How do you feel about barbie dolls? - Page 3

[serenbat]

but like I mentioned earlier, I see Barbie as part of a bigger problem with marketing idealized beauty to girls and women.

I really see this as going both ways- I see lots of people that are into "natural" toys, they are marketing them just as well, I know some people that must have every thing "natural" and green (even if it is really green-washed) and they are buying into just the same way

All wood and that message it sends freaks me out----I'm not into cutting down a tree and the message that sends, we are into recycling--there is a lot of old plastic out there and I would far rather use it and re-use it than send the so- called natural message all the time.

As far as the doll, I think it is the same as with friends, you can only pick so far--you may not like her body or her "stuff" but in the end your child should be the one to pick what she finds beautiful, even if you don't like it. None of the alternative have ever taken the market share, and given the choice they seem not to pick the REAL dolls over Barbie.

as was said, I do know natural Barbies with big tops and skinny everything else, they have NO eating issue/body issue and they are real and people to look up to shame they always seemed to get dumbed into the "Barbie Hate Thing"

beauty is in the eye and not everyone sees eye to eye---------mostly true for mothers and daughters

[2xy]

Originally Posted by ThisCat

I see Barbie as part of a bigger problem with marketing idealized beauty to girls and women.

I do understand where you're coming from, but if that sort of beauty wasn't already ideal, the marketing wouldn't work. Come on, now....what woman do you know who wouldn't love to get rid of the cellulite on the backs of her thighs, her baby pooch, and have perky boobs...?

Barbie was born from mainstream society's standards of "ideal" beauty...she didn't create them.

Originally Posted by ThisCat

I know it might come off as uptight to worry about stuff like this or it might seem like some sort of old school feminist idealism, but I just don't think I can go through my daughter's childhood just letting everything slide lest I appear controlling. There is crap out there I just want to minimize for as long as humanly possible.

Same here. It's just that my kids have never owned or been offered a toy that I found offensive. I think many toys are shoddy or stupid, but I'm not the one playing with them. If a stuffed animal in the shape of an ear of corn (with a face), gotten for $0.50 from a giant claw machine in an arcade makes my kid happy, who am I to tell him it's a dumb toy?

Really, the only toys or books that would unsettle me would be ones of religious nature. But still....we would talk about them and my kids would have the opportunity to play with/read those things if they wanted to.

[ThisCat]

Originally Posted by 2xy

I do understand where you're coming from, but if that sort of beauty wasn't already ideal, the marketing wouldn't work. Come on, now....what woman do you know who wouldn't love to get rid of the cellulite on the backs of her thighs, her baby pooch, and have perky boobs...?

Barbie was born from mainstream society's standards of "ideal" beauty...she didn't create them.

No, she didn't create the ideal, but she's still part of the problem My daughter thinks everyone including herself is beautiful right now, and I'd like to keep that going as long as possible. The thought of her ever feeling bad about her cellulite, baby pooch, or less than perky boobs brings tears to my eyes. She is just so innocent about it all at the moment, and it's a beautiful thing. I know just avoiding Barbie as long as we can isn't going to solve the problem, but I don't see how it can hurt.

Originally Posted by 2xy

Really, the only toys or books that would unsettle me would be ones of religious nature. But still....we would talk about them and my kids would have the opportunity to play with/read those things if they wanted to.

I think that's a great approach for an older kid. Right now though, I feel more comfortable just keeping things I find inappropriate away from my kids. At this age, that's pretty easy. They don't know they're missing anything. They're not in school, they get limited media, and most people who give them gifts know what we like and don't like.