I highly recommend Patricia Evans’ books on Verbally Abusive Relationships, and Controlling People.
Basically, when kids get dolls, they understand that they are projecting their daily issues onto the dolls. They get to dress up the doll and put their worries on the doll and do all these things with the doll. When they do that with people, typically other younger kids, they are then taught that people aren’t to be treated like dolls. People aren’t an extension of our selves. Thus, women tend to be socialized to have better perspective taking skills, and if they need an outlet for this type of behavior, they can use dolls or the Sims etc as a healthy outlet.
I highly recommend Patricia Evans’ books on Verbally Abusive Relationships, and Controlling People.
Basically, when kids get dolls, they understand that they are projecting their daily issues onto the dolls. They get to dress up the doll and put their worries on the doll and do all these things with the doll. When they do that with people, typically other younger kids, they are then taught that people aren’t to be treated like dolls. People aren’t an extension of our selves. Thus, women tend to be socialized to have better perspective taking skills, and if they need an outlet for this type of behavior, they can use dolls or the Sims etc as a healthy outlet.
It’s not the same but boys of my generation did play with superhero / military dolls, and some of the play scenarios could get quite elaborate.
But I suppose the dolls didn’t represent regular everyday people, so there was less playing with domestic or relatable scenarios.
Interesting, gonna add to the list of things I should read
Ooh fascinating, thanks for explaining! I’ll look in to her writing.