Can Boys Play With Dolls?





Today's post is dedicated to all of you out there that have a significant other in your life that might have a teensy-weensy  habit that annoys the livin' crud out of you.  Are you reading this, hubby?  I am making a general statement here.  Of course, you do nothing that annoys me....well, there is that one thing but we will talk later.


The other morning I happened to catch an interesting, weird, freakin' bizarre story that I thought I would pass along just on the outside chance you missed it. A British mechanic, Bob Gibbons, has a collection of dolls. Not just any dolls, but the life size, anatomically correct "love" dolls.  Bob has 240 of his doll friends living in his Manley, Hereforshire home that he shares with his wife Lizzie.  (while reading this, when you read the word love, read it as LLLOOOOVVVEE. It is way funnier that way.  Try it...I was right wasn't I?)

As annoying habits go, ole Bob might take the prize here.  Gibbons, the father of two, said he started his collection 10 years ago when he saw a mannequin that "caught his eye".(Bob, why are you making eye contact with a mannequin?)

 Bob said he liked the way she looked but wanted something more realistic. He found his first "love" doll, Beverly,  on the Internet for $4000.00 US and bought it.  Other dolls soon followed.  The prices have ranged from as low as $48.00 to one that cost $11,202.00.  (That particular doll, Jessica, must really be something special)

Now, I know you are wondering, my blogee friends, what is Bob doing with the girls?  What? You weren't wondering?  Well...I was and it turns out I was wrong.  According to Bob, he has never been interested in his dolls "in that way".  (call me doubtful)

Some of his normal  (not normal really,  more like routine) activities are having afternoon tea with them, taking them for drives in the country, and  having his picture taken with them. He also, takes a great deal of time with the help of his wife, bathing  and dressing the dolls.  They require a lot of care.  According to Bob, he and Lizzie are quite "fussy" about how the dolls look. (article also said he talcs them after their bath...say what???)





Really??? Just hanging with the dolls? 

While I thought maybe Bob and Lizzie were a bit nuts, eccentric, it seems that they aren't alone in this type of collection.  David Hockey, a Nova Scotia film maker started a similar collection of "adult" dolls and did a documentary called, All Dolled Up. David traveled all over the US, Canada, and England interviewing collectors of "adult" dolls. Hockey is quite impressed with Bob and Lizzy's collection. In fact, he believes it to have significant historical (his word, not mine) importance and thinks it would make a great traveling display.
(does this prove the theory that freaks travel in herds?)

This gives a whole new dimension to the  debate whether about if it is good for boys to  play with dolls,
doesn't it?



This did remind me of the cute clip that Marlo Thomas did about a small boy wanting a doll.
The album Free to Be You and Me, was a classic when my kids were small and I loved the messages for teaching kids values, respect etc.  Lately, there have been a couple of brouhahas about gender roles in children. The uproar about the J Crew ad showing a mom painting her little boys toenails for example.  In my estimation, a lot of over reacting but none the less....Here is a video of the William Wants a Doll from The Free to Be You and Me album.  Still a wonderful message.




The Good for the Day...Our world is such an interesting place with interesting inhabitants.

The Bad for the Day...Some people are less interesting than they are weird.


The Weird for the Day...That someone would spend nearly $12,000 on a doll.