Muslim Barbie??
 

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2003/EDUCATION/...razanne.ap.jpg

Muslim doll offers modest alternative to Barbie

LIVONIA, Michigan (AP) --At first glance, this new girl on the block doesn't give Barbie much of a run for her money. After all, Barbie is everything Razanne is not -- curvaceous, flashy and loaded with sex appeal.

But that's exactly why many Muslim Americans prefer Razanne, with her long-sleeved dresses, head scarf and, by her creator Ammar Saadeh's own admission, a not-so-buxom bustline.

For Saadeh, the doll not only fills a marketing void but also offers Muslim girls someone they can relate to.

"The main message we try to put forward through the doll is that what matters is what's inside you, not how you look," said Saadeh, who set up NoorArt Inc. with his wife and a few other investors.

The Livonia-based company, founded about seven years ago, sells the Razanne doll and a number of other toys geared toward Muslim children.

"It doesn't matter if you're tall or short, thin or fat, beautiful or not, the real beauty seen by God and fellow Muslims is what's in your soul," he said.

Razanne has the body of a preteen. The doll comes in three types: fair-skinned blonde, olive-skinned with black hair, or black skin and black hair.

Her aspirations are those of a modern Muslim woman. On the drawing board for future dolls are Dr. Razanne and possibly even Astronaut Razanne. There's also Muslim Girl Scout Razanne, complete with a cassette recording of the Muslim Scout's oath.

What sets Razanne apart from her few competitors is that she "holds a global appeal for Muslim girls," Saadeh said. That image encouraged Mimo Debryn, of West Bloomfield Township, to buy the doll for her daughter, Jenna, four years ago.

"Razanne looks like the majority of women around Jenna," said Debryn. "She loves that doll and always took care of her, giving Razanne a special place in her room, treating her with respect.

"Jenna never tried to take Razanne's hijab (head scarf) off, though Barbie was usually stripped naked," she said as her daughter, 11, curled up on the couch and smiled.

Global appeal
In the United States, Mattel, which makes Barbie, markets a Moroccan Barbie and sells a collector's doll named Leyla. Leyla's elaborate costume and tale of being taken as a slave in the court of a Turkish sultan are intended to convey the tribulations of one Muslim girl in the 1720s.

"It's no surprise that they'd try to portray a Middle Eastern Barbie either as a belly dancer or a concubine," said Saadeh, adding that countering such stereotypes was one of his main aims in developing Razanne.

Mattel didn't respond to repeated calls seeking comment.

Laila, the Arab League's answer to Barbie, offered girls of the league's 22-member states a culturally acceptable alternative to Barbie's flashy lifestyle. But she never made it to store shelves. Sara and Dara were launched a couple of years ago -- Iran's version of Barbie and her beau, Ken. The two were offshoots of a children's cartoon in Iran.

But Saadeh said those dolls are more "cultural and don't have mass appeal in the Middle East."

Saadeh hopes to capture that market. Razanne will soon be marketed in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and make greater inroads in southeast Asia.

The doll is sold throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore and Germany. Saadeh would not reveal the doll's sales figures, but he said retail sales over the company's Web site account for a majority of the almost 30,000 dolls sold per year.

Prices range from $9.99 for a single doll to $24.99 for a set like Teacher Razanne that includes a briefcase and other accessories.

Saudi Arabia's religious police recently declared Barbie dolls a threat to morality, complaining that the revealing clothes are offensive to Islam.

Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries likely would be attracted to Praying Razanne, who comes complete with a long hijab and modest prayer gown.

Lest people think that she's all about praying, there's In-Out Razanne, whose wardrobe also includes a short, flowery dress she can wear inside the home, in view only of men in her family.

"Razanne represents to Muslim girls that they have options, goals and dreams and the ability to realize them," said Debryn.

Jenna, who recently donned the veil after much soul-searching, said Razanne makes her "feel more comfortable about being a Muslim girl."



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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

thats retarded. i hope bill gates buys all these dolls and burns them

burn it!!!

-Rudey
--She needs boobs and revealing clothing.

Hey I think it's great! Granted it probably won't be a lucrative product, but the principle of it appeals to me.

All little girls need a figure to identify with. If this doll helps, then good!

I'm with you, thats one of the gayest things I've ever seen.

I'm sorry that you guys find this so "retarded" and its sad that you think that. Just because the doll does have huge breasts and blonde hair doesnt mean you should knock it.

Every little girl does need something they can relate to and just in case you havent noticed. Most of the world doesnt look like Barbie.

Rudey, Imthachamp, and cashmoney, made me laugh. THANKS!

All girls need a hottie to look up to. I don't want to find a girl i like who is traumatized in her youth and becomes homely.

-Rudey
--Eww!!!!

You're too funny!

So if they made a little miniture Peter North so that boys like me could relate, there'd be no problem?

I bet they do knock them. ;)

I think you meant "DOESN'T have huge breasts and blonde hair".

what kind of doll is this?!!!

I guess that every little girl needs to have a doll that reflects her heritage.

Does the male version come with four wives & an oil well?

Guys, is this really necessary? I know there are a lot of stereotypes about Muslims, but geez. Like some have said, if little girls identify more with this doll, then what's wrong with it?

Quote : Jenna, who recently donned the veil after much soul-searching, said Razanne makes her "feel more comfortable about being a Muslim girl."


I'm not knocking the doll, great idea!

My question is: How many 11 year olds could even tell you what soul searching is much less have done any by their 11th birthday?:confused:

I think it's a great idea. I mean they have other Barbies from other countries like Norway, Poland, and Holland and no one pitched a fit over those. So why not have a Barbie that looks like she's from the Middle East? It's not a big deal. Come on guys! Just because there's a war going on in that region doesn't mean that culture doesn't exist! I don't understand why people are getting their boxers, briefs, and panties in a wad.

I totally agree with you on this. I don't believe there is anything wrong with dolls that reflect, especially in the sense of looks, a particular ethnicity or heritage.

This doll is no different than the American Girl series or Barbie's friends.

OAN,

i don't know too many 11 year olds who's soul searching extends beyond things like which scrunchie to wear or the next episode of Lizze McGuire. But hey, some kids are more "advanced" than others, I guess.... :p :cool:

BURN THE DOLLS!

Do they really? I've never heard of them. I always thought they just had black barbie and white barbie.

it makes sense to give the girls an idea that is relevant...

Hey, I'd get my kid this doll, and I'm not even Muslim! I dislike Barbie. She's fakey and stupid. BOOOO

To call a doll "gay" because it gives girls a decent role model within the context of their culture and religion is really juvenile and unintelligent. Of course I expected such from you. If you think the dolls are stupid or whatever that's fine. You are totally allowed to respectfully express your opinion. But all the stereotyping and racial comments should stop (mods u agree???). And here's an FYI: not all Muslims come from the Middle East nor all "brown people". I'm as WASPy as they get, so please don't be so quick to assume anything. Thanks guys!

At first I was kinda like, WTH??? But after thinking about it, I think it's a good idea. I'm not Muslim, but if I were I'd want my kids to have one. There are tons of different types of Barbies out there, so why not make one for Muslim children?

[hijack]

I'm not going to go into detail here, but one of my pledge sisters was executed by her Muslim husband for disobedience, and since they were living in a Muslim country, he was not prosecuted. In fact, he is considered a good family man. One of the ways I could come to grips with this tragedy is by reading several books on Islam, both scholarly & anecdotal.

I highly recommend the books Princess and Princess Sultana's Daughters to those who want even a small look at Muslim life for women in Saudi Arabia. Muslim girls are much more aware of the meaning of the veil at a very early age. I recommend these particular books because they are an easy read, not anti-Islam, and autobiographical.


[/hijack]

My studies are specifically in the Middle East and Islam. I know the tragedies happening in the Middle East towards women, but that doesn't mean we can't respect those women. Every region in the world has a past, present, and future that's not so perfect (not that I am condoning these actions on anyone's part). Mattel has made Barbies to honor the cultures of other countries. Heck, they have a German Barbie in traditional German clothing and we're not knocking that. There's also an Italian Barbie in traditional clothing (ding ding: Moussilini). No, it's not a Nazi uniform and we're not trying to replicate Osama bin Laden here. The Barbie is just putting these Muslim women at the forefront of marketing. This is what Muslim women "look" like and I am using that phrase loosely. It's not degrading to these women who were born into Islam or who have chosen that lifestyle.

I wonder if they will decide to make a Muslim "Ken" or Muhammad. If they do, what accessories will they make for him?

To those of you with a brain, thank you. And I'm sorry about your pledge sister, honeychile. Just please don't blame his supposed faith ('cause apparently he has/had none) for what he did. That's horrible that anyone can even think of killing anyone, much less do it. Saudi Arabia is a blemish on the Islamic world, and anything you hear about them would make anyone biased. But it's sorta like here; the majority of people identify themselves as Christian, but yet we see tons of un Christian behavior every single day. Culture and religion are two different cans of worms that at times get confused. Doesn't make it right though.

ETA: They wouldn't make a "Muhammed" doll because images of him are completely forbidden. I think a Ken doll would be kind cool though :)

and BTW, honeychile I am sorry about your pledge sister because that's not what Islam is mainly about. I have a friend from Saudi Arabia who is very liberal based on everything coming from that region. He is a very intelligent, humorous person and very much Muslim. He is also very kind and gentle hearted. He isn't like the man that killed your pledge sister. He is quite very opposite from that. My friend is only a small portion of the Saudi world and he's rebelled against a lot of stuff that goes on within his country. He's actually been arrested for walking down the road when he was supposed to be at home praying. He was arrested by the religious police (yes, they have those). He's proud of it and he tells everybody.

I was not referring to their supposed prophet. I simply used the name as a general reference. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I thought Muhammed was a commonly used name, somewhat like Jesus is in the Hispanic world. Perhaps I spelled it wrong. I hope my mistake did not offend.

Uhm, I'm going to walk away now.

Hey Mods,

out of curiosity, why was my post deleted?

Burn it!!!

-Rudey
--She should have the burka cover her face with two little holes!!!! You can't show the face!!!! oh my gosh people!

And why was mine? It didn't have any racial comments on Muslims.

To those who expressed their sympathy for my pledge sister, thank you. I cannot give any more information concerning her death because her family wants to see her children, of course.

I did want to emphasize that I was able to find some sort of closure by reading the books that I suggested. I had to realize that she made certain choices that lead to her death, and there's nothing I can do about it. Her last letter to me - smuggled out of the country in a friend's shoe lining - will haunt me the rest of my life.

I don't have a hate on for Muslims, as most of what the religious police do is not part of the Qu'ran. Please realize that.

Oh ok Bethany! No offense taken at all! I figured you were referring to the prophet and not just a general name. And yes it's THE most common male name among Muslims (as a first or middle name). I even have a girl friend whose middle name is Mohammed.

If your post was deleted it was offensive or referred to an offensive post.

-ZA

Why'd you delete the cursing thread? :( We liked it!

-Rudey
--You always hate it when others have fun :(

ZetaAce is on top of things today. How do you ever find the time?

I could only think of one other common Muslim name and it would have been inappropriate and probably offensive. Thanks for the note...