then it's fine.

 

I'm a white person, so I'm not the authority on this, but I believe not making any doll of color at all is harmful as well. Representation matter. But aim to make it a good representation. Put effort and hard work into the making of the character. If you're told, you're doing something offensive, listen to the person (especially if said person is of the minority group you're trying to portray).
This is my guess, but it's all based on my feelings as a couple of other different minority groups.

 

I don't see why it should matter. None of my dolls are a straight American like myself. One is a Japanese gay man who is a detective and werewolf, all things I am not lol. My other character is a Japanese-English bi man who is a hunter. Again, things I am not. And my other is a 10 year old English dandy boy. Also things I am not. It shouldn't matter as long as you do your research. My characters have Gary Stu potential but I did my research and they don't fit into any stereotypes. But even if they did, are there not some gay men that are very effeminate? Are there not Japanese guys who fit ANY Japanese stereotypes? Surely there are but it comes down to research and if someone wants to question your OC, you can use real information to support your choice.

If someone was to ever tell me I can't have a Japanese doll or some BS like that I would say that is racist. That is no different then going to the store with a child and telling them they can only pick a white dolls because they're white or black dolls because they themselves are black. It's ridiculous. It's by crossing these social taboos that we open our minds and willingness to learn about another culture. When/if I'm a parent someday and my son or daughter wants a black barbie doll, I'll happily buy it for them because it shouldn't matter if we look like our dolls. BJDs aren't American Girl dolls, they're special because they're customizable and we can go wild with our imagination. If we couldn't do that then what would be the fun in them?

 

I think it's silly and a sign that the teachings of racism awareness and cultural appropriation are not quite reaching their intended goals.

It would be offensive and not a good idea to make a doll character based in an inaccurate charicature, IE, making a native American doll an "Indian" with a huge headdress on a girl and skimpy loincloth and say she lives in a "T.P". AN exageration, but relevent.

It is NOT offensive to reasearch other cultures and design a doll/shell a character that is from a different culture than you. I have a Romani character I hope to shell. By reading and researching for it, I learned that Gypsy is often seen as derogatory, which I did not know. I learned then to refer to that culture as Romani. I wouldn't have learned that unless I was interested in researching that culture.

There are some who will say it's cultural appropriation or racist to "objectify" cultures this way, but that's not what cultural appropriation means. I am visually disabled, and many people who are not try to Whiteknight for disabled people, spouting that things offend us or are wrong, when they're not.

If you research and are respectful and try to be accurate in your doll-making, then I really would have a hard time taking seriously anyone who claimed it was STILL wrong

 

People should be allowed to do what they want with their dolls, their characters, their stories, etc.

However, they should also know that if they share these things and aren't sensitive to the ways they might be mis-handling something, then it's possible that some people may be offended.

I think you can't run your life because someone, somewhere might be offended, because some people can be offended about nearly anything you do.

So... just do your own thing. Try to research just a little bit, if at all possible, so you don't do something really offensive, maybe. But don't let it stop you. You're not selling a ton of dolls, you aren't trying to start a movent--you are playing with your own dolls. You should be allowed.

 

I think it is fine to have a character who is from a different race, religion, gender etc... so long as it is not done in a derogatory way. I also think it is important that we don't jump on someone for doing this even if there is something wrong with the portrayal of their character. We have to remember that people do not know everything and may inadvertently offend someone. In those situations it is best to talk to the person reasonably and let them know what is not correct and help them learn. Really you should be able to do what you want with your doll and that can even mean using some of one culture and some of another. Also fantasy characters could be a variant from another culture and so do not need to be a totally correct representation of that culture. Enjoy your dolls and don't get to hung up on worrying about offending someone.

 

What Pete said. ^^
There are people in the world who will find offense in literally anything, but no matter what you do you won't be able to please them. And as some people have already observed, a lot of these "social justice" warriors on tumblr are themselves trying to speak for entire groups people instead of waiting for even just one person from the relevant culture to speak for themselves. Basically do your research, don't make fun or belittle someone else's culture, and you won't be doing any wrong.

 

Research and, as someone else pointed out, pay attention to input from people that -are- that race, culture, etc. I remember the flurry of "omg I need a frizzy afro for her! I don't want a relaxed look, I want it natural!!" that came out when Iplehouse released BID Erzulie. Not all children let alone people of African descent have frizzy, tightly coiled hair. Some do, true, but not all. And not all non-fro'd women have a chemical relaxer, flat iron, a wig, or weave in their head. Many do have naturally soft, loose curls or waves. Some have naturally straight. No one cared. THAT was far more offensive to me than the automatic assumption of "black=afro" because it showed a lack of sensitivity and a stubborn unwillingness to listen and learn.

 

I think people should do what their creative minds allows them to do. Something is always going to offend someone. There's no escaping that. Do your thing, have fun, and don't worry what other people think of your dolls. As long as you're doing the right thing by YOU, that's all that matters. If that means doing research, then do research. If that means sitting back and doing whatever it is you please, then do that.

 

If you did your research into the culture PROPERLY, and made it deliberately non offensive, I think you'd be okay. I don't classify that as cultural appropriation if you legitimately have a big interest in that culture/lifestyle.

 

I think people should be able to do as they like with their dolls as long as it is in good taste.
Personally when I create a character or doll that is from a culture other then mine I make sure to do my research.
I would never want to offend anyone by misinterpreting aspects of their culture, religion, heritage, or what have you.
I also would never use my dolls or character to make fun of it either.
However my dolls and characters are, like each human in this world, an individual and should be treated as such.
They shouldn't be looked at as the figure-head of that entire culture.
If I have a English character who is cunning and manipulative, I am not conveying that all English people like that.
It just happens to be that character's personality.
If I have a Arabian thief character I'm not using them as a analogy to say that I believe all Arabian people are sneaky or untrustworthy.
Just my individual character.
You should be mindful of certain things when making a doll that is in a culture that is not your own and you should always be tasteful about it.
But if you are always walking on eggshells with everything you do then you are not going to enjoy this hobby very much.
You are never going to make everyone in this world happy no matter what you do, so trying to do so is going to hinder you and your creativity.

 

I am not PC - let me just say. I agree w/what most people here are saying, mind - that if you are making a doll to be of a specific culture make sure the character fits & is not an inaccurate stereotype. When I do someone from a different culture I learn about that culture, about the people of that time & place, check out the clothing worn, and go from there. I like accuracy.

However, somebody is ALWAYS going to be offended. I just found out that there are some dear sweet PC police out there screaming about beledi dance, as in no one not from the proper culture (tricky that - I know a lot about the history of the dance) should be doing it. Shocked me that anyone would pay attention to such drivel but there you are.

 

I guess I just don't understand the whole 'Cultural Appropriation' thing but I think you can make your doll however you want.
I am a white girl from America and I really love Japanese fashion and a lot of Japanese Horror type stuff but does that mean I can't dress my doll that way because it makes me an asshole??? I just dont get it honestly T_T

 

I'm glad I found this! I went on a tangent the other day and ended up watching a bunch of fashion shows from India, Dubai, and Turkey on Youtube. The outfits with their the embroidered and beaded details and so much attention to the drape and quality of fabric are so beautiful! I'm really big into fashion design, and a lot of times I use my dolls to design in new styles that I couldn't do myself (menswear, couture, children's clothing, historic styles, wedding, traditional Asian styles), so it is great to know that it wouldn't be offensive. I'm thinking of making a new character who is a model specifically to do Indian/Middle Eastern runway fashions. Reading some the show descriptions, a lot of the models in the Middle Eastern shows were actually from India or Europe, so I want to make the character an Indian model who also works in the Middle East. I figure that way I can do both styles with one doll and make outfits that are more runway fashion than everyday clothing.

Teleri- I know what you mean about there always being someone who will be offended. I have a Japanese friend who is super offended by anyone in the US who wears kimono, dresses up as a Japanese character, or wears any other style that she considers to be "traditionally Japanese". It seems silly to me, especially if they are dressing up as a specific character at an anime convention, wearing a style like Lolita that is popular in the US too, or taking kimono classes as part of an international students' program. Plus she says the converse isn't true (eg it isn't offensive for a Japanese person to wear traditionally American clothes like a cowboy outfit, military uniforms from the surplus store, or a superman costume) because we "are the dominant culture". It just doesn't make sense to me. I think the vast majority of people are OK with it as long as its done in a respectful manner. Plus I think it is a great way to learn about other cultures, and be a more understanding person in general.