Skanky New Barbie Making Waves

[als463]

Usually DS puts the news stories on here but, I didn't see this up. I went on AOL and found this story regarding a new Barbie. This is from Mattel's new "Back to Basics" collection.

http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/05/2...k-to-basics%2F


People are upset that this Barbie is going to be a bad influence on young girls. My question is: Did these same people NOT see the Bratz dolls? It started out as an issue with how busty and skanky the new Barbie is yet, if you look below at all the comments, you might be a little disgusted at how people have viewed this issue. Thoughts?

[IrishLake]

my thoughts are that Barbie has looked way skankier in other outfits.

[agzg]

To be honest, it's the parent's responsibility not to buy these things for their children if they don't feel they're appropriate. Princess doesn't need every Barbie ever created.

Also, there are a lot of trampy Barbies out there - this is not the first and it will not be the last.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by als463

Usually DS puts the news stories on here but, I didn't see this up. I went on AOL and found this story regarding a new Barbie. This is from Mattel's new "Back to Basics" collection.

http://www.bvblackspin.com/2010/05/2...k-to-basics%2F


People are upset that this Barbie is going to be a bad influence on young girls. My question is: Did these same people NOT see the Bratz dolls? It started out as an issue with how busty and skanky the new Barbie is yet, if you look below at all the comments, you might be a little disgusted at how people have viewed this issue. Thoughts?

There is quite a possibility that I may not have deemed this newsworthy.

Do me a fave tho, just because I don't post it doesn't mean you have to preface the article with what I usually "do" or "don't do".

I'm not in charge of the N&P board so have at it !! It's a free board.


Now...looking at the link itself, it reads more like someone's blog post than an actual news story, so looking at it from that POV, it's not newsworthy.

To the question itself: Let the dollars do the talking, if any parent with a little sense decides not to buy the doll now, guess what? You won't see it come Christmas. This is not a big deal.

You want to talk controversial dolls, you may want to read this from last year:

[chickenoodle]

^ IrishLake, agreed.

I really like some of the outfits Barbie is wearing, but I don't think they are appropriate for young (4-11) girls. Barbie was always about playing pretend. Flight attendant, dog walker, mermaid, etc. are perfectly acceptable images for young girls to imitate. However, many young girls look up to Barbie and I think dressing Barbie in a plunging neckline and sheer skirts will encourage her young fans to dress inappropriately a lot sooner than they ought to.

Also, it seems to me these particular Barbies look skinner than past Barbies.

[groovypq]

Originally Posted by als463

People are upset that this Barbie is going to be a bad influence on young girls. My question is: Did these same people NOT see the Bratz dolls?

Just the name Bratz annoyed me.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

There is quite a possibility that I may not have deemed this newsworthy.

Do me a fave tho, just because I don't post it doesn't mean you have to preface the article with what I usually "do" or "don't do".

I'm not in charge of the N&P board so have at it !! It's a free board.


Now...looking at the link itself, it reads more like someone's blog post than an actual news story, so looking at it from that POV, it's not newsworthy.

To the question itself: Let the dollars do the talking, if any parent with a little sense decides not to buy the doll now, guess what? You won't see it come Christmas. This is not a big deal.

You want to talk controversial dolls, you may want to read this from last year:

Don't be mean. You ARE the unofficial news person.

I agree about letting the money do the talking. There are a lot of inappropriate kids toys, including some video games, and parents need to decide what to purchase.

However, the toys are also a reflection of shifts in societal norms and values, and how perceptions of children change. Kids' toys are all about gender (with a hint of sexuality and sexual orientation).

[LatinaAlumna]

I expected to see something a lot worse.

I'm not even sure your average little girl would choose this Barbie over the more "pretty princess" looking models. Some of the dolls in the picture look a little "goth," and may be something preferred by Barbie collectors (who knows).

Barbies have boobs and there really is no way to hide them. This is no worse than some of the bathing suits or bikinis she wears. And many of the outfits on the other dolls looked fairly conservative.

[33girl]

I had Malibu PJ (aka Barbie's cool stoner friend) and the swimsuit she came in was WAY lower cut than that, as well as practically see through.

[als463]

It made me think when it was brought up in the article that we are a society that gives people like Paris Hilton and the Kardashian sisters their own shows based on their sex appeal. The fact that the show Basketball wives was mentioned made me smile, too.

[honeychile]

As someone who used to collect Barbies, the whole problem is that Barbie is named after Ruth Handler's daughter. Any image of the Barbie or Ken dolls (Ken is Ruth's spawn, too) is usually shot down fairly quickly.

Just because a bunch of "stars" have bad self images until they get plastic surgery doesn't make it right. Barbie can do better - but the best way to express your opinion is to simply not buy the doll.

[als463]

Originally Posted by honeychile

As someone who used to collect Barbies, the whole problem is that Barbie is named after Ruth Handler's daughter. Any image of the Barbie or Ken dolls (Ken is Ruth's spawn, too) is usually shot down fairly quickly.

Just because a bunch of "stars" have bad self images until they get plastic surgery doesn't make it right. Barbie can do better - but the best way to express your opinion is to simply not buy the doll.

Good point. I agree. I still don't get why Barbie showing cleavage trumps the Bratz dolls on the skanky meter.

[tld221]

Barbie has looked way smuttier in other outfits. proportionally, IRL she'd be almost 9 feet tall and topple over from her 39FF chest. Her proportions are completely unnatural.

Barbie's clothes, typically are made in these bright/neon/glittery materials. If Barbie is really supposed to be grown and sexy, hot pink stilettos, a silver glitter mini and yellow halter (snapped together at the neck with a square of velcro) doesnt really reflect that.

I'm a little confused why the line is called "Back to Basics" and why "Busty Barbie" was an acceptable name, from a marketing standpoint. Basics, to me, seem more like the stuff Skipper would wear - capris, sneakers, etc. I feel like this line would appeal to Barbie/doll collectors, since the clothes for this line looks more designer/cutting edge.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by tld221

I'm a little confused why the line is called "Back to Basics" and why "Busty Barbie" was an acceptable name, from a marketing standpoint.

I think that's just what the media is calling her.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by tld221

Barbie has looked way smuttier in other outfits. proportionally, IRL she'd be almost 9 feet tall and topple over from her 39FF chest. Her proportions are completely unnatural.

Barbie's clothes, typically are made in these bright/neon/glittery materials. If Barbie is really supposed to be grown and sexy, hot pink stilettos, a silver glitter mini and yellow halter (snapped together at the neck with a square of velcro) doesnt really reflect that.

I'm a little confused why the line is called "Back to Basics" and why "Busty Barbie" was an acceptable name, from a marketing standpoint. Basics, to me, seem more like the stuff Skipper would wear - capris, sneakers, etc. I feel like this line would appeal to Barbie/doll collectors, since the clothes for this line looks more designer/cutting edge.

Also not sure why anyone would complain about Barbie's boobs at this particular stage in the game. Old news much?