There's A New Realistically-Proportioned Male Doll

The traditionally "ripped" male doll has officially gotten a makeover: the male Lammily doll, complete with realistic body proportions, is the newest iteration in the movement toward a more body positive society, and I am so, so here for it. This past January, Barbie made headlines (and TIME magazine covers) for her more "realistic" redo. The truth is that the original Lammily doll was actually released beforehand, back in 2014, and came with customizable acne, bruises, and cellulite to boot. It's hard to say whether the Mattel developers took a cue from Lammily or if the body pos movement had just gained enough momentum at that point to speak for itself. Either way, the message is reading loud and clear: we want diverse, honest, positive representation of all bodies, and this is at the very least a good start.

As for the new Lammily male doll, artist and researcher Nickolay Lamm utilized the proportions of an average 19-year-old for the mockup of his new dolls. Each "Boy Lammily" comes equipped with a casual outfit, a storybook pamphlet, and an online passport option so you can actually name him yourself. The project is currently at the center of a crowdfunding campaign, and patrons will get to vote on what the doll does: whether he's an athlete, entrepreneur, or whatever else.

Barbie dolls of all sorts have traditionally been held on a pedestal of attractiveness. Whether this is just something that's ingrained in our minds from idealizing them as children, or whether they really represent what the idealized human being looks like, they're a pervasive cultural force, without a doubt. It would be unfair, and even factually incorrect, to argue that the social pressures men are held to are as terrible as the ones women are held to, but it is absolutely worth nothing that body image is a universal concern. Everybody battles themselves on this front, and everybody has to reconcile, at one point or another, that they do not in fact look like the widespread beauty "standard" in media (which enough exposure to would convince you is the norm).

All of this to say: it's amazing that men's body positivity is becoming something we talk about, too. As Lamm himself said in the fundraising video: "Back in high school, I decided I really wanted a six-pack... I exercised myself to exhaustion and got so skinny that I just didn't recognize myself anymore. And I know I'm not the only one to have this type of experience."

The project is currently at the center of a crowdfunding campaign, and patrons will get to vote on what the doll does: whether he's an athlete, entrepreneur, or whatever else. If you'd like to buy a Boy Lammily for yourself, you can back its fundraising campaign: prices start at just $17.

Images: Lammily (1); YouTube