Stereotypes in Doll Making

We live in an age where black or white no longer is the only schema. The cultural spectrum demonstrates a true rainbow. For some it is hard to digest or accept. Yet whether you like it or not, diversity is the fabric of God’s design.

As this being the first of many blog entries to come, let me welcome you to the Caramel Chocolates’ Coffee Nook. This section is a forum where your opinions can be heard. You may be asking the question, Why such a serious topic for a Nursery? Yes, this website is dedicated to creating and providing decadent treasures for the diversed collector. A place where one can adopt a beautiful reborn or sculpt doll to cherish for years to come. However, this particular nursery is geared on the percept that decadent treasures come in many shades and many cultures. Here the stereotypes are ignored in order to allow anyone to find a collectible that they can love.

Stereotypes…are ugly little monsters that often promote devaluation and demoralization. Too often we are caught up with the perception that we fit into certain categories. The sad thing is most of us do not realize that we play into stereotypes. As an Black American female I am suppose to look one way. A Caucasian female is supposedly a certain type of characteristic and etc.

Well we all do not look the same. We all do not behave in the same manner and we do not think or feel the same. Each of us are unique with a special ness that can be shared with others.

I decided to speak about this issue after receiving a critique from fellow artists regarding a reborn I’ve done. They commented that I need to work on his lips because they were a little orange, after looking I agreed that was an area I needed to improve. They also commented that I should change the color of this light brown baby boy eyes from green to brown because there was too much contrast. Upon reading that, I must admit the critique got under the skin for me. Don’t get me wrong, these ladies were doing nothing more than sharing their opinions on what would make this particular reborn look beautiful; but, in the back of my mind I wondered do they feel that all children of African descent have brown eyes and that should be displayed in the doll? I recalled other commentary in which an artist struggled with making an “Ethnic” Baby’s hair straight. She felt all “Ethnic” babies’ hair was coarse and curly. After seeing pictures of Black babies with straight hair, the artist admitted that she didn’t realize and apologized profusely because she thought she may have offended someone. All this is to say that again, we come in various shades and hues.

Realizing that stereotypes exist even in the world of doll making, I felt the need to provide a vehicle in which the shades can come off one’s eyes. Thus, I’ll share my opinion to why it is important for one to become aware of not only their values and beliefs, but the worldview as well.

For today, I wanted to provide the definition of stereotypes:

Stereotypes can be defined as perceived impressions that may be exaggerated or preconceived ideas about a particular group of people or culture that is generally determined on physical appearance and other attributes. A major concern on using stereotypes to shape our way of thinking is that many times it is:

• Simplistic and rigid
• Overgeneralized in that it does not truly represent the individual or group being type cast
• Utilized as a way to enhance one's self-identity (consciously or unconsciously)
• Major contributor to prejudice and discrimination
• Blocks an individual from truly getting to know others or the world they live in

The difficult thing about stereotypes is that we all, myself included have used them. It is something that is learned early in childhood. It is ingrained so deeply that it is hard to resist relying on it to identify with other groups or cultures. There is good news though; the more aware a person becomes of how they use stereotypes to make conclusions of how a person should be, the more a person has an opportunity to change his or her way of thinking.

It's what we call becoming "Critical Thinkers." Anyway, now that I have vented, thank you taking a moment to read my thoughts. I look forward to having more conversations with you in the future.

Peace & Blessings!

Comments

[sdfafds]

that girl looks like a zombie

[GeenaMae]

Reborning dolls is a great way to express our individual view of the world and the people that populate it. There is something about babies that is timeless and universally-appealing. That "captured innocence" is what makes reborn dolls so fascinating.

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Great idee.. I was just wondering what to do with my aged and too dry to split and scrape pods. tim welsh