Girls' Toys: The Doll


Figure 1.--We would guess that this is a family snapshot as the children all have identical dolls. We are not sure why the one boy has long hair, perhaps he is a little younger than his btother. This American photograph is undated, but we would guess was taken in the mid-1910s. We believe that boys most commonly played with dolls when they had older sistes.

The doll is one of the most important children's toys of all time. Archeolgists have found dolls that children played with in ancient civilizations. The doll has been most popular with girls, but boys also played with them. HBC has used dolls to help identify the gender of children in old photographs. Usually a doll meant that the child was a girl--especially in formal studio portraits. There were, however, some exceptions. HBC had assumed that most boys, even in the 19th century, would want no part of dolls. Subsequent reserach has discovered, however, that some boys did willingly play with dolls. It appears that genderlines on dolls wre not as distinct as once believed. Few details are avialble but HBC believes that boys raised with older sisters would be more likely to play with dolls, especially if they were schooled at home. Some mothers might even have incouraged it. Similarly girls raised with boys would be more likely to play with boys' toys and take an interest in sport. Also boys in orphanages might play with dolls as the orphanages sometimes accepted donations and the boys might have few other options if dolls were donated.

Image Interpretation

HBC has used dolls to help identify the gender of children in old photographs. This is of course necessary because many boys in 19th century photographs had long hair and or wore dresses and other skirted garments. Usually a doll meant that the child was a girl. As with most of the indicators we have developed, this certainly was not a perfect rule. We have noted numerous photographic images of boys playing or posing with dolls. Many of these images are early 20th century images, family snap shots taken with the new Kodak Brownie. Formal 19th century studio portraits of boys with dolls are much less common.

Historical Eras

The doll is one of the most important children's toys of all time. Archeolgists have found dolls that children played with in ancient civilizations.

19th Century Dolls

The dolls has been found in virtually every civilization, including the Egypt amd other ancient cultures. There were many types of dolls available to 19th century Victorian children. Toy and doll-making had become quite developed, especially by the late 19th century. Dolls came in many different sizes. Some dolls were very realistic and could be quite common. They are collector's pieces today. The most realistic and expensive dolls had heads made of wc, celluloid or even porcelin. These expensive dolls were usually dressed as adults with beautifully tailored clothing. The celluloid dolls were very attractive and popukar--but also flamable! There were features such as the eyes closing when the baby was laid down. Many families could not afford these expensive dolls and even some that could, limited how the child played with them. Poorer familie could afford the many lessexpensive dolls with heads made of papier-mâché. There were also cloth dools. Although less expensive, they were loved by the children with the same intensity as an expensive porcelin doll--perhaps more. Some cloth dolls had the face drawn on it. There were also faceless dolls, used by the Amish people. Even slave children mght have dolls, ones their mothers might fashion from a corn cob with a piece of fabric wrapped around it. Some might be more elaborate with carved wooden heads.

Girls and Dolls

There can be no doubt that little girls love dolls. The daerest possession of most little girls was and probably still is a treasured dolly. This is in part little girls love to emulate the darest person in their lives--Mommy. and baby dolls allow them to play Mommy. Some girls used their doll as a special friend. Often little girls were encouraged in his by their mothers because it helped to learn the caring and parenting skills that they would need as mothers. This may not be as prevalent tpday in our modern PC world, but we suspect that it is still a factor. Even today little girls continue to devote their affectiin on a favorite dolly and are much less impressed by the electronic games and fads like Pokeman which so fascinate boys. Girls also love stuffed animals, but for most girls it was a special doll that took pride of place in her small world.

Boys and Dolls

One of the interesting aspects of working with HBC is the learning experiences afforded We here at HBC had assumed that most boys, even in the 19th century, would want no part of dolls. Subsequent reserach has discovered, however, that this not always the case. Many very young boys played quite willingly play with dolls. A French reader writes, "Many European boys in the 19th century had a cloth dolly, even boys without sisters. This was true in France and Germany and probably others European countries as well. Until World War I (1914-18) it was quite common for boys to have a doll. At this time boys very often had a cloth doll. My godfather had had one, perhaps my father too. It is easy to find early 20th century boys photos of boys with dolls. My brother in the 1940s was unable to sleep without his teddy. Untill 10 years old he needed it!) Myself I stopped at 4-5 years old , but quite often I played dolls with a little girl after coming at home for school. The doll and teddy are essential for the children. They can't live without."

National Trends

We do not yet have detailed information on dolls in various countries. Girls in virtually all countries played with dolls from time immemorial. We are less sure about Muslim countries with their prohibitions on depictions of living thongs ain an effort to discourage idoloty. We note dows in countries around the globe. Certain countries are particularly noted for producing dolls (America, Englnd, France, and Germany). These are the major industrial countries which developed important toy industries. Thus many portraits of children with dolls are if dolls made in other countries. America imported many dolls from France and Germany in the years before World War I. Certain companies were especially well known for producing dolls and are prised by collectors today. We are just beginning to collect images from different countries to learn about the popularity of dolls and doll play in different countries.

Play Styles

While many 19th and early 20th century boys did play with dolls we suspect that the play style was different than girls. Here we do not have any actual evidence and can only speculate. We doubt that boys were as enamored with doll babies and wanting to care for a baby doll. We think that boys were probably rougher on their dolls. This was probably one reason boys were normally given cloth dolls. Also the way boys are holding their dolls in many images suggest that many boys had a different attitude toward their dolls than girls. It may have been the companion aspect of a doll that was most appealing to a boy. A French reader writes, "To sleep, a boy needed his doll or teddy." A best as I can remember, this is what appealed to me about my Teddy in the 1940s. A French reader writes, "On the image here one can see a boy with his cloth dolly. He is proud and wants to have a souvenir of his companion. It's sure he has never play with it alike he did with their other toys, but used it alike a precious element of his life. Our French reader writes, "It is essential for a baby boy or baby girl to have a companion ( in french one says : un compagnon ). The young child needs the doll for sleeping, in case of sadness, in the street , ect. It is not a toy for him, but realy something more important . By this way a child don't realy play with his companion; He speaks to him, cuddles him; and keep it near to him in difficut situations. From the deep of the time, that was perfectly understood. That had been so and never will change. So all little girls and little boys have a companion. The little girls can have several dollies for playing. The little boys have many sort others toys. What sort of companion? In the past time, they were doll of cloth. It could be made by the mother. Later, are coming in force the famous teddy . Recently many other sorts of stuffed animals companion; according to fashion trends. How long a time does a child need a companion? Each child can have different feeling ... untill 3 ... 4 ... 8 ... years. My brother in the 1940s had one until he was 10 years old. What must be said, let's do what is natural. To day in France we don't fun of a boy 10 years having his teddy on his bed. Conclusion: Don't confuse a companion and a toy of children."

Young Children

A French reader tells us that babies and toddlers have an instinctive desire for dolls and teddies. He maintains that babies are born with this instinct to have their mother close to them. They also want a permanent companion that does not change and that they can rely on. It is for them something reassuring and helps the younger child confront his unknown world. And what can be better than a sweet little human (doll) or an adorable little animal (teddy)."

Teddy Bears

The Teddy Bear appaered in 1902. There were stuffed animals before the Teddy Bear, but none were nearly as popular, especially for American boys. The Teddy Bear became a major item in other countries as well, although the chronology varies from country to country. Gender detinctions over toys, especially dolls, became much more rigid than before the War. I am not sure why this was, but we note that clothing and styles also became more destinct which boys no longer being outfitted in dresses and having long hair. Even before World War I (1914-18), American boys were generally given teddies rather than dolls and it becomes much less common for boys to play with dolls, even very young boys. A French reader reports that this also happened in France, but after the War, "The " nounous " / teddy bears became more common. Later (teddy bears) became more popular for boys."

GI Joe

It was the Matel Toy Company that finally broke the doll barrier for boys when they created G.I. Joe. Apparently a doll in a uniform and engaged in warfare was quite acceptable.

High Schools

One interesting use of dolls in highschools is to give teenagers an idea of what is involved in having a baby. The students in the class have to carry around a baby doll for a set period of time.

Personal Experiences

A German reader tells us, "As a kid in the mid-1980s, I used to have a boy doll, too. There was also a girl doll, but I liked the blond curled boy better. He was called Billie. I played with them until about age 4-5 years. The girl doll being made of cloth was red-haired. One of my aunts gave it to me and I named it after her--Uta. But since you couldn’t remove its clothes I did not like it that much. Billie for instance I carried mostly around by his hair or undressed and redressed him. I barely fed or talked with him I guess. Both dolls lay in a baskets, Billies with a white-blue dotted pillow and blanket."







HBC





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Created: April 20, 2000
Last updated: 1:03 AM 1/24/2009