#which is EVEN bigger bolder against saying doll is 'forced' to be so nice but i digress

[katyspersonal]

This is what I keep saying! OP, this is such a good post! If Gehrman was oh-so-repulsed by masculine women, then why WOULD he teach Maria to be badass to BEGIN with? If anyone was to know what Maria would be comfortable wearing it is him!

Needless to mention that Japanese media often does the trope of "woman acts and dresses like a man to be taken more seriously in the male dominated field", and I remind you that the only other CONFIRMED female Old Hunter (aka hunters of Gehrman's type) is Gratia - a very brutish woman, so lines up. Alternatively, female version of Cainhurst Knight outfit is kinda too pomp and arguably impractical (just look at that tiny cute hat instead of elegant male ribbon), so maybe Maria was more modest and less completely removed from femininity. If creators wanted to imply she is ultra super GNC - would not Doll wear cozy pants and shirt? They do not hesitate to make masculine women bold - but description said 'the girl idealized Gehrman', not 'the female hunter that styled herself after a man'. It could be a FAT hint that Maria wanted to impress him - something Gehrman regrets, and he immortalized sweet and soft side of her that he ruined in image of Doll; the side we know Maria HAD, as she cared about patients and ended up not being able to stand the weapon. Nightmare, as Hell suggest, forever trapped her in the image of the ruthless hunter that took part in Fishing Hamlet massacre that torments her. It is a tragedy, not a "flex on sexist dudebros that are scared of masculinity".

With all that speculation aside, putting a doll immortalizing her in cute cozy clothes that are (oh the horror!) feminine certainly was not because Gehrman disliked masculine women, ffs. He put a lot of warmth in them, and also the warmth he was feeling caring for Maria's hair ornament was so strong that it made the Doll cry tears of JOY for the first time! Would "being a misogynist creep" do THAT? Grated, "his curious mania" is a translation mistake anyway 🤔

TLDR; OP I'd send you $5 if international transfers were still possible for me because you are too based and made my evening! But for now just accept my metaphorical handshake pls

I saw this post the other day that I can't seem to refind, but it mentioned that when Gehrman created the doll, he makes her in the image of Maria but strips her of a lot of her non-gender conforming appearance. But if you think about it for a while, it makes a lot of sense why Gehrman wouldn't put the Doll in a hunter outfit. Because Maria being a hunter is what led to her experiencing the awful Fishing Hamlet, and eventually dying. Gehrman probably regrets ever teaching her, or letting her come along on that mission. It's also worth mentioning that he did love/care for Maria because of who she was and not what she looked like. When the Moon Presence brought the Doll to life, it didn't act or think like Maria because the Moon Presence can't just take her out of the Nightmare (or doesn't want to, but trying to analyse the actions of Great Ones will give you a headache). Also the whole Mourning Doll thing. Seriously, just look them up.

TLDR: Gehrman was a Personality man.