A lot of people blame Barbie dolls for the increase in weight-obsession for young girls. Obviously, these girls (or the majority, anyway) are unaware that Barbie's proportions are impossible. But, that was when Barbies were still all the rage--around five years ago. These days, Bratz dolls are the equivalent of Barbies--except they send an entirely different message to the little girls who buy them.
Barbie told us that thin is attractive, it means you're "beautiful."
Bratz dolls tell us provocative is okay too. It's "hawt." It's attractive.
So, that said, if Barbie caused the "Thin Is In" state of mind in our generation, will Bratz dolls cause a "Provocative Is Pretty" (or what have you) state of mind in our younger sisters, the doll's target audience? Barbie is a big factor in the increase in anorexia, bulemia, and weight obsession. Bratz dolls, on the other hand, may be the cause of another issue: promiscuity at a young age. Then, what will that lead to? An increase in pregnancies and rape among young girls? At least Barbie wore decent clothes.
Just a thought.
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The same could also be said (concerning the barbie dolls anyway) about disney and how they give girls impossible goals and expectations about who they will someday be with, happily ever after. Even the princesses are supposed to be the goal for a beautiful body. Disney movies have yet to be promiscuous, but I don't see that as a future impossibility.
The sun is the same in a relative way but your older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to Death. -Pink Floyd
so many factors are to blame for promiscuity in todays tweens and teens. It's so sad to see them surrender themselves completly to it. My 11 year old cousin's favorite song is Buttons by the Pussycat Dolls. It really is sad and disgusting to watch todays females become statistics.
Perhaps the Bratz dolls are only one sign of a larger problem? Thus far, there are firings at such figures as Brittany Spears, or Paris Hilton, for their own ways. Perhaps the Bratz dolls are just the reflection of that --> that the new female expectation is to be slutty, and yet pure.
Thin yet strong? Females are not truly complex; it is society which makes them that way.
As for the Barbie thing, well, I admit that I never got that from them. I had plenty of barbie dolls, but from what I have experienced, it is what I see more in magazines and ads that shows what society sees as "beautiful". And, let it also be pointed out that young girls want to be like older girls --> barbie is a doorway into this. Barbie/Bratz are in their teens to early twenties, they are in pop culture, and they reflect what people see in Cover Girl or Banana Republic ads. Thus, it is like a step towards an attempt to be like that, as the girl does not quite realize that not *everybody* around that age acts that way.
I despise these Bratz dolls. Although Barbies had outrageous porportions and the perfect face, hair, whatever but as you said, they wore appropriate clothing. Eventually, Barbie also was a business woman and took on many different career roles and could be slightly considered a "role model" of a woman following her dreams.
These Bratz dolls are not only provocative, they don't have much going for them other than "hanging out", looking for boys, and even a toy that has them dancing half dressed on a stage shaking their chest and hips! They have too much make up on, lips that look botoxed, mini-skirts, they show their mid-driff, wear clothes that most adults wouldn't even wear, and whats horrible is they are geared towards pre-teens. High-heels and platforms for clubbing.
What breaks my heart even more is that they have "Baby" versions of these dolls that don't look much different!
They are promoting this for children, but what they really represent to me are college girls who spend all their time shopping, clubbing, putting on makeup, partying, and drinking. Their focus is fashion, clothes, handbags, and the latest trend. There is nothing wrong with this lifestyle, but it is not one I want presented to girls before they even understand the other values in life.
Heres a great article for further reading on Bratz:
http://www.davidrowan.com/2004/12/times-magazine-how-bratz-beat-barbie.html
Baby versions? Wow. Thanks for your input.
The way you say "Barbie is a big factor in the increase in anorexia, bulemia, and weight obsession" makes it sound like Barbie is a new thing. She's been around for like, fifty years. I think weight obsession can be better attributed to parental and peer pressure, with media images as a secondary factor.
But, I do find Bratz dolls disgusting. Their message is much more obvious and much more harmful to young girls.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
I didn't intend for it to sound like Barbie is a new thing; however, the fact that Barbie is a factor in those issues are not as obvious back when they were popular as they are now. Also, Barbie is a media image, and I agree, pressure from parents and peers are two of the main factors in the increase of anorexia, bulemia, and weight obsession. That said, Barbie is still a big factor.
Oh, and love the quote. I first read it in my SAT prep book. ^_^
I agree with this post and all of these comments because I think that Barbie dolls, cartoons, etc. teach little girls to be nice to one another and those Bratz dolls teach little girls to be mean, stuck-up, snobbish, etc. because of the facial expressions on those dolls and how they act on their cartoons on TV (yes, they even have their own cartoons on TV).