Grace Carter, & Dr. Rachel Olsthoorn
Dolls and dollhouses are representations of human life on a miniature scale. They can be found cross-culturally and throughout human history. Anthropomorphic objects have been found in archaeological context going as far back as when humans were first capable of symbolic expression. Using these material objects to illuminate larger social constructs, the main question that this study sought to answer is how did dolls and doll houses represent changing sociocultural identity in Europe and the United States? The study examines the marketing and design of these objects and how they have reinforced or shaped gender roles. It also examines the use of these in the dissemination of cultural teachings, domestic roles, and gender ideologies. This research was conducted through both a literature review and an online survey. The discussion of gender has significant importance in today’s world and the transitions that these ideologies are currently undergoing. This research will be useful in highlighting some of the factors that contribute to the formation of gender ideologies, and how these are culturally reinforced, through dolls and dollhouses.