Not exactly a Golly thread?

[smoggii]

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My little girl received Lois (but in a different dress) in the above pic for her 1st Birthday yesterday. Grandad bought her because she is a lovely hand made dolly in a beautiful dress. PIL said that these dolls come in all races and are just lovely.

I held my tongue said thank you for the gift and decided to do some googling before making my mind up what to do.

I am fundamentally opposed to Gollys, they enforce racist stereotypes from a bygone era and i don't care how nostalgic people feel about them, i don 't think we should return to a time when they were considered acceptable.

So i've looked at the website and they appear to do a range intended to depict different races but, all seem to be enforcing racial stereo types and one of the black dolls is called Golly.

I'm happy for my little girl to play with all types of toys (providing they are not offensive) and none of the dolls are a true representation of what humans look like but it's the fact that this one is so much like a Golly that you immediately think of them when you see it.

AIBU to hide it away. I don't want to chuck it because I think PIL bought the dolly because of the quality and didn't think about it. They are not remotely racist (unlike my own parents who say they're not but are).

Or should I accept that this is not a Golly but simply a black rag doll?

howlongwilltheynap This dolly is from an Australian company so they may be from the same place.

'It's just a black doll' its actually pitch black though isnt it? if they were different shades of brown then it would be different i think. oh, and if they weren't called golly's of course.

can't believe people still think they're ok.

I read your title and OP with 'Oh get a bloody grip' going through my head, but then I opened the link a YADNBU. They are hideous. And most definitely not just black rag dolls- they're clearly intended to be golly wogs.

I don't find the Louis doll offensive, although the ones dressed like Gollys are offensive. However, I think I would not be happy for my dc to take the doll out, as I would be worried OTHER people would find it offensive - and the last thing I would want to do is offend people. So I would probably keep it, but not let her take it out. And maybe use it as a chance to talk about race and racism if appropriate.

We have a tintin book with some racial stereotypes in it, and I explain to my ds that the man who drew the pictures was a bit wrong, and we talk about it.