Fighting that Doll stereotype

I think the stereotypes associated with this hobby stem from a mix of the dolls and some of the owners themselves. Though most of us agree that people should respect others' belongings and not touch them without permission, I can see how someone running up and shouting "OMG DON'T TOUCH THE FACE" when you're looking at their doll can be a little off-putting. I think the general assumption from the majority is also that people collect dolls to fill some sort of void in their lives from a lack of people to associate with, which simply isn't true in most cases. Pair that with the realism of the dolls themselves and how they fall into the "uncanny valley" for several people (i.e. they look human but clearly aren't human) and BOOM, doll owners= creepy people with no lives.

That being said, I think the best way to break out of the stereotype is to be proud of your collection and not be afraid to show it. I'll be honest in that I have a hard time with this myself because several of us have friends and/or family members that will ask "aren't you too old for dolls?" but I've also been surprised by how open and accepting some people have been to my dolls- a worker and customer at a local fabric shop, for example. And if you're worried about someone picking up your doll and/or touching its face without permission, just hold it while you're talking to them. For that matter, this can even go beyond the scope of carrying dolls with you- people just learning that you collect dolls could be a way to break out of the stereotype because it shows that not all people who collect dolls are crazy old ladies. At the end of the day, being yourself and being pleasant to people seems like a great way to break the stereotype to me.

 

I get a lot of 'But aren't you too old for dolls?' as a stereotype, and apparently people think I do nothing but sit around and talk to my dolls all day. Granted, I sew for them a lot, and love taking pics of them. But as someone else in the thread said, they're horrible conversationalists. XD I mainly keep it to myself because I work in the computer/IT industry and I have to face the fact that I work with people who are bacon-obsessed perverts waiting for the zombie apocalypse... so if I show someone a pic of my group, invariably the lewd comments are going to start as well as "So, how do you PLAY with them?? *winknudge*" and then I'd have to pray for patience, because if I pray for strength, bail money had better come along with it when I deck someone. XD

 

Eh, in my opinion, when people see anything that deviates from the norm, it's considered weird or strange and people that deviate from the norm are considered as such. Like...ya'll see the people that collect 100's of porcelain dolls for tons of money, right? Well, while it may be a healthy hobby for the person, other people perceive it as being strange or unhealthy, because it's not something that you see every day in every person. I would just say, "Forget ya'll, I do what I want, I do what I love, ya'll got a problem, go on and get lost." That's just how I feel 'bout it.

 

Two first links doesn't work anymore, so i'm not sure what they're about. But i relate to the stereo type thing. My doll's characters are endearing, nut i don't find them over the top, i make them flawed, or strive to make them less perfect, but not directly weird. Truth be told, that my boy wears what i wish i could wear (gothic and punkish clothes) And i'm slightly offened when people ask why my doll is emo or why my girl i wearing white and pink like a little girl. It's simply because i like it and it suits them :3

 

Hmm I didn't think the stereotype was so far-reaching and had this kind of variation to it. I'm used to the idea of people thinking of me as weird/crazy/nerdy/gothic/fat/yaoi pervert/pop-culture inept/crazy tranny/etc.. I tell new people I'm the strangest person they'll know, and I'm not joking or self-depreciating when I say that. Being an oddball is part of my personality these days, and people seem to like watching what I'll do next. Comfortably weird? Maybe. If being 'the weirdo in the crowd' is new to you I don't know what to say... just remember some people would consider you courageous to take your doll out in public. You know? Enjoy being strange. Enjoy anything you feel like enjoying.

 

well i havent had much of a sterotype experience...yet but my family thinks there creepy and wierd i dont know why but thats the worst i have experienced i wish people would except others for who they are instead of judging them for who they're not.

 

I've been called creepy by friends or told by friends that my dolls are creepy. I don't really care. My friends have hobbies that bore me and I don't really care. My wife likes dolls and even if she didn't, she'd support me in whatever I do.

 

I am perfectly aware of the negative stereotype against BJD owners. But so does Anime fans, cosplayers and people who make friends over internet. It seems like many culture related to Japan has negative, weird streotype... I think it's just being creative. Creative and weird is like a burger and a coke :8

 

For some reason, ever now and then I come across articles that try to label us as sexual fetishists who lust after dolls. Not just any dolls, either. Most of the articles say that BJD's only come in natural skin tones, with white girl sculpts, and look like little girls. Which is absolutely ridiculous, and I actually thought it was hilarious because in one of the articles, the "journalist" used a picture of Iplehouse Asa in he big kimono set right next to the paragraph stating that "Even though these dolls originate in Asia, there are actually zero sculpts of Asian women to be found whatsoever".

I usually just count people who say things like that to just be idiots who have no idea what these dolls are even about.

 

Yeah, I definitely think there's a huuuggee stereotype attached to these dolls. I mean all the girls (yes, only girls) that have come to me asking me to help them get started in this hobby have been super obsessed with anime, which is how they found out about the hobby. On top of that, there seems to be a large video game/Dr. Who/Supernatural etc. etc. fandom stereotype attached to the hobby as well.

I found this thread because I was searching the words "fraternity" and "sorority" on this forum. I'm in a large sorority and my boyfriend is in a fraternity and we are pretty preppy in real life though we both have our small 'nerdy' hobbies, and a big part of our relationship is the fact that we have the ability to be both fratty/preppy while being into things that are considered nerdy. I've been desperately looking for someone else who does the same thing but I can't really find anyone :P I mean, I do appreciate anime, I've watched a ton, but it would be nice to meet someone else who could freak out over preppy stuff with me as well as dolls lol

 

I have always been odd, I think my friends expect it by now. I've had my metalhead and goth eras (still like the stuff I used to listen to and wear, but I'm not massively into it anymore), I am fond of antiques, I like bones and taxidermy and my friends say my apartment looks like a deranged grandmother's house. Oh, and I collect tea sets. That might have something to do with the grandmother thing, come to think of it. I'm geeky, I love comics and Doctor Who (the new series moreso than the old one, I know, blasphemy) and I've been fond of Star Trek since I was a little girl.

But specific doll collector stereotypes? Not so much, I don't think. I am into anime now, but that's a passion I picked up from my boyfriend, and I collected BJDs before we ever got together. I'm not really into goth loli either, although I do have a loli-esque outfit that a friend gave me because I thought it was very cute. The main dolly thing I did before I got into BJDs was collecting porcelain dolls, which stems from my passion for flea markets -- I could never resist adopting the slightly odd-looking old porcelain dolls that nobody seemed to want to buy. The other doll collections I have (Pullip, Monster High, Littlest Pet Shop, Bratzilla) all came from being shown these dolls by fellow BJD enthousiasts and wanting some of my own.

Also, while I have heard about these stereotypes about BJD collectors a lot, to me it seems like I mostly hear about them from other collectors. Most people outside the hobby that I've talked to about my dolls (I am quite open about them and happy to answer questions) seem to be genuinely interested. I wonder if these stereotypes are actually wide-spread, or if it's mostly just something collectors are afraid of?

 

While it's true that any interest will have some degree of negative stereotyping attached to it, ultimately it's also true that the stereotypes come from somewhere, they don't just spring forth from nothing. The same is true of doll stereotypes. In fact, there's threads on this very forum that can demonstrate just where some of these stereotypes are coming from; just look into threads about "how to explain dolls to unfamiliar people," "taking dolls out in public," "letting others handle dolls," and the like, and see how people are reacting to the world outside the hobby.

Admittedly, some of the stereotypes aren't as bad as others. I don't think it's so bad that they're associated with the overall "things from Japan" fandom (anime cons haven't been just about the anime in a very long time; even when I first started attending twelve years ago there was no "purity" present), since the hobby does in fact originate from Asia. Any unfortunate stereotyping that comes along with that is about as inevitable as the unfortunate stereotyping that comes from the hobby itself. But it's true that anime cons do have a better saturation of BJDs than the "outside world," and it's certainly a place where one is more likely to encounter them, become curious, become legitimately interested and engaged, and learn how to get involved themselves, though either talking to BJD collectors directly or through attending any of the numerous BJD-related panels at conventions.

And admittedly, I don't really fall into the common stereotypes of this hobby. I don't even collect other dolls (I've never been a doll person); I got into these because of a long-held but never-pursued interest in "kitbashing" to make figures of some of my OCs. Ultimately, BJDs were an easier approach than kitbashing, while still appealing to my hands-on nature. But other dolls? Still not all that interested, honestly.

 

I don't think BJDs are gothic.

I was in the first wave gothic fashion that happened in the late 80s-90s and while there are some dolls here that are gothic style, the vast majority have nothing to do with gothic styles! Seriously. If you see such a stereotype mentioned, well, it's obviously wrong! Actually, all stereotypes are wrong!!!! People think they know something and they obviously have no clue if they are stereotyping!!!

Look, people tend to be ignorant about a LOT of stuff. I totally ignore crap like that. Life is too short to worry about what ignorant people think!

 

Hm. I don't watch Anime unless friends force it on me. I've never been into Goth or Lolita clothing although I find the look adorable on dolls. I don't know what most of the Japan references mean... so that's kind of embarrassing and awkward because I don't even know what I'm being compared to. But I love the dolls. They personally remind me of creatures from Wonderland or the Neverending story.

I personally have problems with "uncanny valley" sometimes and know exactly what that can be like. My dolls have bigger than natural eyes and other fantasy looks that keep that in check. But dolls that look too real are difficult for me to spend quality time with. So I get why many people are creeped out by dolls. Horror movies and TV shows have certainly cashed in on that and I'm sure if I watched the right show, my dolls would get locked up for a month.

 

People love to question things they don't understand. It's natural. I'm open with anyone who asks about my doll collections because I simply don't care if they don't like it or think I'm some shut-in weirdo (which I don't think I am). I don't need their permission to do something that makes me happy and doesn't hurt anyone else. I'm a nerd for a lot of things that don't fit my outward appearance and that's what I feel makes us all unique.

 

I would have to agree that the stereotype involving doll owners is pretty irritating. I try not to take it to heart, but it's frustrating having someone assume that you're "x, y, z" when you can be the farthest thing from it. But regardless of the stereotype being there, I don't think it should stop you from participating in a hobby that you love and cherish.

 

There's stereotypes attached to all hobbies. Train spotters, bird watchers etc are often regarded as weird people. Same with guys who like anime and manga. Those who don't understand the hobby will make stereotypes. Gamers are seen as lazy or loners. If it's portrayed in a certain light in popular culture then these stereotypes are perpetuated. There's not much we can do but educate someone in our hobbies if they show interest such as if they see us with our bjds and ask questions. I have many hobbies including bjds, watching anime and collecting figures, gaming, cosplay and playing Magic the Gathering. Constantly being told by my boyfriends sister that I'm weird. I actually like metal music so not exactly a goth but I have friends similar to me so they accept the things I like without poking fun. My boyfriend's sister doesn't know about the bjds which I am currently waiting for but if she takes a particular disliking to them and gives me grief I won't take it personally. She's afraid of people in costume as it is so she seems quite sensitive

 

People will think what they may. It can be almost impossible to change a person's mind no matter how compelling your argument is. The important thing is to remember that stereotypes, whether they ring true or not make no difference to you or anyone else as individuals. If you enjoy dolls and don't fall under it, that's just fine. If you or someone else does that's fine too. If people you know are trying to use stereotyping as a way of making you give up your hobby, they're the one's with a problem. Forgive my frankness, I get a lot of flack about this hobby from loved ones, and my attitude has hardened a bit.

 

There are stereotypes for everything. It's just human nature to stereotype things that are different from you in order to more easily understand them, even if they are false.

Though I do think that different hobbies tend to draw in different types of people, I think that people who like dolls tend to be more introverted and more likely to enjoy things like anime or lolita fashion than someone who enjoys say, football or something. But I don't think that's bad at all as long as people realize that everyone is different and everyone within a hobby is different as well.
People with low tolerance to the "uncanny valley" effect probably wouldn't be interested in dolls and that's ok too. I know I have a pretty high one because most people find stuff like animatronics creepy, and animatronics are one of my biggest interests.

Basically I don't think you need to "fight" any sort of stereotype. They're going to happen no matter what, and are annoying but pretty much harmless for the most part. The only time stereotypes are overall very harmful are in regards to more serious stuff like racism, not so much a hobby.