The reborn doll phenomenon has fascinated collectors across Brazil since the early 2000s. This otherwise relatively obscure hobby is now pumping hot water into a rolling fryer of controversy, division, and withering legislative scrutiny. The backlash hit its zenith on June 6. Unfortunately, that same day a man hit a four-month-old baby believing the child to be a highly realistic reborn doll. The episode ignited passionate debate throughout Brazil. Consequently, legislators filed nearly 30 bills, some seeking to determine the destiny of such dolls.
Isabela Kalil, an anthropologist and political scientist at FESPSP University. In particular, she wants to use the figurative microscope of this extreme criticism of reborn dolls to uncover broader societal ills—particularly those rooted in gender and mental health. The legislation introduced would stop reborn dolls from ever receiving a dime of public medical care. It also bans them from using such dolls to obtain preferential treatment in access to public services.
The first impulse of the typical web user these days is to look for the thing to scream at. Welcome to hell on earth, comments Chico Barney, both providing a window into increasing commentary over the smoldering former community.
Reborn dolls— or, as the community calls them, simply reborns— are hyper realistic dolls that are painstakingly created to look like real babies. On May 24, a phalanx of collectors met in São Paulo, creating an enchanting parade of their love for these artful machines. Depending on the complexity of the dolls, they can take weeks to finish with prices from £200 up to £2,500.
Creativity and artistry
Artists such as Larissa Vedolin, or Emily Reborn, show us that these dolls are more than just play things. Instead, they epitomize fine artisanship and artistry.
“I have always known they were dolls and have always treated them as such, and today I understand the amount of love and work involved in making one.” – Bianca Miranda
As beautiful as their artistic contributions would be, the reconstituted community is met with fierce opposition. Kalil contends that the legislation effort’s motives are political. In response to the growing controversy on the right, right wing lawmakers are rushing to introduce knee-jerk legislation. “If a topic is trending, these politicians will propose laws about it even if they make no sense,” Kalil states. She points to the current political climate as a factor for this focus, particularly in the wake of political uncertainty following Bolsonaro’s impeachment trial.
It looks like the wave of criticism against reborn dolls was brought on by societal beliefs about gender. Kalil’s finding points to a pretty amazing double standard. Adult men can collect action figures or play video games without judgment, but adult women are judged for participating in these same passions. “Adult women are not allowed the luxury of entertainment,” she asserts.
As tensions increased, collectors such as Vedolin have received violent threats online. “I’m receiving daily threats through social media,” she reveals. The emotional and reputational backlash has worn on those in the community who feel demonized or scapegoated for what they love.
“I know artists who have been crying all day because they can’t bear to open their social media and be insulted on every video and photo they post. And to me, this reaction boils down to hate – people just want something to hate,” – Larissa Vedolin
The once-again-established community is still trying to figure out where they went wrong with fostering these bad vibes. As some members passionately attest, their leisure pursuit is more about fostering creativity and artistic expression than psychopathy or death metal incitement. Their goal is to raise awareness among the public about the dedication that goes into reborn doll crafting.
The reborn doll backlash fits perfectly into the larger context of society’s war on gender nonconformity and mental illness. Kalil makes the case that this debate is an example of our impulse to pathologize women’s desires. The controversy over reborn dolls exposes a more insidious problem with the way our culture perceives femininity and female-adjacent leisure activities.
Though the debate over reborn dolls continues in full swing, eager collectors are undeterred from diving into a new world of cuddly companionship. The artistry that goes into it moves audiences across the country. Those who value the history, craftsmanship and technical expertise behind these awesome machines are uniquely captivated by them.