Male Dolls - Hot Under the Collar

by Pam North

	It has been a long journey for mainstream male dolls. Older doll collectors will remember when male dolls were limited mostly to those that accompanied the bride as wedding cake toppers, and those “men” were simply female dolls with painted short hair. Even innocent kids knew that men didn't have a curvy bosom. Later improvements included a masculine head and chest, but underneath the molded trunks there was no hint of any male gender. Barbie's Ken came on the scene in 1961, again rather innocuously portrayed, and he soon sported his own fashion wardrobe. Ken's somewhat murky relationship with Barbie reflected a shift in men/women dynamics, as Barbie 's existence as a star female in her own right often overshadowed Ken's secondary importance. Hasbro's G.I. Joe, introduced in 1964, combined male musculature, articulation, and military macho, pushing things up a notch, and in the process making dolls acceptable as a toy for boys' amusement. Anatomically correct baby dolls also came on the market, to the shock of some parents who were not prepared for their small tots to learn about gender differences via their playthings. In 1977, Gay Bob was proclaimed as the first openly gay doll, packaged in his very own closet from which to emerge. Fast forward to 1997, when  Gay Billy was introduced, and subsequently a variety of other dolls that paid homage to every level and nuance of maleness imagined, entwining fashion and fantasy into the mix as well. The lid on imagination and daring had come off the box, and the sky was the limit.. Now there are even pricey life-sized and lifelike sexed male “dolls”. At last men have been allowed to be men in the doll kingdom.
	Overall, male gender representation in dolls has metamorphosed, finally letting it all “ hang out”, so to speak. Starting from complete omission of the physicality of the male gender, to simple recognition of their difference, sexuality is now acknowledged and emphasized. Even at this stage of the game, some people are still appalled, while others delight in the liberation. Today's male doll can encompass any variety and degree of sexuality, intellect, and culture reflection. Sensuality, androgynous beauty, ambivalent sexuality, and gender-bending tease the senses and social mores as prime components in many of  today's  astounding array of male dolls. To add to the whimsy, a complex, full-fledged persona often is wrapped into a doll's presentation, giving it its own unique character. 
	Just how much farther can male dolls go? Articulation has expanded to many more joints, adding to the naturalness of poses a doll may assume. New materials continue to be developed for bodies, eyes, and wigs, all adding to the beauty and realism that may be achieved. Countless themes await for inspiration. All of these can be combined for new heights of artistry. The world of ball-jointed dolls are where it's happening in the doll world, and what fun it will be to see what delights are waiting in the future.