Do you think dollhouse objectifies women?

[cousteau]

Admittedly, I've been reading what is possibly one too many feminism sites that reads way too much into the world of fiction (the clue being in that sentence), but still. Interesting to ask. Does dollhouse send a message that all women are whores that need to be used and punished? does it endorse prostitution? does it devalue women in any way, shape or form?

[kernel_thai]

No. Dollhouse objectifies everyone. Its more about socio-economics than gender. Dollhouse is about scumbags across the board. The reason women seem to get the brunt of degradation on the air is the demographic the show is trying to appeal to: males 18-45.

Dollhouse is an equal opportunity slave society. It has male dolls as well as female tho it would be interesting to learn the percentage. I have seen no evidence that the men r treated any better than the women.

Its a show about a corporation, Rossum, that has no qualms testing its new tech on human guinea pigs. It also has no problem with making huge sums of money off this illegal operation which I guess goes back into R&D.

It's about subjects (dolls) who seem to be recruited either by taking advantage of tragedy in their lives or economic disaster. These subjects r rewarded financially for their 5 year participation but there has been no indication that the full range of their activities were ever explained to them.

The management of the dollhouse seems to treat their charges like property rather than paid test subjects. The techs (ie Topher) treat the subjects like simpletons, constantly making sarcastic comments that they know the doll can neither understand not take offense to.

Is the whole concept offensive to women? Sure is. It's offense to everyone.

[Hopefulsuicide]

I wouldn't say it's objectifying women... it's a show that is stating that men and women are objectified by people, especially those with money and power. It's telling that story.

For it to be objectifying women, for me, it would have to be not acknowledging the fact that it is. I mean, if it were without the prostitution issues, then it would just be a bunch of pretty people in skimpy outfits with big guns and easily controlled brains... and THAT would come across very objectifying

But the fact is, the central storylines are usually about men who have hired a doll so that they can use them as a sexual object... so the show is telling us that this is a moral taboo.

[Welling_is_pretty]

I voted for "no more than other shows". From the beginning they played up the sexy that is Eliza and Dichen (and the other women) but turning the Dolls into "objects" is also what the show is basically about (whether they are men or women).

We haven't really had a taste of the men being objectified (Ok, except for Victor and his "miss Lonelyhearts" engagements) so mostly it does seem to be the females.

[hansioux]

I voted for "no more than other shows". From the beginning they played up the sexy that is Eliza and Dichen (and the other women) but turning the Dolls into "objects" is also what the show is basically about (whether they are men or women).

We haven't really had a taste of the men being objectified (Ok, except for Victor and his "miss Lonelyhearts" engagements) so mostly it does seem to be the females.

I don't think just because there are guy dolls as well as girl dolls, being "equal opportunity" makes it less objectifying woman as others suggested. If it objectifies both, then it objectifies woman.

That said, I don't think Joss or the show objectifies woman just because there are sexual missions. The show does not try to make the case for these things to be ok or normal. In fact, all the protagonists of the show thinks it is a horrible thing, and try to bring down dollhouse.

Dollhouse explores dimensions of real life in a exaggerated setting like most scifi stories. Just because a show has prostitute in it does not make it pro prostitution. In fact I think Dollhuse is set out to challenge our views on such matters in real life. Because unlike the fictional dolls, some people does this sort of things because of power play and money in real life, and choose to be dolls in real life.

If program has holocaust in it, doesn't make the film pro-holocaust. But if it is about glorification of holocaust, then it's pro-holocaust. No one would call Schindler's List pro holocaust. I don't get the "wiping people's minds and objectifying them is a good idea" vibe from Dollhouse either.

[ginnyfan]

Uh I don't know that it sets negative gender stereotypes, but it does objectify women... and men. I just read the forum title. I mean it's called DOLLHOUSE. LOL!

I think it is more than other shows because... of the premise. Because the DOLLHOUSE operates to fulfill the fantasies of anyone with enough money, there is no context. It distills lust and objectification in a way that other shows do not because they are in the context of the characters lives. But it's really... kind of a superficial difference because when we watch other shows... we are the dollhouse customers. While watching Dollhouse it's kind of a play within a play. These clients aren't watching TV or Movies or Porn they are actually renting brainwashed humans in living out their fantasies. *sigh*

Why am I watching this again, self?

[kernel_thai]

One of my complaints (where is that list) is that season one was about how scummy the Dollhouse people were. Season two seems to be saying theyre just misunderstood. Its like the people who operated the death camps in WWII saying they were just following orders.

[hansioux]

One of my complaints (where is that list) is that season one was about how scummy the Dollhouse people were. Season two seems to be saying theyre just misunderstood. Its like the people who operated the death camps in WWII saying they were just following orders.

Judging from 204, I don't get how the show is saying they are just misunderstood. The characters themselves can justify it anyway they want, and it isn't necessary what the show is conveying. The show itself is just exploring human nature. Because when most people aren't really given a choice, they do tend to justify it by saying they were just following orders.

In the latest episode (and the greatest dollhouse episode yet), it is made clear that though the people in charge of the LA branch might delude themselves thinking they have their actives best interest at heart, the fact of the matter is dollhouse is a shady institution, and the people in charge were put there because of their own shady nature, regardless how much they like to think that they are doing good.

And just because the show is called dollhouse doesn't mean the show is for objectifying people. It's merely a way for people to think about similar situations in the real world from a different perspective. And if the concept of something like a dollhouse is very repulsive to some, it's good. The show is showing you that real life equivalent of dollhouse is equally repulsive, no matter how much propaganda is put out there to justify/glorify it.

And it isn't limited to porn or prostitution either. I think they are about to go a bit into military reference with the Victor flash back. People sign on to serve for a certain period because you believe in the cause and that our leaders has the nation's best interest in heart. What happens when it is not what you think things should be but you have to serve it anyway.

There are a lot of things worth exploring. And the dollhouse creates a context where these things can be discussed without being too close to home to the real world references. That's what Scifi is about, to me anyway.

[ginnyfan]

There are a lot of things worth exploring. And the dollhouse creates a context where these things can be discussed without being too close to home to the real world references. That's what Scifi is about, to me anyway.

*sigh* Good point.

A while ago my friend explained to me that Dollhouse is a classic scifi "what if" show using future fictional technology to explore human nature.

I still don't ... it's just hard for me to have fun watching this show. It's hard for me to enjoy exploring the seedier side of human nature without any clear uncompromising heroes to latch onto. I guess Echo and perhaps Boyd.


One of my complaints (where is that list) is that season one was about how scummy the Dollhouse people were. Season two seems to be saying theyre just misunderstood. Its like the people who operated the death camps in WWII saying they were just following orders.

I feel that jolt the most with Topher but... I like that there are two sides to every coin. And even if you are ... a horrible person from one POV, that doesn't mean there's not someone else even more depraved than you, or lines you won't cross or as... hansioux says, a way that you rationalize your behavior so you can sleep at night.

I'm not saying the show is bad. There are a lot of excellent things in the writing and the execution it's just... it grosses me out. Often. It's a brothel a lot of the time. It really is. With brainwashed prostitutes. *shudder* :\ So I can see why some women are repullsed and angered. *shrug* Turning the channel is always an option.

You know, it's kind of like the Matrix. Why doesn't being used by batteries and then eaten by your fellow humans gross me out as much as this?

[Hopefulsuicide]

I really don't see how season 1 was about how scummy the Dollhouse was... personally I don't think any of the characters have been shown to be immoral... just very compromising, especially Adelle. They don't mind the fact that they are sending people off to have sex, but they each have their line they won't cross.

[hansioux]

I really don't see how season 1 was about how scummy the Dollhouse was... personally I don't think any of the characters have been shown to be immoral... just very compromising, especially Adelle. They don't mind the fact that they are sending people off to have sex, but they each have their line they won't cross.

In season 1 I really thought Topher doesn't have that line. I am glad to see him change in this season.

[borednow]

No. Dollhouse objectifies everyone.

Thank yoU!

[fresley4ever]

I don't think so. It seems to go after everyone equally.