Research
The Emotional Life of Fashion Dolls
A Research Project on Why Fashion Dolls Matter
Overview
Dr. Erick DuPree is currently conducting research for his upcoming book, The History of Fashion Dolls: From Bru to Barbie, an exploration of the cultural, emotional, artistic, and historical significance of fashion dolls and the people who collect them.
Through surveys, interviews, and collector reflections, the project examines how fashion dolls function not simply as toys, but as objects connected to memory, identity, glamour, creativity, gender, nostalgia, and emotional life across generations.
Research Objectives
The study focused on five central questions:
Explore the cultural, emotional, artistic, and historical significance of fashion dolls.
Understand why people collect fashion dolls and what motivates collecting behavior.
Examine the relationships collectors form with dolls and collections.
Investigate the roles of identity, memory, nostalgia, creativity, and aspiration in doll collecting.
Explore how fashion dolls reflect changing ideas about gender, beauty, fashion, and culture.
Document the lived experiences and perspectives of contemporary fashion doll collectors.
Contribute to the growing scholarly understanding of dolls as meaningful cultural objects.
Methodology
This project used a qualitative mixed-methods approach combining:
Online survey of fashion doll collectors and enthusiasts.
Collection of demographic information and collecting background.
Use of Likert-scale questions to measure attitudes, beliefs, and emotional connections to dolls.
Inclusion of open-ended reflection questions to capture personal experiences and narratives.
Optional follow-up interviews with selected participants.
Qualitative thematic analysis of written responses and interview data.
Findings will inform the development of The History of Fashion Dolls: From Bru to Barbie and related publications, presentations, and educational materials.