Doll Owner Stereotypes?

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

There seems to me to be two stereotypes. The first is a "typical" ABJD fan who is a person who likes anime and Asian culture. The second is someone who hasn't grown up and still plays with dolls albiet expensive ones and is a bit of a loner.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

I fit neither stereotype. I know nothing about anime or Asian culture and have no desire to. I do not play with my dolls or in actual fact see them as dolls more collectables. I spend little time on them and have them merely to admire whilst I live a very busy life with other people.


3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
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Hobbies seem to inspire people to try to find stereotypes for the people involved in that particular hobby whether it be BJD's or trainspotting.


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1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it. / 3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
I certainly think that it's possible, due to the fact that the majority of people who are into niche, seemingly odd or obsessive hobbies often end up with some kind of stereotypical image.
There's the potential of a shallow image of girls and dolls - either appearance-based hobbies as with Barbies and the like, or the concept of young girls and baby dolls, which can carry on to project a potential stereotypical image of women owning BJDs to be mentally immature or relying on an emotional object for support.
Then there's the geeky side of things, with photography, artwork, research, face-ups, re-stringing, etc. that could produce the image often related with anime fans/gamers/LARPers/etc.
When it comes to male BJD owners, normally the feminine side of things tends to stick, creating often negative stereotypes based on sexuality or lack of masculinity.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
Moi, personally? I'm a homosexual man who is, as said by my fiance's Mother - "Not flaming or anything." So on that side of things I would definitely say that I'm perhaps not what a shallow person would expect a BJD owner to be, and I do look odd if I'm carrying one around.
On the geek side of things, however? Well I'm a huge geek stereotype.

 

The stereotypes exist for sure. They are cruel even though sometimes they have a grain of truth in them. And, since I don't want to be stereotyped, I don't tell everyone about my dolls. My friends know, but not most of my neighbors or others. Since I don't know anyone else who collects dolls, I can't validate any shared characteristics. I like to know people on their own merits and forget about judging. It doesn't do anyone any good and it colors relationships with unwarranted pre-perceptions.

 

...we have a stereotype? ;A;
While I'll admit, I do like the occasional anime and manga, to be rather honest I didn't get into BJD's because of their origin. I could care less if they're from Asia, or the U.S or from Canada, or Europe. While I will admit, it's very "exotic" to own a doll from another corner of the world, to have a piece of someone else's culture in your hands, but to me, what really drew my attention to BJDs are the styles and customization attributes (and because mine was so cute :3)
However, for people who think that dolls are play things, then good for them. Most dolls are for play things. Not every one is into photography or sewing, or widespread dollie love. Most people (especially in the US) think that dolls are little girl play things, nothing more and nothing less. However, people also think that they should be put in a display case, not to be touched or tampered with. But glass and porcelain (sorry if that's misspelled) don't really yellow like resin. Needless, its not like you can actually "play" with those types of dolls. >.>
Back to the whole "stereotype" debate. A lot of people tell me when they find out I'm into BJDs that they would have never known had I not told them. Which is strange, really. I've never liked how people stereotype certain hobbies but I guess that's just society. In all honesty, I feel there are two types of people. Doll people and regular people, no grey area, no if ands or buts in between. If we're "stereotyped" great! Believe what you want. But to be rather frank I think it's silly. =P

 

Haha, couple months later.... No, it wasn't him, it was an American news program. They even went to the Volks in LA to ask them about how busy it is.

 

That is HI-larious!

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

Oh, hell yes. It's hiding in plain sight on that bastion of couth and good taste (not to mention hard-hitting journalistic accuracy), *cough*Encyclopedia Dramatica*cough*.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

I'm sure anybody who wanted to could sort of shift me around until I fit it. I think some anime is just absolutely the bee's knees. I have been known to headbang to hide in the privacy of my own home. There's raaaather more of me than there used to be. But I'm also a multi-faceted human being, with many likes and dislikes and interests and pursuits, which would not necessarily come out on a board dedicated to a very specific hobby/passtime (big surprise there). If I'm on a doll board, I'm gonna talk about my doll, and about other people's dolls.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

Where there's smoke, there's fire. But there's also snark-assed jerks (see above referenced bastion of couth and good taste) who will tell you a bitty little birthday candle flame is an all-consuming conflagration.

 

Ratty definitely pinpointed the perceived doll-community by the outside world. xD Better than I could have. And as was mentioned, yes, we also are OBVIOUSLY sex freaks because of our anatomically correct dolls. We also probably have maternal issues as we sometimes call these dolls our children. And we're also sexually frustrated and lonely because we can find a doll sexy. And we also have some need to feminize all males into girlyboys. That pretty well sums up the doll stereotype...

And, 2) Do I think I fit the stereotype?

In some ways. I do love anime (not so much manga) and I love Japan but not just for pop culture (it's got stunningly beautiful scenery and a pretty darn interesting history). If you saw me without a doll in my arms, you'd probably not guess I'd fit into a typical anime fan or a typical doll stereotype - I don't dress in Lolita or anime shirts all the time, I don't say "OhHhHh kAwAiI dEsU nE?!? =^__^=" and I'm not even terribly shy (anime fan stereotypes, some of those cross over to doll owners because of aforementioned anime lover doll owner stereotype). I just look like any other slightly fat girl. I'm all jeans and t-shirts, white bread, vanilla, no piercings or visible tattoos. People have likened me to looking "like a kindergarten teacher that might set a child on fire" (someone else's word, not mine!) Plain ol' plain ol' me. I don't call the dolls my kids, nor do I find them really sexy. I don't attack other people for doing things I don't understand in the hobby (though I've definitely screamed internally at someone using Sharpie on their doll or giving their beauty a faceup that looked done with crayons, in the dark, after a shot of vodka, whilst riding a Tilt o Whirl) and I definitely don't think my dolls are superior - they, like me, just fall into plain ol', plain ol'. God dang I make myself sound painfully boring.

3) And again, Ratty said it better than I could.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
As a lot of people have said, some doll owners are usually stereotyped as A: weeaboo anime-obsessed yaoi-loving lolita, or B: creepy loner who doesn't have any friends so they have to buy resin ones.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
I am an anime fan, I cosplay, I have an interest in lolita and yaoi and Jpop, but in no way am I one of those people that runs around in cosplay screaming Japanese while flaunting badly-faceupped dollies D: I've considered getting out of the anime fandom just because I'm tired of being grouped with them.
I do have very poor social skills though, so I'm mostly considered the "wierd loner anime girl that draws a lot". .___."

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
Honestly, there are most likely people like both of those, and I mean no offense to anyone cause 90% of us aren't. :P Like someone said earlier, it's that minority that people notice, and so they're our representation...

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
Most of the doll stereotypes have been mentioned allready. So yes there are stereotypes. And yes most of the time it's the OMG lookit me being so different i like anime and manga etc etc or you're a lonley sexually frustrated person who needs dolls cause they can't get a normal person.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
I'll admit i like anime and manga, yes i have cosplayed and i wear lolita. Though i don't go running around town shouting lookit me i wear lolita and say some "japanese" words whilst carrying some doll i dubbed a bjd. Neither am i a sexually frustrated person, i like dolls so what that doesn't mean i don't have any human interaction.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
This happens in every sub culture or not so widely known hobby. People simplify things to make tham explainable to their friends. And yes there probably will be people in this hobby who do fit the stereotype but there most likely to be a minority. Plus they stand out the most so "normal" people will notice them first.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
I think there are some vague guidelines that are expected of BJD owners: usually being an anime/manga fan/cosplayer, dressing in lolita or at LEAST all in black with lots of make-up, being into Japanese culture, being lonely/antisocial, and yes, making your boy dolls gay/crossdressers

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
While I enjoy the occasional manga/anime, I have never cosplayed and never plan to (not that I have anything against it, I just can't see myself doing that . . .) I do like Asian culture and have studied Korean, and I've been to Korea and ordered both of my dolls from Korea, but I will be studying in Japan next semester. So yeah, I sort of fit into that category, only my interest is more in the languages/culture/history part of those countries rather than the Hello Kitty and the Lolita outfits—my everyday attire is jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, and ponytail, and I'm pretty sure the last time I wore make-up was for my friend's wedding two years ago . . . As for being antisocial, that one I definitely fit into, haha. My worst nightmare is attending a dinner party! In general, I prefer being alone and doing things by myself, and when I'm old I'll probably live in the middle of the woods in a house filled with dolls, cats, and snakes (or not . . .) However, both of my boys are straight and, unless something drastic happens, I plan on keeping them like that. Again, it's not something I'm against—I'm all for gay rights—but that's just how my characters are.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
I think people who are manga fans are attracted to BJD because of their similar aesthetic, and also because both dolls and mangas are ways of escaping RL for a bit and entering a different world. With BJDs, you can really create any sort of world you want, whether you're a secret fashionista, or you love fantasy like elf dolls or faun dolls, or you're finding representations for characters in the world of your own story. People who enjoy Asian culture are also more likely to collect because they're from, well, Asia! I also think a lot of the people who own homosexual male dolls are themselves female, so maybe that sort of unrealistic relationship for them is also an escape? What do I know, I'm no psychiatrist . . .

Bah, those are my thoughts anyway

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

I view any stereotype as an ignorant assumption of someone's character. I'm not denying the doll owner stereotype (japan-obsessed, lonely anime and yaoi fangirl with no non-resin friends or unable to find a companion as pretty as their dolls while blowing Daddy's money on resin) isn't a reality for someone in the world but certainly not all or even most. As with any stereotype, there are exceptions made. Such as a pretty or popular cosplayer is somehow absolved of "nerdy fan" because one would also make an assumption that person must have friends, a healthy social life, or be a good person. While a different person in that same costume not as attractive or popular falls into a completely different set of negative assumptions. That is just the way a vast majority of society works, unfortunately.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

Interesting enough I'm constantly told I don't fit into my own fandoms. I actually love anime, manga and gaming, I enjoy cosplaying and lolita. I love Japan, asian men and all my resin asian men are doing naughty things to one another. I even have the shining glory of triple threat doll sterotype: A gay, lolita-wearing, girl to boy mod. That being said, I do take time on my appearance and I love fashion. I go to school and work, I have friends and a wide social circle as well as enjoy my time with the opposite sex. I can talk the newest fall line from Gucci or the newest fullset from Dollheart to the new lolita set from Angelic Pretty. I'm perfectly fine going to the club or staying home raiding on World of Warcraft. Pretty men are wonderful, pretty resin men are wonderful. Surely I'm not the only one walking the fine line between nerd and worldly woman. I'm sad to say I actually find I'm stereotyped as a stuck-up, vain, elitist girl trying to get attention by daring to come into "nerd" fandoms like some sort of intruder by my fellow fangirls more than non-doll people stereotype me as a social failure.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

In the case of doll hobby I feel it's stereotype came as a manifestation of aspects commonly seen. "Lonely and immature" from a outsider's inability to understand why so much money is spent on something they deem trivial and childish. "Fangirl and weeabo" from the doll's origins in Asia and their appearances at anime conventions. "Spoiled brat or obsessed/badly managing money and left to eat instant noodles" because we could have put a payment on a car or bought a PS3 and must be crazy not to. My least favorite is "Sexual Frustrated or Doll-sexual" because so many female owners have boys and most of these boys have a penis. That's just ridiculous.

What's really interesting and a shame is fellow doll owners have also been known to stereotype one another based on who may have "cheap dolls" or "yaoi dolls" or whatever it might be. This hobby has enough negativity coming in, no need to attack one another when at the end of the day we're all here and the world can't understand why.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
Already mentioned and described. Everyone will be tagged everywhere. I think is really childish to go against this when we all do it, it's our way to organize the info we have about people/things and make us feel less unsecure about things. If you tag someone or something you'd, technically, be easily able to point that thing out again through the tag, it gives us a feeling that we have ground to step on: world seems less chaotic this way. But I do think that being aware that everything escapes tags is something no one can ignore. Obviously this applies to people.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
Nope. I'm not into anime/manga, I do like some series but as a graphic novel reader and alternative culture digger I recognize that there is good and bad stuff everywhere. I'm not a loner goth (though I was pretty the estereotype on my early teenager years). I can't stand asian music and I don't like asian pop culture at all. I'm a philosophy student, I go to the gym, I have friends and a boyfriend. Could I fit the "nerd" stereotype? Maybe yes, but you hardly would presume that if you saw me hanging around. :P

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
First point: Asian ball-jointed dolls would definetly be appealing to half of the "otaku" tribe. Also it's not really hard for outsiders of the hobby mistake dolly-collectors as retards for paying $500 on a mere "toy" that will give us no return (my father frequently asks me in which way are my dolls useful). Plus, I've seen many bizarre stories involving dolls and owners (specially those 1:1 baby replicas), many of these showed by the TV on reportages that ended with a psychologist or psychiatrist saying something about mental health, obsessive disorders and detachment from reality. Not something that would increase doll collectors fame in a "good" way, I believe.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

. if it's male, they're transgendered and/or gay

. if it's female they're either
- elitist
- lolita
- anime geek
- faerie/elf/ etc geek
- videogamer
- jrock/vkei-er
- into korean stuff
- etc

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

no, i'm male but i'm not trans. also, i lean more towards asexualism though i am taken. sad. but, most people i meet don't fit the stereotype either. i'm just working off of what i hear people think.


3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

people on the outside looking in. it spreads. sometimes i see these very stereotypes, especially the faerie/elf/nordic/fairytale lovers.

 

The stereotypes have already been rather well defined by other posters, so I'll instead focus upon the last two questions.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?
In some ways, yes, in others, no.

When I was a bit younger (in the 10-16 range) I was one of those types highly fascinated with Japan and stayed up late watching subbed anime. I honestly didn't have enough contact to become a weeaboo, but I know if I had, I probably would've been considered one. Of course, at that time I also didn't have many friends, I was considered that "weird girl who sits by herself and draws all the time". I'd go to conventions a lot and I'd cosplay like crazy.

Now that I've matured and am in college, I've gained friends as well as an amazing boyfriend. True, now I have access to more anime than I could ever want( seriously, I think we have almost 60-something complete series at this point), but I usually only end up sitting down and watching anime maybe once or twice a week, in English. I know my younger self would find this blasphemous, but I've found that English is actually rather nice, and in some ways better because some concepts are just impossible to translate. I still run panels at local anime conventions, but I'm by no means obsessed. I rarely cosplay unless needed for an event(like if I'm working a maid cafe or cosplay cafe or something), and instead use the fabric to allow my dolls a chance to cosplay or dress up.

In many ways, it seems like I'm on a hairline border between fitting the stereotypes and not, but frankly if people consider me to fit, or if they don't, I don't really give a care. I got into this hobby because I found the dolls beautiful and it didn't trigger my doll phobia. My boyfriend helped me because he wanted me to get over my doll phobia ( baby dolls and some tinies still terrify me though, so I don't know how effective it's really been -.-'), so why should I care what others think? It makes me happy and gives me something productive to do, which is better than a lot of other things I could be doing instead.


3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?
Volks did start as a figure company to make kits similar to gundams. Anime has just always been a part of Volks, so of course everyone's going to associate all dolls with the most well-known company. Besides, all ABJDs are stylized to resemble anime characters anyway, so those unaware of differences are going to group them into the same category regardless.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

Yes, generally that of an Asian-obsessed stereotype, be it Korea, China, Japan [generally the most popular]. Or the childish stereo types because I play with 'toys'. There is also the creepy factor, do I really need to describe that? 'You're not a child, it's disturbing that you play with dolls'

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

I suppose it depends on how you view my interests. While I do not really enjoy anime or manga I have quite the collection of CDs and DVDs from Asia, but that collection extends way beyond Asia, it also touches into Europe and obviously, North America where I live. I thoroughly enjoy Asian cultures, food, fashion, some medias, but that again extends way beyond Asia. I'm generally a fan of the world in general and find myself more enamored by something that seems vastly different than what I face daily, but who doesn't?

So, do I consider myself a weeaboo type? Nope, even if my favorite music artist is Korean that doesn't mean I find everything Asian to be something that requires obsession.

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

How does stereotype come to anything? The people who are noticed first tend to be obnoxious or rude, in my opinion, or down right obsessive. Those who gain that sort of attention tend to leave stronger impressionsif the first BJD collectors, outside of Asia, had gained attention for wonderful photos and general skill we would all probably be stereotyped as hardcore artist types.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it. and
3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

(I ended up answering these two in the same paragraph)

Any hobby is going to have its stereotypes that people banter around; they're mostly used as hurtful slang or because there was a kernel of truth someone observed and it got out of control so now -everyone- in that hobby is grouped together. Not every young anime fan, or "fanbrat", runs around yelling and creating a nuisance of themselves, but I've experienced it at conventions enough to know that it happens.

BJD owners are lumped into plenty of stereotypes, and usually the connotation is negative because the people doing the stereotyping don't approve of the hobby as a whole. Stereotyping has come to be a form of passive-aggressive bullying; 'I can look down on these people because many more agree that _____ is creepy/weird/stupid." Fill in the blank with BJD, lolita, anime figurines, etc. One portion of the culture is connected to the other culture: anime, BJDs, lolita fashion, and J-pop are all things that came from Japan, so it's easy to see where the connection/stereotype would come from. If you like one, clearly you must like the other. People will often group things together and simplify.


2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

I do like anime, but it's not a big part of my life as it was when I was in high school, it's not the reason I got into dolls. I do go to conventions, but now I mostly go to present panels on cultural aspects. I like Japan and Korea, but I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with them. I couldn't speak Japanese to save my life. I guess you could fit me in to the anime/convention stereotype.

 

While the main stereotype i've noticed has been covered greatly. I've noticed another one that Im not sure if it has been really talked about.
It's the fact that people are willing to spend 100's on dolls and keeping them neat and clean, whilst their homes and apartments are dirty and worn and not really in a presentable condition compared to the excellence of keeping their dolls.

2. On the main stereotype issue. I do like anime to a degree, i've been losing my interest in it for a few years. I do go to anime conventions but im more interested in the cultural and gaming aspects of it. I do like lolita and do have my own lolita clothing that I will wear to the convention or wear it in normal day attire because it's constructed well and looks sophisticated. I happen to really dislike the anime-ish style dolls, but I do love the dolls that have more of a figure. I am an overweight white female who is in college and is sometimes socially awkward, I do believe I am the creative type or I wouldn't be going to art school.
As for my stereotype I tend to like things to look intriguing and clean. So I don't fit into it.

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.

Having read some of the earlier posts, I guess there is one. Personally, I haven't been aware of a stereotype because I haven't been around people who knew enough about BJDs to develop a stereotype, and the groups of BJD-owners I've seen haven't fit into any kind of stereotype that I could see.

Who are the people coming up with this stereotype? Is it the owners themselves or the groups they are hanging about with who know about BJD-owners, but aren't one themselves?

I'm older and I don't really hang out with a lot of anime/manga fans... so I'm guess I'm not exposed to people who have a stereotypical view of BJD-owners.

2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

Going by what people have said, I fit a little, but not a LOT. But then, I don't usually fit into any obvious group. And all the other owners I've met seem to pretty individual in what they are like and what they are into, etc.

Maybe I just don't tend to think about stereotypes and just see individuals as individuals???

3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

As others have said, I think SOME people just tend to think in generalities. Or maybe they are in a group or see themselves as being a part of a group and tend to identify people that way.

But we all know that not all BJD-owners are into anime or into Asian culture or into cosplay, etc. I suppose that a number of BJD-owners were first exposed to BJDs at anime cons or through someone into anime... but that's not true of the bulk of owners. I'd think.

Has anyone done a poll on if these interests are a reason for getting into BJDs? That might be a bit more informative... Although, in my instance, I've watched anime and am interested, but it doesn't have anything directly to do with me getting BJDs... So maybe a poll wouldn't be that useful

But I think we should try and ignore stereotypes. They are obviously not all that useful or true...

 

1) Do you think BJD owners are put into a stereotype? If so, describe it.
Of course. there is obviously, as most people have said, the most common stereotype being the anime/japanese culture freak, as well as the sexual fiend. One of the worst stereotypes i have encountered now that i've reached full legality (21, in case that wasn't obvious, haha) is that the older BJD owners have some sort of mental disease. I live in Korea right now, and while many doll companies are based here, many Korean people i have spoken to think the hobby is just plain weird if you're over the age of 12. the same thing goes for American people, but from my experience Americans are less inclined to fully speak their minds about it.


2) Be honest - do you think you fit the stereotype at all? Not at all? Why?

Once upon a time i did fit the anime/japan stereotype, but i gravitated away from it around the time i turned 17. I still go to conventions from time to time just to have an excuse to dress in lolita garb, but i'm not really that into anime and stuff like that anymore.
The sex fiend part, not so much. At least, i'm no more 'sexual' than your average adult.
As for the mental disease....As much as i want to strike down that stereotype, my family does have a history of poor mental health, but nothing like what the stereotype inclines. None of the completely loony, brain-slushy, insane crap that some people accuse doll owners of.


3) How do you think there came to be stereotypes in the BJD hobby?

there's stereotypes for everything. The dolls are largely produces in asian countries, they are anatomically correct, and they are, in fact, DOLLS. There's always been a stereotype for older people that carry around baby dolls (that they're in some way sick in the head) so it's not particularly surprising that it carried over to the BJD world.