Girls view on guys who own BJDs

Well it really depends on the person. Personally I think it would be really cool to have a guy friend that is as obsessed with bjds as I am, but if he's really creepy then I would probably judge him. It all depends in personality.

 

Ok, it took me a while to go thru this entire thread. Then I took it a bit further by sleeping on it and mulling it over and over in my mind while at work today, so at the least my reply to this thread should be fairly well thought out.
I really feel it all comes down to Appreciation.
While I might not take a fancy to the way that some folks dress their BJDs, or maybe do their face ups, I DO appreciate the amount of time, dedication and passion that they put into them. To know that they are putting their hard earned time and money into something they love is enough for me.
That being said, I am in my mid 40s, I have a wonderful wife and beautiful daughter, and I enjoy getting my hands dirty wrenching on my cars or motorcycle. I also enjoy Anime movies, figurines, novels and yes, BJDs.

It is nice to know that there are people out there that can appreciate my enjoyment of BJDs, regardless of my gender or preferences with such and I for one will be more than happy to return that appreciation.

Robert

 

I am a dude. I own 2 dolls. One of them is a Puki named Captain Beauregard. He is a space pixie with a jetpack and a ray gun. This is AWESOME! Let it be known that I support awesome things, and I see a lot of awesome in this hobby.

I have MY dolls because my wife (amubleu) is a collector and I wanted to support her hobby by taking part in it. I will likely end up with more. Probably tinies, as they are teh cutezorz. I'm also 34 next month. I'm learning that some folks may find this creepy. Word.

 

animesa and soapboxdevil---> Let me just start out by saying that you're awesome. XD I think it's great that guys can be bold about owning dolls and really owning the hobby. That's pretty sweet, plus it made me smile hearing from you guys and how it's basically just a normal part of your lives. After having a ton of guy friends be completely terrified of BJDs it's refreshing to hear from people who like them! Also, Captain Beuregard sounds like a champ.

After this has been said, I will be honest. Yes, like some of the other chicas on this thread, I will admit that sometimes it catches me off guard to see a guy with a doll. The reactions sort of change depending on the person and the doll involved. Usually older guys with extremely cutesy, 'little girl' lolita type BJDs throw me the most. In the past, I've met a few guys at conventions and I always initially went, "oh god, that poor defenseless doll." But, it's pretty easy to overcome it. After introducing myself, or hearing from guys on the threads you learn pretty quickly that for alot of men, the hobby is exactly the same as it is for women. BJDs are friends and companions to all sorts of people; regardless of gender. I know that I love some of my dolls/characters in a way that's a bit more than just "well, aren't you cute?" You form a bond with them and I think that's a great thing. It gives us all something to hold on to and lets us connect with other people who enjoy the same hobbies. =) I think it just takes an open mind to get past the initial confusion.

 

I think it's awesome! Guys who have dolls is the same as girls who have dolls! It's a fun and artistic hobby, people of all genders should embrace the hobby as a chance to enchance their creativity. So guys, get a dolly! No one will think differently of you if a man has a doll.

 

I honestly don't see any point to being fussy about a male owning a BJD. I have one who owns a few and, like so many of us, they have become his characters. Heck, I even saw two guys at a table in the Artist Alley at Otakon a few years back who had hand customized their BJDs into the ever popular Cloud and Sephiroth. They did a fantastic job. Why should a guy who has a BJD be thought of any differently than a woman? It's really kind of a societal stereotype that I would find silly.

 

To be very honest, I would be surprised and a bit weirded out before I got to know them. Particularly as miriteatstoes said it's a grown man with a cutsey, young doll. (It's screams lolita.) I do not associate this hobby as something inherently masculine.

Culture, profession and age would probably change my tune. For example, a young, teen man with a doll would not surprise me as much since I associate the teen years as experimental years. You try stuff. Someone I know as an artist would also NOT surprise me, because it's art.

Still, I have a personal frustration with men trying to be more feminine.

 

That is sad. Why the rush to judge? Collecting BJD's need not be a "feminine" hobby, but even if it is what is wrong with a man enjoying it? I am the only woman in a house of guys. We all collect BJD's. I assure you it is not about my hubby trying to be more feminine. He is just being himself. This is something he enjoys. His BJD's are all male but they aren't super masculine and he doesn't refer to them as "action figures". They are his dolls and he is comfortable with that. He dies his hair cotton candy pink and watches yaoi and collects Shoujo manga. He doesn't do it to get attention. He does it because as a grown man with a wife and kids he doesn't have to worry so much about what other people think and can care more about doing what makes him happy, and he knows I support him. We have chosen to raise our boys without preconceived gender stereotypes as much as possible. Which means we have a son with long hair that he wears in pigtails and another who loves pink and Hello Kitty everything. They both have dolls now too. My oldest has a DZ bunny who he insists is a girl and dresses in the fluffiest dresses he can find. My youngest has a DZ Leo who he says is a boy. I don't mind as long as they are happy. It is not a matter of trying to make them feminine. It is a matter of allowing them to experience the whole world not limited by gender roles, so long as safety is not an issue. I hope people do not look at my husband or my sons and judge them. However if they do they will be the ones missing out, all of my guys are pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

 

I would say nothing is inherently masculine aside from maybe possessing a penis. Conversely, do you judge harshly women who like to live and see themselves as more than just a uterus? It disgusts me when women are treated as nothing more than baby making machines who can only have child or home making related interests. I would never do the same thing to a man.

 

I'm not sure how to react it, since I only know a guy who is madly in love with his doll and is married to it..
I bet other guys are more 'normal' with their dolls, but I find that one person quite odd.. Well, whatever floats his boat ! :P Who am I to judge?

 

Whaa ! Totally agree !! xD

 

I just find it off-putting when the female dolls collected are super-sexy (Honestly, I don't really like it when females buy the super-sexy female dolls either). As I mentioned before, I HATE the over-sexualization and huge beauty standards put on women. I just think that it's nice to find some sort of outlet where the males are the sexy, beautiful ones for once! It doesn't bother me when the dolls collected are male.

But from my experiences of the "artistic nudes" on DA, it's easier to just ignore things I don't like. I'm sure many people who buy the BJDs simply don't see the ridiculous (I admit) connections between the high beauty standards and a piece of plastic.

 

Hmmm, I think this depends all on the guy and his personality and what exactly I am trying to determine about the guy. If I am looking for a good friend, I'd be thrilled to find a guy who shares a hobby like this with me. Gender doesn't matter here. If the guy comes off kind of creepy and awkward and sneaky on the other hand, having a doll would only increase my suspicions on who exactly I am dealing with here. (Kind of like people who collect weapons. They are awesome to collect, but if there is a certain vibe about the person having them, the hobby may only reinforce certain ideas, ya know what I mean?)

 

I think it's awesome.
Guys getting into the hobby always gets me excited
I mean, who made the rule that dolls are just for girls anyways?
It's just the way society has raised us to beleive, doesn't mean it's right though~

 

When I hear there are males in the doll hobby I do a simple "Really?" and then shrug it off. I'm willing to accept anyone in the doll hobby, however I do admit to almost always assuming a doll owner is a female.
That makes me feel bad, I've started to try and just say "them" or "they" when referring to a person whose gender I do not know.
I feel like anyone should be able to join the hobby, and not have labels like "You're too young" "You're a male" or "You're too old". If they truly love the BJD culture and community, I don't think twice.
As it's been mentioned before, if I'm "allowed" to play video games, be a construction worker, play with a truck, you know those "male" things, why should I judge someone for being into what would be considered "a female's hobby"?
I think it's awful that "as women" we demand to be treated "equal" to men and have no "male specific things" which make us feel excluded, or disadvantaged to them. Why should men have to go through the exact same thing?
I feel the same to the point of, if I see a guy wearing a skirt, walking down the street I just shrug it off, completely.

 

Guys who own BJDs are hot .... but also some of the prettiest Bjds are designed by guys

 

*Nods*

I agree, I too hate to see the over-sexualisation of women and I'm uncomfortable seeing dolls who personify that.

 

I happen to think that it's adorable when guys own BJDs. It's refreshing from hearing about video games and other stuff. Plus, they are more likely to be more understanding of the hobby in general and get you the doll of your choice as a gift!!! (bliss!)

 

I guess it somewhat depends... just as it depends when it comes to women owning bjds. Regardless of gender, there will always be really creepy doll owners (although most are not). I don't have anything against guys owning dolls, I generally think it's awesome. No one said this hobby is for girls only anyway :3

 

I'm going to agree with most on here, that say that it's awesome when guys own dolls haha i'm a guy, and i own several. I think that when people have a problem with me collecting BJD, because i'm a 36 year old man, then it's THEIR problem. Not mine. Just like if they see me holding hands with a guy, and have a problem with it. It's all part of the social programming that happens to us from a very young age. I've loved dolls since i was a little kid. I played with She-ra, Jem, and Barbie growing up with my sister, and didn't think it was wrong until I was in grade school and picked up a Cabbage Patch girl doll to play with, and the teacher took it away from me, and gave it to a little girl. i was instructed to play with the trucks instead. But that was a very long time ago, and now times are achanging!