How do you feel about albino dolls?

I have two dolls which I guess fit the description of albino. They are not human, so I consider their albinism more like an unusual trait of their kind, like an white deer, which is not actually albino, (although apparently there are still albino deer) and others of their kind don't really pay it much notice. Their skin and eyes are not overly sensitive in comparison to others, but they do have white skin, white hair, and red eyes.

All in all I like albino dolls. I have always enjoyed the visual concept, regardless of the dolls backstory.

I would also be interested in seeing if anyone has portrayed a doll with vitiligo, I'd like to see how they go about it.

 

I believe in making your doll whatever colors you want it to be. I roll my eyes at people who think you need to do massive scientific research before giving your white doll white hair, just because you don't explain every single trait of a real-life genetic disorder in every single photograph & make your entire doll's life revolve around its coloring. That's ridiculous. Backstory Policing is ridiculous. It's your doll, and your dollyverse, so you color it in any way you want.

 

I like dolls to be as different as real people, so I love the fact that some will have the same appearances as real people do. My bff is in the process of creating an albino doll. It's not for attention or to glamourize a medical condition, it's just the way the character is. In the story, he's treated and behaves just as any of the non-albino characters.

 

I had a friend in elementary school who was an albino. She loved barbies and stuff and always wished they made one that looked more like her. I love that bjd's are customizable enough to make them any way you want

 

I think they're gorgeous! I love how pure they look and their eyes really stand out! Once I save enough money I'm planning on getting an albino dolly

 

I agree with this, especially when it's not done properly or certain characteristics are enhanced for that "ooh, eerie" appearance. If you want to give your doll white hair and red eyes, fine. I think people feel the need to over-explain things - it's a doll, there's no reason in the world why it shouldn't have white hair and red eyes just for the hell of it without plastering over what is actually a very debilitating condition in order to make it more interesting.

I personally don't like albino dolls, unless they're customized very skilfully and characterised with real sensitivity, because they're overdone and there's so many of them now (as many people in this thread are proving) that I find them boring as a concept. My doll has white hair and red eyes, but it's not because he's albino - it's because he's a cyborg, and he's so odd-looking that his unusual colouring doesn't look that unusual at all!

 

Yes, this. If your doll happens to have red eyes and white hair, cool beans. But if you're going to say your doll has Albinism, please just read a wiki article or two so you can be honest about it.
It's your doll, and you'll do what you want with it, but as for me, personally, I always lose respect for dolls portraying real conditions badly or as a gimmick. If it's a fantasy doll, let it be a fantasy doll. If it's supposed to be real, make it respectful.

 

I fail to see what stereotypes are being perpetuated disrespectfully just because someone wants to make an albino doll character. What's the problem, simply that it makes people think albinism is more common than it is IRL? If so, why not go chase down everyone who has redheaded dolls (i.e. most of DOA) & thus makes natural-red hair look about 75x more common than it is IRL? If this were a case of writing a character that would actually be seen by a big audience, and noticed by a lot of people, and carry powerful & widespread influence over people's perceptions, then I'd get it-- but this is not, likesay, MTV, encouraging horrific stereotyping with Jersey Shore or encouraging horrific behavior with Teen Mom, influencing millions of the easily-brainwashed masses. This is not a character that's up for worldwide attention on the NY Times Bestseller List or the Sundance Film Festival. This is fachrissakes Den Of Angels. This is somebody playing with their dolls at home & occasionally sharing snapshots on a doll forum.

(I only WISH I had the kind of free time on my hands that's required for a job with the Backstory Police.)

 

Well, never having seen your doll it's hard to say specifically, but in general I'm on the "whatever floats your boat" side. It's your doll, so you should make him whatever you want him to be!

That said, I think Harlequin-Elle is right that they're everywhere, so just don't be surprised if people aren't surprised! I have a white-skinned, pink eyed elf doll who isn't meant to have albinism, but people tend to assume that he is - it's just that common that the default assumption is white=albino!

I read that to be more of a personal pet peeve than a Backstory Police activity (heh, how tedious would that job be? ) - I can totally imagine looking at a photostory and seeing an intended-to-be realistic character with albinism driving a car and wanting to say "Hey, you know people with albinism are visually impaired, right?" in the same way that you might correct someone's translation if they get something wrong in a bit of other-language dialogue. *shrug*

 

An albino doll would be cool, but idk how well my relatives would take it if I had one. One of my cousins is albin, you see. It was interesting to find out that albinos often have blue eyes that turn very pink/violet in certain lights (and camera flashes).

 

Indeed.

I guess everyone needs a hobby, though.

 

I for one am definitely not volunteering for backstory police. I do think people are gonna do what they do no matter what I think.

I read a fascinating article once on how people with Albinism were really frustrated at being thought of as magical/mystic/evil just because of Hollywood stereotyping. The "Albino" is always a witch or a horrible creepy monk or a crypt keeper or a telepath or something, never a normal person. I could see that kind of portrayal in Doll Stuff being frustrating to people with Albinism, but then, I don't have it, so I can't claim to fully understand the issues involved.

I think in order to know more about this, we'd have to hear from someone who has Albinism or Leucistic coloring, and see what they think of the idea of doll portrayals.

 

I absolutely dont mind albino dolls . They're beautiful to me ^_^. I have plans for one of my own since I have a character who is albino.

 

I think I may have read the same article (though it's possible there have been more than one).

As to what someone who has the condition thinks of doll portrayals, there was a comment a ways up about a friend of a forumite who wished they made albinistic Barbies, so there's one person's opinion. Not to say there wouldn't be plenty of people with differing opinions, but that's always the case, I guess.


On a more general note, as someone with conditions of my own, when I'm writing about a character, I like to make sure they're a person first, so I do appreciate concern over sensitivity, but... when I'm looking at photos, I agree with some other people above too, with dolls, white skin and red/pink/pale eyes doesn't necessarily mean an albino character. (But I hit the back button hard if I'm ever presented with, for example, a character who is stated to be an albino sniper. I guess my willing suspension of disbelief only stretches so far...)

 

I think they're pretty cool, but I don't think I'd ever have a doll with the albino colouration. My Nairen is normal coloured with white hair and blue-green eyes. It just worked for the look of the doll :3

 

I personally think its a bit rude. Seeing as people suffer through this condition daily, I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate someone making a doll out of it and trying to praise it as something "cool". I'm all for the occult and medical oddities, but there is a level of respect you must have.

 

I like Albinism because of my fondness of Albino animals. Not because I want to portray a person with it.
I plan on making an Albino doll, yes. She's not going to be a human Albino, though. Because there are lots of different KINDS of Albinism. But I don't think it's offensive to make an Albino doll, anymore than it'd be offensive to make a doll with Scoliosis (something I suffer with), nor would I or my partner about a doll with Asperger's (something HE suffers with). I think it's more offensive to say these dolls SHOULDN'T be portrayed, and it's more offensive to try and voice their opinions for them. Of all the people with Albinism I've known, or any physical disorder, they'd prefer for it to be seen as a normal thing that was portrayed in every day life. If everyone was USED to seeing different people, no-one would stare and give them odd looks. It's almost like saying you shouldn't have gay dolls if you're not gay.

Not all Albino's have red/pink/blue eyes, either. This is my Albino gecko:
http://i.imgur.com/lmRBFst.jpg

 

This sounds really interesting. I'd love to see one. White dolls can be quite stunning when pulled off correctly.

 

I love albino dolls, I'd love to own one