Barbies are bad!
By bhbirdie6
@bhbirdie6 (1765)
United States
October 21, 2006 10:19pm CST
I think Barbies really help to contribute to the idea that girls should one specific type of figure when it's just not possible. It's a business that is based on impossible stereotypes.
4 responses
@Tanya8 (1733)
• Canada
25 Oct 06
I agree with the comment about Bratz dolls. I always thought Barbies were unrealistic, and potentially harmful, but Bratz seem 100X worse. I have one hidden in my closet, that someone wanted to give my daughter for her birthday. I was going to give it away, but I can't justify giving it to anyone else for a gift.
1 person likes this
@bhbirdie6 (1765)
• United States
25 Oct 06
I definetly think that Barbies have an effect on the way that younger girls start to perceive body image.
@baileym11 (887)
• United States
25 Oct 06
Really? I guess I never really looked that closely at Bratz dolls. I'm not a fan of Barbies though. All those dolls make the female body image worse.
1 person likes this
@Dara_momto4 (842)
• United States
25 Oct 06
My daughters (9 & 7) will ask for Bratz and I've told them no. I've explained that I don't think the dolls are appropriate for them and why.
1 person likes this
@Dara_momto4 (842)
• United States
25 Oct 06
I don't mind Barbie too much, but I absolutely loath the Bratz dolls.
1 person likes this
@bhbirdie6 (1765)
• United States
25 Oct 06
Thanks for the comments. I think they've been very insightful. I agree with you on the Bratz dolls... the very fact that they are named "bratz" says something about the values they are selling...
@sillygirlsd (959)
• United States
25 Oct 06
Have any of you ever played with Barbie's? I know I have and I believe your statement is so wrong! I never thought of being like barbie. If you make that stereotype then maybe you should stereotype every single toy out there in the market!
@bhbirdie6 (1765)
• United States
25 Oct 06
I played with Barbie's as well and I think the effect it may have is more on a subconscious level. I don't think it's so obvious as "look, Barbie is pretty, I want to be like Barbie". I simply think that it shapes the way younger children start to think of beauty and I think that shaping can be negative.
@cuddlebug79705 (2003)
• United States
22 Oct 06
Yes, I agree. I think that Barbies should be made with more realistic figures. Girls aspire to be like their beautiful little dolls and that is just not a healthy body weight.
