Evan Urquhart

BABY DOLLS: Are they actually for playing with? An investigation.

This thread is utterly fascinating. I'm amab, but my childhood involved a weird amount of exposure to these dynamics in the form of my maternal grandmother (often my primary care giver). She made a living running day care service for a large number of children... continued

And helping out with this endeavor was in many ways my first job (as well as an early realization that my personality was suited towards more feminine codes roles). Anyway, this woman was a singularly disturbed individual.... continued.

She was incredibly neurotic. She had many treasured possessions, which held a place of exaggerated sanctity in her life, furniture nobody could sit on, food nobody could eat, dishes nobody could use, but the crown jewel was a massive collection of baby dolls... continued

They ranged from valuable antiques to crap she bought at walmart the day before, but each one was given special care and value. Her favorites were given the privelege of being carefully posed in her pristinely arranged sitting rooms (no humans allowed)... continued

While the ones who had earned her scorn (I still don't understand how), were placed on display behind glass as punishment. They lined the walls of every room, even the bedroom I shared with my mom and two brothers (which was smaller than the one given to her favorite doll) cont..

She would treat these things better than her own family, who she would mistreat with violence and bizzare humiliation rituals over the smallest offenses. The children she watched were tought to respect the "babies". While the boys were merely expected to mind their distance, cont

...and avoid harming the dolls, girls were treated... differently. They were expected to know their names and preferences. To change their clothes at specific times, to play out the act of feeding and caring for them in just the right way. If they made a mistake... continued