Girls view on guys who own BJDs

This. So much.

But, yeah, I think it's great to see guys enjoying the hobby as well - the way things are, it's great to see people having the confidence to enjoy what they love despite society's silly conventional rules!

 

No matter what sex or gender, if any, you identify with, everyone should be able to enjoy dolls without being judged. I support everyone that loves dolls. I can't entirely blame people who think dolls make you ''girly'', because a lot of children are raised that way by their parents. Instead of getting offended or angry I just try to explain my opinion and hope that one day their vision on the subject might change.

 

I will try to keep this as polite as possible. I've read variations on this kind of topic previously in many different forms and to be frank they make me, as a man, quite angry. I understand that many girls and women have expressed their belief on this thread that no one should be made to feel judged and I thank them for that. As for the rest of you, I would ask you, what makes you think that you're entitled to an opinion on this topic? There is a common adage that says that "everyone is entitled to their own opinion". I’m sorry but I have to disagree with that. Everyone can have an opinion. They can even express that opinion. But people are only entitled to an opinion in certain circumstances. For this particular topic for example I can think of two (though there may be more that haven't occurred to me yet) circumstances in which a person is entitled to an opinion. The first would be that you are male. And the second would be that you are a female with more than a passing familiarity of gender studies. In you don't fall in to either of those two groups of people then you aren't in fact entitled to an opinion. Of course you can still have an opinion. You can even express it. But to be clear, your opinion is worth absolutely nothing and no one should pay any attention to it. So to those people who have expressed negative opinions to which they are not entitled I would say this: tend to your own hobby and stay out of things that don’t concern you. Like my life for example.

And to finish off let me categorically state that I am in no way interested in having a debate on this topic, or other similar topics, because there’s absolutely nothing that warrants any kind of debate. So you can think that I’m some sort of freak because of how I choose to spend my recreational time, but I’m not interested in hearing or reading about it, and should I hear or read about it you should expect rather vigorous push-back.

 

I don't see any difference in a guy having a doll versus a girl with one. I think "rules" about which gender should have or do what are silly. I remember when I got a Cabbage Patch Doll as a kid, and then my brother wanted (and got) one as well. I spent as much time in the dirt with my trucks as he did. I've noticed a lot of people encourage girls to play with "boy" toys, but the reverse isn't true. It only gets worse as we turn into adults. I expect people to accept the things I do, and I feel I owe that same courtesy to others. It seems odd that a group that is already judged for BJDs would judge other people for the same thing.


Edit: I feel I should add I've seen men of all ages at AKON with BJDs for over ten years, so that may contribute to my feelings. There are men in our dolly group as well.

 

I want to meet those guys, hehe, I am only aware of a couple and their talent within the hobby are awesome!

 

I don't mind... is not my business anyways I know people who are older (guy) who own amazing dolls and he takes good care of them.

 

I don't think it matters either way lol. Hobbies shouldn't belong to one gender or type of person.

 

agree with upstairs. just it seems common for ladies to have boys and girls dolls but guys only interest in girls haha

 

I think there's a negative connotation attached to guys liking dolls that's kind of unfair. It's cool that guys who like dolls are breaking gender stereotypes by being in this hobby. Rock on.

 

My boyfriend got me playing Assassin's Creed, and now I've convinced him to have a doll of his own (he loves the ones with creature parts). He's embraced my particular brand of crazy just as much as I have his. He even helps me find cool stuff for my brats.

 

I'm honestly surprised to find this topic here for discussion. I got into bjds mostly because all my other hobbies are adversarial in nature. (Magic the gathering, video games, racing) this hobby was a lot more encompassing and the community more embracing. To see this topic for debate can bring out heated emotions based on personal ideals and does not really contribute to the embracing culture I thought was prevalent in this hobby. I figured the love of these dolls would be appreciated regardless of age, gender, or other factor. I didn't think this would actually be up for debate/discussion.

 

People should participate in whatever hobbies they want, regardless of their sex and/or gender.

Personally, seeing a guy have the self-confidence to openly participate a stereotypically "female"-gendered hobby (or vice versa for a woman in a stereotypically "male"-gendered hobby) makes me have a lot of respect for the person.

 

I grew up in a neighborhood on the edge of an industrial complex that catered to the paper mills that my father and my friends fathers worked at. We spent our summers playing dolls under the big elm tree in my front year. The girls would bring out all their cool Barbie stuff and the boys brought out their GIJoes and their awesome jeeps! Our play sessions would last for days.

So I don't think twice about a guy having BJDs. I wish I knew some who did though. Because I had so much FUN during those summers spent playing under the tree with Ricky, Mark and about ten other kids!

 

My best friend's husband joined the BJD hobby and I LOVE THAT! I love how they spend time browsing BJD websites together in bed and stuff like that! So cozy! I wish my husband would join, too! (He never will, though. )

 

To be perfectly honest, I'm sometimes a little uncomfortable with cis dudes in a lady-dominated hobby because in my experience there always seems to be that one bad egg that makes it all about them... I'm not sure how to explain it other than the example of Bronies, lol. Like, an attitude of entitlement and elevated importance for being a cis dude in a "lady's world". (Trans dudes have their own set of problems that make more sense to me...) But I've never experienced that in the BJD hobby. The dudes here are pretty awesome, not gonna lie And I think it's rad that dudes aren't falling prey to that whole toxic hyper-masculinity thing. I mean, it's silly that dolls have been deemed a girly thing, but the fact remains that that's how they're seen, so it's nice that dudes aren't falling for that. Everybody should be able to love dolls!

 

I'm still holding onto the hope that my boyfriend will become interested in dolls with me one day. >w> As for you other fellas... Do what you love! I'm glad you have the courage to be who you are without reservations, even in a hobby dominated by women.

 

Gender is a social construct, nothing more. Men who want to collect, create, mod, or just play with dolls should feel just as free to do so as any woman. Sadly though that is not always the case. What bugs me more than anything though, is people who think it's weird for a man to enjoy the hobby but have no problems owning a doll that was created by a man. And there are loads of male doll sculptors out there. I remember playing with my cousin's GI Joe action figures when I was a kid & being told those toys were for boys, not girls. In my mind, they were dolls that anyone could play with. I thought they were way cooler than Barbie, at any rate.

There is a small movement that is trying to equalize & integrate so called boy & girl toys together in retail settings. I truly hope that movement gains momentum, because clinging to traditional gender roles and not allowing boys to play with dolls or what have you does a real disservice to children.

 

Some interesting opinions. I for one feel like everyone is entitled to an option on any topic. Regardless if the opinion is relevant.
Everyone deserves the right to express themselves in what ever way they desire. Regardless if you feel like speaking on this topic is just enforcing gender stereotypes.
Something everyone has to realize is that they gender stereotypes exist, and the only way to push past things is to acknowledge them! Acting like the thought of guys playing with dolls does not bother some people is ignorant.
I feel like everyone has the right to enjoy any hobby! I do not judge people on what they do in their free time.

 

I love it when I see male bjd collectors because I feel that everyone, despite their gender, can love BJD's and be in the community plus, most of them make really creative characters XD

 

Hey, if guys want to be a part of this hobby, it's cool with me.