How does your partner feel about your dolls?

My husband has so many expensive hobbies (which, to my advantage, include photography) that it would be really awkard if he weren't supportive of mine xD
Nah, I am very lucky to have him if I'm honest. I'm usually really indecisive and he takes interest and shares his honest opinion on everything I ask from sculpts and bodies to wigs and clothing for them. He says he likes my human-like dolls better than my tiny anthro dolls (though he hasn't been able to give a reason for that xD), but even those he has helped me restring sometimes. Oh, and he has heard me ramble about their stories for hours without running away, so... I couldn't ask for more.

 

I’m older and my partner thinks I’m weird lol. When most people I know see my dolls they think they are creepy!

 

I have a few doll friends I share other interests with as well. As far as my husband goes, we're both RPGers and he and my sons are all tabletop wargamers, so aside from knicking each other's superglue and files and paints and such, he does his and I do mine.

 

My partner thought it was a bit weird at first. Throughout the years he grows more interest. And now he is super supportive.

 

My partner is very sweet about my interests and supports everything I collect. He has his own hobbies and interests (e.g. Warhammer) and I support him equally on those. It's wonderful to have someone to share with!

 

My partner doesn't care about my dolls. He's always curious about new dolls but otherwise doesn't comment on them. But they don't bother him and he's happy that they make me happy.

 

Mine is...scared of the price tag, but knows he can't tell me what I do with my money xD. He's still supportive, and gives suggestions for outfits and wigs and things. Helps me get stubborn taloned bird feet on, or change hands when I need a bit more strength. He went to BJDC Texas with me, and was happy to carry Leander around lol.

Regarding my second BJD, an off-topic cat-taur: "I like this one. It has personality. Leander's just a vampire"

 

i feel like i got way lucky in being in a relationship with a fellow doll collector, it’s actually what we first connected over. she and i both love our joint dolly family now ^u^

 

I saw a few responses mentioning RPG/table-top players + Warhammer enthusiasts and my partner is both! He's fully supportive on my hobby. He sees it makes me happy and might be opportunity for me to actually create something rather than only buy/collect. He's encouraging me to start sewing clothes and do face-ups - he is painting mini-figurines himself. I share with him sculpts I like, show him photos online, discuss with him prior to deciding on a doll etc.

He said a few times that sculpt I find beautiful is off-putting or scary for him but never in a condemning way, and never stopped me from buying a doll I like. He even admires how BJDs are done and move and is interested in more "technical" side of the hobby: joints engineering and types, resin colors, yellowing process etc.

Couldn't be more grateful for having him in my life

 

He's so supportive. He helps me shop for dolls and name them ^_^ he's bought a few for me as anniversary presents and is constantly funding Clothing and accessories.

 

My partner respects that I like dolls, but sometimes he worries about spending too much money. But I appreciate him for going to the doll event together and cheering me to enjoy my hobby.

 

I have to admit... unlike most people posting on the thread, unfortunately my story doesn't have as happy of a situation. My wife struggles with the idea of them. I have been a figure collector since I was in junior high. Things like figmas and Yamaguchi Revoltechs. Later one I started getting into the 1/6 scale figures with Hot Toys, Soldier Story, Medicom, Phicen, etc. This was all fine and dandy for her when we got together (except the phicen; she freaked when she saw that one and made me throw it away). I had wanted a Smart Doll for a good while when we had gotten together but the situation I was in at the time wouldn't allow it. Several years later and we had gotten married and I brought the idea up to her about getting a bjd. She made me feel like pervert or some kind of weirdo for wanting a doll. "A grown man who wants a doll? That's weird!" Though this isn't the wording she used, this is how it made me feel. It took some convincing, but she eventually just let me get the doll. I got a DDs instead of a SmD, but still. I haven't really been all into the hobby since then because my wife doesn't fully accept the hobby. Though it has been a few years now, and she had grown up some more I can still feel the tension there when it comes to the dolls. I told her the other day I'd like to start saving up for another one and she said she was supportive of my hobbies and wants me to be happy, but is still weirded out by the idea of me owning dolls. I'll admit, I think it relates to some self-conscious issues she has. Obviously as everyone here knows, the BJD's we all own aren't exactly unattractive. There's part of her that worries I might replace her with the dolls because they are "prettier" and have "nicer figures"

Wow, that ended up being longer than I was expecting. Still hoping to maybe get some advice from anyone out there willing to respond. Maybe get a few ladies perspectives on here to see if there is anything I can do?

Edit: let me clarify some things. My wife is very loving and supportive to me in pretty much most things. There are the few things that I've really wanted that she has had some issues with in the past, like the dolls, but for the most part is pretty good. When it comes to the dolls, her response is always "I just don't understand it" and then goes into questioning me as to why I want them so much. I have also told her how she made me feel about it in the past, and she said she was sorry she made me feel that way and it was not her intentions, it's just how it ended up making me feel personally. That's when the "I just don't understand it" line would usually come up.

 

My husband is supportive. I have one daughter who likes them and one who is probably more similar to your wife.

 

My current partner is not a fan of the BJDS, and they actually kind of scare him a bit, but he is supportive of the hobby and my interest, which is good. It's okay for a partner to not be into the same hobby as you -- as long as they don't hate on you for your hobby.

 

Thought I'd pop in for a comment on this, as you brought up something that I wanted to talk about. I think a lot of people in this hobby are probably AFAB, or at least that would be the assumption because dolls are a 'feminine' thing (quotes because it's rubbish and anybody can like anything).
"A guy who wants dolls? That's weird!" Is something that I can absolutely understand because toxic masculinity is alive and kicking. I can only imagine the level of vitriol a masculine person can receive for having a doll, as anything 'feminine' is often considered deeply undesirable. I won't get into it too much here, as it can potentially be triggering for people, but essentially I'm not surprised you felt that way and I'm sorry your wife inadvertently inspired those feelings in you.

I think it may be a good idea to have a deeper conversation with her about it. I understand people finding dolls creepy, there's a whole psychological phenomenon with that (human-adjacent objects, uncanny valley, 'dead eye/vacant stare', etc). Your problem seems to come more from the other side, where other expectations/fears are being put onto the concept of owning the doll if that makes sense?
Like thinking it's perverted/sexual in nature, or that it in some way impacts her place in your life, those sorts of things. It may help if you can articulate what it is you like about them. For me, BJDs and PVC anime figurines are pieces of art! I love being able to look at them, and BJDs are even more fun because I can easily customize them, develop characters around them, make things for them, take pictures, etc. If she's struggling to understand and has her own assumptions, the best thing may just to be to educate her on what it really means to you so that she can understand it a bit better.

 

I appreciate thus a lot. One of the problems that we face is that when she asks me what it is I see in them or like about them, I guess I don't really have an answer. For her, to spend this kind of money on something and not even having a good reason for it is also a bit ridiculous. I guess I can understand that. What I should probably do is really sit down and think of what it is I get out of this hobby myself; what I like about it and why I feel the need to pursue it. I'm sure it will give me a little more insight myself too, so I can grow in confidence about it too.

 

My partner does not understand BJDs and the prices make him intensely uncomfortable (he is very frugal with no expensive hobbies, nor does he collect anything), but he's still supportive. He'll gently chide me if he thinks I'm making poor financial decisions- which is a fair concern given my impulsivity- but that's about it. Apparently most of my dolls lowkey creep him out, but he appreciates how enthusiastic I get with them, so he's sweet about it when I show them off to him. He does have one of mine he adores because she reminds him of me (the one in my profile pic!), which is very sweet

 

The Datefriend thinks they're creepy as heck, no matter what size or kind of sculpting, but they also think airplane disaster stories are cool so they don't really get an opinion. It's a little annoying since that's all they have to say and they say it every time they see one of them, but they also know they don't get a say in it at all so we've reached a truce.

 

I think my situation is similar to some responses on here. My boyfriend isn't interested in dolls, but he loves that I have a creative hobby and fully supports me. He isn't creeped out, though he does get a little shocked by the proportions on some of them. Thankfully he's a car guy and fully understands having expensive hobbies. I've asked for his input on some of my designs and ideas for them, and he's definitely made an effort to understand more about my dolls and how different companies construct and market their products.

 

My hubby is very supportive of me in all my hobbies, he says he gets excited that I'm getting excited about something. He's been teasing me a little lately because I'm obsessively looking at them but then he makes sure I know he's joking and makes sure I know he supports me no matter what.

We are going to build our laundry where the toilet is and move the toilet into the big main bathroom, then turn what is currently the laundry into my craft room for my dolls and all things craft! And by "we build" I mean he will build and I will paint some walls lol because I'm not handy with tools. I'm very grateful for how wonderfully supportive of me he is.