TresSugar

A Doll of One's Own: Mattel Rolls Out New Black Barbies

TresSugar — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:15:00 -0700

Mattel has launched some new black Barbie dolls, and they're getting praised and dissed in equal measure. Grace, Kara, and Trichelle, created by Stacy McBride-Irby to give her daughter and other African-American girls dolls that resemble them, have been criticized by some for not being "black enough."

"I love the black Barbie. It's about time," said Jua Simpson, a reporter for CNN's iReport. "But the hair is still a step backwards, since most of our hair is not straight and light brown." (Check out BellaSugar's review of Chris Rock's documentary Good Hair, which addresses this loaded subject for black women.)

These new black Barbies could be said to be a step in the right direction for a couple reasons. First off, it's important that there's not a monolithic (i.e. white) sense of what's beautiful, and studies have shown that little girls of color do absorb the idea that white equals beautiful.

Also, it sounds like more thought was put into creating Grace, Kara, and Trichelle than the Oreo Barbie (hand smacks forehead!) that Mattel came out with in 1997. I guess with all the focus groups and marketing Mattel must surely do, no one bothered to tell them that "Oreo" is a term used by some in the black community to denote someone who is black but "acts" white. (I'm guessing the Oreo Barbie tanked?)

My question is, should we be pushing dolls (of whatever color) on girls at all? Don't dolls just get them to focus on how they look, as opposed to toys that would invite them to invent, think and do things, like boys' toys? (I mean, boys have ~~dolls~~ action figures, but yeah, notice the emphasis is on action, on doing things rather than on just being pretty.)

What do you think about the new black Barbies and about dolls as girls' primary toys in general? Do you think it's outdated to push dolls on girls, or do you think girls gravitate to dolls naturally?

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Barbie's Jobs and Identities Through the Years: Real or Fake?

GiggleSugar — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0700

In addition to just standing there and looking perfect, Barbie's had a lot of odd jobs and identities throughout her 50-year career as a doll. Some of these incarnations were so weird that I wonder if you can tell which of the jobs/personalities below Barbie "really" had.

Take the quiz

Sarah Haskins on Barbie's 50th Birthday

GiggleSugar — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0700

So what has Barbie taught us after these 50 years of her existence as the doll ideal we should all aspire to? Well, let's see. That we can do anything, as long as we look good doing it! Me, I prefer the Sarah Haskins Regular Lady Barbie - "Wine, liberal arts education and regular Ken sold separately."

It Had to Come to This

GiggleSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0700

This is the logical outcome of the Barbie plus Bratz doll phenomenon. (UPDATE: Click here to read the controversy, and thanks to queenegg for doing a little sleuthing!)

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Donuts in a Barbie-Mobile

GiggleSugar — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:00:00 -0700

If ~~life gives you lemons~~ it's snowing like a mofo, and your only set of wheels are from Malibu Barbie, ~~make lemonaid~~ entertain yourself by doing donuts like your life depends on it.

No Playing Around - Iran Steps Up Effort to Take Down Barbie

LibertySugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:15:32 -0700

Iranian children must be protected from, not by, Batman and Superman. These Western superheroes, along with Barbie and Harry Potter, are alarming Iranian officials.

Iran's prosecutor general spoke out against the fictional figures last weekend saying: “These toys, which do not respect the required norms, present dangers for the health of children and affect the survival of toy factories in this country."

Barbie specifically is guilty of disobeying Iran's rule against showing curves - women, including plastic ones, must hide all their contours. A while back, police raided toy shops, hiding Barbie's body with black stickers. The prosecutor general is again pushing measures to stop the smuggling of these toys, which have been banned for six years.

To counter Western influence, Iran has its own version of Barbie and Ken dolls- Sara and Dara - two siblings that respect Islamic rules, and turn to their parents for guidance. The government hopes that these dolls will become more popular than the well-liked American version.

Is it commendable that the Iranian government is promoting toys that promote their cultural and religious values, or is it an affront on freedom? Is it so bad that they are pursuing an alternative to a scantly clad, busty- skinny blond role model?

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Dear Poll: Would it Be All That Bad if Barbie Were To Become Obsolete?

DearSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:00:00 -0700

I grew up playing with Barbie dolls - I thought they were the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. But now that I'm an adult, I see why there's so much controversy surrounding her and how - when it comes to beauty and the idea of perfection - she could be viewed as a poor role model for young women.

According to Portfolio, Barbie may actually become obsolete. Mattel's first-quarter results came out yesterday and the Barbie brand has slid 12 percent in the US in the first quarter. Some of the suspected reasons for this decline is stiff competition and Barbie's absence on the Internet, especially when compared to other toys like Bratz and everything surrounding Hannah Montana. Whatever the reason, I have to ask you this: Would it really be all that bad if Barbie were to become obsolete?

I Guess We Are Living in a Barbie World

GiggleSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0700

And this is its king/queen. (I love a man who can embrace his feminine side.)

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Barf Alert! Top Model Barbie

GiggleSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:05:43 -0800

She's thinner, leggier, and has hair "down to there." She's the new Top Model Barbie. She's got a seductive gaze, stylishly blunt bangs, and multiple size negative outfits to squeeze her scanty waist into. Who wouldn't want to get their little girl this perfect role model? In three words: this is frightening.

Trouble in Paradise

GiggleSugar — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Barbie and Ken had a falling out. She got the dream house, he got the mid-life crisis.

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