BJD and Disabilities

We do already have threads discussing doll characters with both visible and invisible disabilities. I'd link you but I can;t find them just right now.

Edit: Here's the thread for dolls with "invisible" disabilities.

I think you may wish to go read through those threads instead of starting a new discussion. They talk about specifics of how to portray doll characters with disabilities respectfully and accurately,

rather than discussing generalizations about whether or not this is being done in the hobby as a whole.

I think that second approach- the entire highly conceptual debate of what counts as fetish, or normalizing, or so on- is likely to start far too much heated, touchy conversation, as the subject is a delicate one on which many of us have strong feelings.

 

I can only answer this from my own point of view but the short answer for me is no, in my case there is no fetish, objectification or making the disability into art involved. In the case of my doll it's a matter of this particular character who is from a fictional story being in a line of work where he got injured and as a result lost an arm. For me it's nothing strange and having a doll with a disability is just representing one part of life that also does happen to real people.

I hope that answered the question

Also for the moderators: Feel free to delete or move my post if the threads get merged

 

I think it fully depends on how you do it. If your doll has a well written character who just happens to have a disability that fits into their story and you have researched it to represent it properly, I think it's perfectly okay. It becomes a problem when there's nothing to the doll or their character besides being a disabled doll for the sake of novelty.

 

IMO it makes a character more interesting, does that count as a "fetish?"

 

Ive rarely seen disabilities in dolls actually fetishized, but im sure its out there. Personally i dont think its a big deal if someone doesnt potray these things entirely accurately. I like getting away from reality in this hobby, not bending to it. I see lots of things that i hold very dear to me that seem to be bastardized in dolls, but at the end of the day i really cant take it seriously and im happy to see people use their imagination. Whether its accurate or not.

You can say that ive heightened my dolls disabilities to art, or normalized them. But thats because it helps me come to terms with my own issues, since personally i usually give my dolls problems that i experience myself. You cant really make a great judgement on it if youre seeing it just at face value, i think. These discussions do bother me, but i get why people can be concerned about it.

(I am sorry if i sound heated. I have nothing against op at all. As a wise olld man once told me; you smart, you loyal, i appreciate you) also i dont think that this thread should be taken down. If someone really doesnt want to get involved in this discussion they dont have to. Otherwise, i think it could be at least a semi-important thing to discuss. Rather than shutting down conversations that have to do with morals. From what i remember its only against the rules to talk about religion and stuff i think? Idfk

 

I am physically disabled, with invisible disabilities also. To me, having/giving a doll a disability isn't fetishizing it. It's the normal, natural desire to see dolls reflect the life we see out there In The Big Room. There just aren't that many dolls made with disabilities, honestly. As a disabled child I'd have been *thrilled* to see a dolly like me, on crutches or a wheelchair. Again, mods..if this is over the line, please remove. I just think maybe..*maybe*..worrying about it is overthinking things? Disabilities are part of life. Always have been.