Maile and Laina were the recipients of a mini shopping spree with Grandma on Monday. When they came home Maile told me they got THREE coloring books!
me: What kind of coloring books were they?
maile: We gotta dora one…anna Petshops one….anna Bratz one.
maile: mmmhmmm.
me: Grandma doesn’t know I don’t like Bratz dolls.
maile: How come?
me: Because I don’t like little dolls that wear make up and try to dress like adults (and by “adults” I mean hookers).
maile: But der eyes are pretty.
me: I don’t like there eyes.
maile: I like der eyes cause der pretty an when I go to Target for my birfday I’m gonna buy one.
me: Oh is that so?
maile: mmmhmmm.
It’s no shocker that I’m not a big fan of Bratz. I just don’t see what the point of them is. And I kind of wonder if we’ve come full circle. I vaguely remember similar issues with Miss Barbie. Weren’t our moms up in arms about the message those perfect blonds were sending to their daughters??
At least Barbie, with her large chest and tiny waist and perfect butt, had a little class. Barbie had careers and hobbies. She was a veterinarian, a hairdresser, a cowgirl, a lawyer. There was a little depth there. But these days even Barbie has taken a walk on the skanky side….what with her new “tramp stamp” and all. A tramp stamp that has KEN’S NAME written in it!!
These dolls set a standard of beauty and when you’re a little girl trotting them around their little houses a seed is planted. A seed that tells you this is what beauty is and this is what you need to be. And now look at us…frantically trying to lose weight and dying our hair and getting the implants, etc.
I wasn’t interested in planting that seed for Maile, but I suppose the fact that she even knows the name “Bratz” means the deed has been done. I suppose it was inevitable. I’m not going to raise a big stink about them around her…clearly it just makes her want to go buy one. They’re JUST dolls after all, but I will continue to roll my eyes at them and call them hookers on my blog.
That all being said…what’s the deal with Dora?? I guess they came out with a new, older, “tween” version of Dora that moms are super upset about:
I don’t think she’s that bad!! She doesn’t have boobs…she’s not wearing make up…she lost that ridiculous back pack and her talking map…I think Dora’s growing up nicely. We need to pick our battles ladies. Let’s leave Dora alone to explore her tween years and team up on bratz dolls.
Or if we’re fighting a losing battle let’s all have a couple drinks and go get some tramp stamps.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em…right!?!
Stacey says
I didnt know about the tween Dora. But I’ll take her any day over Tattoo Barbie and Bratz. Even the NAME is annoying. When I was kid, being a brat meant that you were a mouthy, disrespectful, misbehaving…brat. What’s up with wanting to buy them now?!
Cassandra says
Ew. They’re sooo UGLY. I don’t know what the deal with Barbie having a tramp stamp is all about, but I grew up with her, and she was just fine. Good role model back then.
If we thought Barbie was disproportionate, just look at those Bratz dolls. They’re heads are HUGE. Not to mention, their horrible taste in clothes, and talk about BAD make up choices.
Shawna says
I don’t have kids yet, but I totally agree with you on the Bratz dolls. I cringe everytime I see them. What kind of message is that for young, impressionable girls to be playing with sluttly looking dolls? Seriously. i kept hoping that it was a fad that wouldn’t stick around. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case. Blar.