Barbie Doll Controversy
Posted on August 12, 2008
Filed Under Parenting |
There’s a growing flap over a new Barbie Doll. For reasons that escape me, Mattel has decided to dress Barbie in what looks like a “street walker” outfit. Understandably, parents are enraged. What adult in their right mind would want their eight-year-old playing “make believe” with a doll that looks like a hooker? What message does Barbie’s 
“Black Canary” persona send to youngsters?
However, before jumping on the bash Barbie bandwagon, I did a little research. If you read the fine print on Mattel’s website you’ll discover that the Black Canary Barbie is not for kids. Rather, it was designed “For the adult collector.” Isn’t that good news? I know I feel better. No chance kids will be playing with this because it’s for adults, right?
Of course the fact that it’s sold at Toys-R-Us (their website says it’s recommended for “14 years and up”) and is slated to be sold in other major retailers next month, there’s an outside chance it might end up in the hands of a few kids. I can’t say for sure, but that seems like a distinct possibility.
This widespread availability of the controversial Barbie is guaranteed to put parents into a quandary. Imagine shopping with your daughter in the Barbie section at one of the giant toy retailers. Scanning the shelves she spies the Black Canary Barbie. The ensuing conversation might go something like this:
“Look, Mom! That’s the new Barbie everyone is talking about!”
Everyone? This is news. Mom pauses for a moment trying to hide her shock and then says, “Why don’t you pick a different Barbie?”
“Why?”
“Because she’s dress like a . . .” Before finishing her statement, Mom wonders if now is the time to introduce the idea of prostitution to her eight-year-old. Come to think of it they haven’t even had The Talk about sex yet. Where to begin?
“She’s dressed like a what, Mom?”
More hesitation as mom struggles for the right answer.
“Besides, I don’t have that Barbie and I want it” the child says with that all too familiar pleading voice.
Mom finally shakes her head side-to-side. “Honey, I don’t want that in the house.”
“Why not? She looks like Britney Spears–“
Good point. Now what? Frustrated at the way the entire culture seems to be pushing the lines of decency, Mom races to find the right words to express what’s in her heart. Her daughter reaches for the doll and says, “Plus, Mom, all-of-my-friends-have-her. I’ll be the o-n-l-y kid without her.”
Mom knows she’s losing ground fast. There’s no easy win when confronted with the “all my friends” argument. She could dust off the old adage, “Yeah, but if all of your friends were jumping off a cliff would you jump, too?” Somehow that never seems to win the day.
If you’re the parent of a Barbie-aged girl, I’d be interested to know how you plan to handle the above situation. Like it or not, thanks to Mattel you know that day is coming.
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15 Responses to “Barbie Doll Controversy”
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So, what is next? Barbie’s girlfriend? Barbie with a tatto? Barbie with pierced…whatever? Is this ever going to stop? I don’t think it will stop anytime soon. Maybe if parents will just complain a lot louder to Mattel and not buy these kinds of products that will give them the message that parents want their children to stay innocent. At least until their out of elementary school.
I love the Brittany Spears joke.
Barbie is an interesting toy anyway with enough controversy in her dimensions, dating habits, career choices, and history.
May we raise girls who struggle as little as possible with their appearance. I’ve got three girls. I think about this issue daily.
To me having piercings and tattoos is different from dressing in a sexually provocative manner. A tattoo or piercing can be a way to outwardly express a deep personal belief–it can have a lot of personal meaning.
Likewise for scanty dress in some instances, but those are clearly for adults only. I mean, obviously a doll dressed like this ought not be available in kids’ toy stores. My advice for the mother in that example would be to approach the discussion from a positive rather than a negative side… She says negative things about the doll: she’s dressed like a hooker, she’s dressed like Britney Spears, which then becomes a problem for her because her kid probably likes Britney!
I think the mother should instead talk with her child about self-respect, talk about how your clothing and tattoos and piercings and things should express who you really feel yourself to be. I mean, look at those clothes! High heeled boots? Totally uncomfortable, Leather leotard? Hot and sweaty. Ask your daughter when she would wear those clothes, or why she likes those clothes. What is it about the Barbie that she likes? Do the clothes make her feel pretty? Dig deeper, what is it that makes that pretty versus something else?
The mother could speak positively about her own idea of style–why she chooses comfortable clothes, why she chooses to let her beauty shine naturally rather than using tons of cosmetics, why she wears comfortable shoes (most of the time) rather than destroying her arches in high heels. Talk positively about her ideal of beauty rather than negatively about someone else’s. No need to really even get into sexuality at that point. I mean, if you tell your daughter she ought not dress one way because of what someone else thinks? To me that’s the wrong way of going about it.
I’m pretty honest with my two girls ages 9 and 11. I doubt they’d want that Barbie but if they did, I would simply tell them we’d talk about it at home. Or - I might talk about it at home with them before the subject comes up. I’d explain why this Barbie is controversial (because she is dressed like women who walk the streets giving away their bodies to men who will pay for it) and because she doesn’t represent a good role model for girls.
I’ve talked to them before about how we should dress and use our bodies as women. Although it’s sad that Mattel would market this Barbie, as a parent - it’s not gonna scare me off. I won’t ban them from Barbies altogether - just simply converse about why THIS one is a bad choice.
My own daughters are teens, so they aren’t playing with Barbies anyway, but in my experience, the first thing girls do with a new doll is undress her and change her clothes. No, I probably would not buy this doll but I know she would be dressed as a princess shortly after bringing her home anyway! I do wonder about the people who “collect” dolls like this, however…..
Another way the conversation might go is for the parent to see that these dolls are $40 each and shut down the discussion right there.
These aren’t for adults in name only; they’re also priced for an adult collector’s market.
Here is an idea, just don’t buy ANY barbie at all, as all barbies, no matter how they are dressed, promote an unrealistic and unhealthy body image.
Why not follow this controversial Barbie that ought to be taken off the shelves with a few “good example” Barbies?
For instance, how about a “green” Barbie? No, not a Martian Barbie, nor one one with a greenish-toned complexion that makes her look seriously nauseated, but a GREEN Barbie that drives a hybrid SUV and with a wardrobe of modest, loose fitting clothes made of cotton, natural linen, wool, and the latest: hemp fiber. Don’t forget the hiking boots and water bottle. Her doll house could have a roof with solar panels.
Another idea might be a Breast-Cancer Survivor Barbie, sold with several wigs and a booklet on healthy lifestyle and cancer prevention tips, such as good nutrition.
When so many women have suffered (or are suffering) from breast cancer, it seems a little thoughtless that so many media stars and others continue to show–or flaunt–their cleavage thinking it makes them attractive. The plunging necklines are often degrading, as they detract from a women’s overall image and presence.
Going shopping and finding little else but the very low-cut styles of so many blouses and t-shirts on the market right now, you wonder who is designing these things. A lot of women cannot, or will not, wear them.
What about a Religions Barbie, teaching the world’s various faiths with traditional dresses of the Amish, Mennonites, Carmelite Nuns, Orthodox (Jewish or Christian), Hindus, Muslims, and Buddhists? Couldn’t you just see Ken with his Jewish Orthodox braids or Amish trousers and suspenders?
However, it is highly probable that a World Religions Barbie would also stir up controversy, and have another group of parents up in arms, may be even moreso than this Mattel’s contemporary Mary Magdalene-in-black-leather-and-boots model that is the subject of Mr. Daly’s blog.
What a world. Have a nice day.
Um… just say “no, you can’t have that”.
“But why?”
“Because I said so.” Seems simple enough.
Besides, Barbie’s entire history is based on sex. The doll was originally designed as a sex toy for people to act out their fantasies/fetishes. Yet we don’t feel the need to tell kids that every time we pick up a new doll. Nor do we explain those lumps on her chest. Why? Because kids don’t need to know everything about everything. Sometimes they can just be told “No”.
MY DAUGHTER IS A TEEN NOW AND WHIL SHE DOESN’T PLAY WITH BARBIES ANY MORE WE HAD DOZENS OF THEM.
THIS ONE WOULD NEVER HAD MADE HER COLLECTION… I WOULD HAVE SAID NO…. BECAUSE I WOULDN’T LET YOU DRESS LIKE THAT AND NEITHER DO I.
I like Dionna and Anne’s answers.
I would tell my daughter “No, because the Barbie is not dressed appropriately” and then explain what modesty is and why we should dress modestly (if she didn’t already know about that ahead of time).
That would be it. My daughter is not spoiled. She hears “no” all the time when she asks for stuff (I tell her she already has enough toys at home) and she would accept my answer without a fight.
Actually, my bubble-do(hairstyle)Barbie did not mean as much to me as my Poor Pitiful Pearl, Betsy McCall Doll, or Chatty Cathy. These dolls I still have in a trunk. Barbie was tossed out or given away at some point in time.
My little brother had a Raggedy Andy and a Clancy the Clown, which were also more beloved. I think the whole family felt bad when Clancy disappeared.
Whatever happened to good,clean,fun?
“Blessed are the pure of heart….”
Charmaine
Remember the good old days?
http://www.jppatches.com/page1.htm
J.P.’s clowning around was more than a job;
it was a ministry. All who grew up in the Northwest would vouch for that.
However, the fact that the Barbie has become so controversial is a positive sign: people will always want something simpler, with depth-of-cuteness and character. There was an enormous demand for Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch dolls.
Have a nice day.
We stopped buying Barbie dolls for our daughters years ago because of the progressively more revealing clothing, which was totally against our standard of modesty. I was appalled to hear of this new Barbie. It’s just a symptom of our culture today.
My kids got what THEY liked, within reason, NOT what I WANTED them to have, they were boys, and if they wanted a baby doll, they got it. Barbie is seriously overrated anyway>? Too much stereotype about what a “woman” should be.