Barbie, Bratz, and Bling (I Blame Paris Hilton)
08/06/2006
Staying in a hotel during our vacation meant we were without TiVo and the bazillion episodes of Bugaboo friendly, commercial-free shows we’ve saved. So my boy was stuck with full-strength Nickelodeon. Since I was unable to fast-forward through commercials, we watched several ads for toys that I didn’t even know existed.
Clearly, there’s a big marketing catfight going on right now between doll divas. I’m speaking, of course, of the Bratz Forever Diamondz girls and Bling Bling Barbie and friends. You can almost hear those Bratz tease, “Bring it on!” and the Barbies’ retort, “It’s already been broughten!”
I was taken aback at the sight of these dolls and the extent to which MGA and Mattel are fighting in order to win the hearts of little girls. Obviously, the Barbie camp at Mattel feels threatened by MGA’s Bratz doll empire--as well they should. Consequently, they’ve created their own competing line of dolls that have larger heads, huge eyes, big lips, tiny noses, and gobs of sparkly makeup.
I’ve got to say, the whole big-head-tiny-body thing really chaps my hide. It reminds me of how the malnourished Lohan-Duff-Richie-Olsens sometimes look when they’re posing on the red carpet. What could these anatomically distorted and out-of-proportion dolls do to a little girl’s body-image ideal? And does anybody care?
Now for the bling! (And the exclamation points!)
Bling Bling Barbie is “dripping in faux diamonds,” “blinged out from head to toe and ready for fun!” Her cell phone, and makeup are jeweled up, too. And here’s the kicker: she comes with a girls’ ring that contains a real diamond.
But in case you didn’t know, “Diamonds are a Bratz best friend!” Each Forever Diamondz Bratz doll includes “Real diamond jewelry 4 U!” -- a ring, a bracelet, and a necklace
Bling Bling Barbie is said to be appropriate for kids three and up, while the Bratz Forever Diamondz doll is for girls as young as six. I beg to differ. These dolls have a look that is decidedly Beyonce-meets-streetwalker. They’re simultaneously glamorous and skanky. And to my knowledge, skank is not a quality to which little girls should aspire.
If I had a daughter, I’d want to pinch off the head of a toy company executive.
Will marketers ever stop telling girls that a woman’s value is based on the sum of her body-baring designer clothes, bling, hair extensions, lip injections, and synthetic boobs? And do we really wants to propagate a culture in which people with no discernable talent whatsoever, who make no positive contributions to society, are adored for just being rich and “hot,” a la Paris Hilton?
As for who will win the battle of the blinged-out diva dolls, I have no idea. Except that the Bratz have ginormous noggins. If head-butting is allowed, Barbie will be down for the count.
9:08AM
Comments
Maria Says:
Somewhere back in my archives I have a post about meeting Ms. Hilton. I think it is titled Our Little Paris.
As a grandmother of a six year old, I too hate the concept of Barbie and the Bratz. However, look how long Barbie has been around. So as long as folks buy there will be Barbies and other like products.
I recently looked at a Girl Scout catalog and was happily surprised at the new approach to healthy living and the "can do" attitude.
Came by way of Michele on a beautiful Sunday morning.
Florence Forrest Says:
My life size cloth doll Lilli doesn't do bling. She's more into contempory arts jewellery, and also she has to share with me. lol
As a maker of toys, I find those bratz and barbies sad. I like my Lilli&Tom dolls better, nicer people - creative and community minded.
here via Michele's
xx
Courtney Says:
I HATE those dolls. They are damaging to girls. I don't usually get up on my feminist soap box, but those dolls make me crazy. And one of my friends has bought her 9 and 11 year old daughters all of them!
Here via Michele today.
SurferDude Says:
Give me a break! What's the world coming to? I long for the "innocent" days of my Six Million Dollar Man action figure. Just a little "bionic bling" for me! Keep up the great posts! Here via Google.
april Says:
My sister just missed that age ... she proclaimed herself "too old for Barbie" about the time all that started, with Bratz etc. Makes me oh-so-happy.
A real diamond? How expensive are these toys? Here via Michele's, and now mourning my future children's existance ... :)
Lazy DaisyLazy Says:
Wow, I have grown girls and had no idea. I do remember thinking at a toy store recently that their weren't any "pretty dolls" anymore. I so agree with you about promoting distorted body images to young girls. Great post...Michelle thought so too.
Michelle L. Says:
Thank goodness my little one has no interest in these kinds of dolls...yet....but even if she does, I will not allow the skank dolls nor the probable transition to the skank clothes. Hopefully she will continue to love her Dora and Care Bears.
Glad you are off vacation and back to blogging! I need my Surcie fix:)
Sheryl W Says:
SO SO SO SOOOOOOO well put ! Those dolls are a hideous display to which we are forcing our young to stoop to. What ever happened to teaching about "money and looks don't matter that it is what is in your soul that counts". These dolls make me want to lock my kid in a box and never let them into real society, my girls and my boys. I don't want my girls thinking those images that mattel and Bratz are smothering the girls with is attainable for most. I also don't want my boys thinking trashy is attractive, kwim?
Pieces Says:
I'm happy to say that I was also unaware of the big-headed competition. I'm trying to keep my little girl well away from stuff like that. Fortunately she's still content with her My Little Ponies. Maybe she'll just skip over the whole Bratz thing.
Very well put. Especially since I agree with everything you said.
Nicole Says:
I am so with you on this...
Barbie's standards have certainly plumetted over the years (and they weren't that great to begin with) and don't even get me started on the Bratz.
I always wonder what can be done about things like this.
Kathryn, dym Says:
All I have to say about this is UGH! TV shall be banned forever at my house and maybe your blog too. Laylee was cuddling with me while I read some blogs and she is now obsessed with the "pretty dollies" on your site. She doesn't want me to keep typing. She wants me to scroll back up. Step off Barbie and the Brats, you ain't welcome in this house.
Jess R Says:
A few years ago I helped my mom with her annual church "Christmas Candle" project, wherein people buy the gift items listed on paper candles for families in need. I actually bought one of the Bratz dolls requested by a kid. Now I wish I'd bought her a watercolor set instead.
mrs mogul Says:
WOW! I was a Barbie girl so I admit I probably would have wanted the bling bling one. It's kind of funny..how about GHETTO BARBIE? Did they make that one yet?
Melanie Says:
LOL! My daughter went through a brief Bratz phase, and all I can say is, thank God that's over! Now if only I could get my boys to quit building machine guns out of legos!
fauve Says:
As the mom of a 4 yr old girl, I must admit that I have no interest in "pinching off the head of a toy company executive."
I would, however, like to smack every single parent who has ever bought their daughters one of these 'toys'. Toy company's only cater to demand. That is their job. Parents who perpetuate this anorexic shallow crap in their children are the one's who aren't doing their jobs.
Carmi Says:
SURCIE ASKS: Will marketers ever stop telling girls that a woman’s value is based on the sum of her body-baring designer clothes, bling, hair extensions, lip injections, and synthetic boobs?
CARMI RUMINATES: In a word, no. If there's money to be made, ideals unfortunately seem to take a back seat.
SURCIE ASKS: And do we really wants to propagate a culture in which people with no discernable talent whatsoever, who make no positive contributions to society, are adored for just being rich and “hot,” a la Paris Hilton?
CARMI POSTULATES: No one, at least on the surface, would admit to wanting a culture that fits this description. But then the capitalist ideal/ethic comes into play. And all bets are off.
Nicole Says:
You got me thinking and I just posted about a similar topic on my blog.
Suzanne Says:
man, it's like you crawled into my head with this post...I am soooooo against those dolls. I have a 5 year old whose friends all have "BRATZ parties" where they get together, dress up like Bratz and bring their dolls to dance and play with. It's positively frightening. I will never allow her to own one. We did borrow one so I could show her WHY I believed they were inappropriate. It's hard to be a mom who stands against the tide. But we have to, we just HAVE TO.
Suz
http://suzannebalvanz.blogspot.com/
Linda Says:
Did you know Bratz dolls FEET come off? Not the shoes, but the ENTIRE foot - kind of scary, if you ask me. We don't do Bratz, or Barbie, or even good old baby dolls...my girl's not into dolls, just bears, thank God!
starlitkate Says:
I have to admit-I have bought my daughter the Bratz babyz!! Tho, I find somethings about them trashy like the way too much makeup and clothes-I still think they are absolutely cute.
And no I don't let her play with what she wants, or let her get her way or watch what she wants. But she loves these dolls. In her innocent 4 yr. old eyes they are just dolls that are cute and with cute accessories like their baby bottles.
I'm not too fond of some parts of their movie but it is cute. And for those of you that don't let their child play with barbies-that is just absolutely cruel. To a child they are just that-a doll!!
I don't agree with everything about the dolls but they are really cute and will let my lil one play with them!! Now when they start putting thongs or 2 piece bikinis on Baby Bratz then I will have a change of thought!!
The comments to this entry are closed.
kenju Says:
AMEN! My granddaughters have those dolls and I just hate seeing them! Skank is definitely IN, these days; in dolls, in Hollywood and in little girls (whose mothers don't watch how they dress). I hate to see what the next big trend will be.
Michele sent me.