Why doesn't anyone like Barbie or Bratz?

[Starearedkid]

I never really cared for Barbie. Even when I was little-my mom used to buy me Barbies because that is what you did with a girl-and they rarely got touched. I actually wasn't a doll person. I liked CPK, but most of the things that I enjoyed were more "action figurish" or "stuffed animals" I loved He-man and She-ra, MLP, Care Bears, Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake.

I actually remembering wanting an American Girl Doll-I think Samantha or Felicity, but I was too embarrassed to ask for it, because well, I never liked dolls. I was about 10 then.

For me it isn't a new thing, its just on going. [img]smile.gif[/img]

-Jordyn

[SweetSam]

Originally posted by Tra:
I mean, she was created so girls would have some kind of doll to play with other than baby dolls. (This was, of course before AG). I think almost everyone knows that Barbie's physical shape is something impossible to aspire to (and why would you want to anyway?). So....
Why doesn't anyone like Barbie?
I just don't see the harm in them.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't like Barbie because some girls don't realize that Barbie has an unattainable body, just like the super-thin models they'll see in fashion mags when they get older.

To me, she represents one more way society bombards girls with the message that being very thin is normal and that you need to be thin to be cool. I think the girls who play with Barbie are too young to have to deal with that stuff. They deserve dolls that look more like them--like AGs.

[sharlit]

Judging by their sales, I think a lot of people like Barbie and Bratz. [img]wink.gif[/img]

I can't answer your question. I just don't like Bratz because I find the ginormous heads kind of ugly. I'd like Barbie more if her stuff wasn't so cheap. I do, however, have all the *all* purple *****topia Barbie who is one of the coolest dolls ever! But she's just a display doll. Barbie's hair doesn't hold up to play, and I think that's a real bummer with a doll.

[monimarine]

I had Barbie when I was a kid. The huge western Barbie and Ken set with the jeep and the horse trailer and all the horses. I never had the frilly pink dresses for her and all that. I was too into horses and racing. I never collected them. The only one I still have now is the Barbie and Ken set dressed in Marine dress blues that came out after Desert Storm in 1991.

I guess I don't mind if DD plays with Barbies, but I really don't want her to turn into a shallow woman who only sees people for the clothes they wear. (Bratz and their "passion for fashion" motto) My daughter is in second grade and already the girly cliques are forming over who wears what. I really don't have any patience for that. They are way too young to be deciding who is worth talking to, or eating lunch with based on their clothes and shoes.

Another thing with Barbie and Bratz is the make up issue. I already have my hands full with DD leaning towards Mary Kate and Ashley clothes section at Wal Mart, and wanting lip gloss and stuff when we go to Bath and Body Works. I am not ready to start fighting with an 8 yr old over why she can not wear make up. I never wore make up until I was 16. Never got my ears pierced until then either. That was not imposed on me, it was just my choice. I'm not a prude, I want my daughter to dress trendy, just not revealingly which is inappropriate for her age.

Bratz clothes are also a little risque IMHO. I don't think my 8 yr old needs to wear halter tops or belly shirts and mini skirts all the time. This image is turning girls, or wanting little girls to dress older than they are, and that is dangerous on so many levels.

[cebula_2005]

I like her, I suppose. I mean, I won't go out and buy some like I would with AG, but I don't see anything wrong with Barbie. I mean, she was created so girls would have some kind of doll to play with other than baby dolls. (This was, of course before AG). I think almost everyone knows that Barbie's physical shape is something impossible to aspire to (and why would you want to anyway?). So....
Why doesn't anyone like Barbie?

And for that matter...why doesn't anyone like Bratz?
I don't mind them either, but I think their clothes might be a little on the skimpy side. I've only actually seen 1 Bratz doll (my friend has one) but she doesn't seem bad.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily buy either of these dolls. They are of no better quality IMO than other dolls sold in toy stores around the world. I prefer AG to them. I just don't see the harm in them.

[sharlit]

Moni, you made some good points. And I realized something while reading your post, aren't Bratz supposed to be in school? They seem to do the activities school girls do. Barbie at least is an adult so she would make kids think this is how they will be when the grow up (and by then they've realize you don't model your life after Barbie), whereas Bratz are ideas as to how to be now, when girls don't really understand that dolls are not where you get your models for life. (Well, at least not since colonial times. [img]wink.gif[/img] Felicity's doll did determine what she wore!) My Scene may be the exception to all this. I'm not too familiar with that line. That all be said, I'd still give a Bratz doll to a little girl who really wanted one. Just pondering why they could be bad.

[monimarine]

From the other products I have seen, it looks as if the Bratz kids are supposed to be either middle school age or high school level students.

Some of the My Scene clothes are a bit revealing but nothing like Bratz. My Scene also does not push the "passion for fashion" thing. I still really would rather buy DD a $24 AG basketball outfit that comes with a pamphlet on good sportsmanship, than buy her a Bratz doll with a basketball with skimpy shorts and a tiny halter top.

If DD got invited to a party and the little girl was into Bratz or Barbie and her parents are ok with it, I would buy her a present according to what the little girl asked for. I just don't encourage it in my DD.

[StarTrekCaptain]

I am ok with Barbies because I like them and played with them when I was little. The body issue was never big with me because even when I was little I knew it wasn't normal and that real people don't look like that LOL [img]tongue.gif[/img]

As for Bratz, I just kinda think they're ugly because they're heads are so big. I don't like dolls with big heads because I just find it kinda ugly. I persoanlly prefer a smaller head, myself. LOL

But the main problem I have with Bratz, besides the clothes, is that they are called BRATZ. In my mind this promotes a negative image...I don't know how exactly to explain this. I guess I don't like a negative word being used for a doll, because it implies that that word is okay...like it makes it sound like a 'brat' is a cute thing to be.
Does that mkae sense?

[cebula_2005]

It makes perfect sense. I always thought it was cute, but I can see how it might promote a negative image, etc. for children who don't understand that it really is not something to aspire to be.