|
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."
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.
Although there are realtively few formal portraits of boys with dolls, they do exist. We have noted them in several countries, including America, England, France, Germany, and most other European countries. We notice images of boys playing with dolls both before and after they were breached. We have not yet noticed any particular national trends associated with these images as to whether dolls were more common in certain countries than other countries. At this time, all we can say is that the practice looks very widespread throught Europe. It was perhaps not as common in America, but that is only an initial assessment.
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. A French reader tells us, "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." As an American boy in the 1940s, I never had a doll, but I did have a very dear teddy.
We are unable to quantify the extent to which boys played with dolls. It does seem that genderlines on dolls were not as distinct as we once believed. There are also avariety of factors that probably influenced how common this was. There may have bbe chronological factors. There also certainly were differences between countries.
We also believe that a variety of family factors would affect to what extent and to what age a boy might play will dolls. HBC believes that boys raised with older sisters would be more likely to play with dolls. Similarly girls raised with boys would be more likely to play with boys' toys and take an interest in sport. Also a boy meing raised by a widowed mother might be a factor. Boys being schooled at home or othewuise having limited contacts with other boys would also be a factor, especially as boys approached school age. Some mothers might even have incouraged it. We doubt if many fathers did, however, many fathers in the 19th century tended to view the raising of young children as their wife's province and did not intervenre. 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.
Except for the younger boys, HBC suspects that most boys preferred other pass times than playing with dolls. Here we suspect that toy soldiers were much preferred by most boys. Toy soldies were a very popular boys' toy throughout the 19th century. There were beautifully made toy soldiers. Some of the most popular were lead soldies that were hand painted. These were a far cry from the cheap plastic soldiers that modern boys are given. Although we will grant, that while toy soldiers might be extensively played with during the day, they were not the type of toy a boy might take to bed with him.
Boys like aduklts, of course, or endlessly different. Some boys do like playing with dolls. A teacher tells us, "Dressing child dolls is as you say not their scene. However a little boy in 2nd grade does enjoy this activity. He is a very imaginative boy and the activity helps him to be in the past as well as the future. This was the last year he could do this. By third grade the other boys began teasing him."
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to Main doll page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Photography]
[Topics]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossaries]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
