Comments on: Bitchin’ Barbies http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/ periods, politics & personalities Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:48:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Katherine http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-402 Katherine Tue, 06 May 2008 05:00:36 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-402 I'm not a Mum but I can remember what my own Barbie experiences were like, and my Mum's attitude towards them. I still remember saying to my Mum though it wasn't fair the blonde Barbie got the pink outfit and the brunette had orange or some other color that wasn't pink. She told me that the reason Barbie got the better outfit-and Ken, was because the people who made her wanted girls to believe they weren't as good as other girls if they didn't look a certain way. Then she asked me if I could think of anyone who was proportioned the way she was or anyone who had blonde hair that thick and long, I couldn't. I still think of that, I don't know if my sister does but I know it changed her perception of Barbie (we both have dark hair). If you're really worried maybe you should give her the answers to you want to give her. She may not understand it, but she won't forget it and it will be in her head every time she sees Barbie. After all it's something important her mother told her, and even a three year old can understand that. I’m not a Mum but I can remember what my own Barbie experiences were like, and my Mum’s attitude towards them. I still remember saying to my Mum though it wasn’t fair the blonde Barbie got the pink outfit and the brunette had orange or some other color that wasn’t pink. She told me that the reason Barbie got the better outfit-and Ken, was because the people who made her wanted girls to believe they weren’t as good as other girls if they didn’t look a certain way. Then she asked me if I could think of anyone who was proportioned the way she was or anyone who had blonde hair that thick and long, I couldn’t. I still think of that, I don’t know if my sister does but I know it changed her perception of Barbie (we both have dark hair). If you’re really worried maybe you should give her the answers to you want to give her. She may not understand it, but she won’t forget it and it will be in her head every time she sees Barbie. After all it’s something important her mother told her, and even a three year old can understand that.

]]> By: Sandra http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-400 Sandra Mon, 05 May 2008 18:25:29 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-400 I too, was a Barbie fanatic but then again I had no idea Barbie videos even existed (is this a new thing?) So my Barbie's just did what I did, having no previous storyline that went with them - she was able climb trees with me one day and then dress for a party the next. I think that that's where the trouble starts, is when you have a pre-determined set-up for a toy. It's like when you read a book that you've alreayd seen the movie version of, you can't help but picture the characters as who they were in the movie rather than using your imagination. I agree with Marie-Genevieve though, I had Barbie's and turned out all right so I don't think it's simply that Barbie is bad...it's when that's all you have and you're taught that's how women should be. Gigi will certainly have a much broader spectrum of toys and images coming to her from her feminist mom and I'm sure more involved discussions will be had when she begins to understand the world a bit more. I too, was a Barbie fanatic but then again I had no idea Barbie videos even existed (is this a new thing?) So my Barbie’s just did what I did, having no previous storyline that went with them - she was able climb trees with me one day and then dress for a party the next.

I think that that’s where the trouble starts, is when you have a pre-determined set-up for a toy. It’s like when you read a book that you’ve alreayd seen the movie version of, you can’t help but picture the characters as who they were in the movie rather than using your imagination.

I agree with Marie-Genevieve though, I had Barbie’s and turned out all right so I don’t think it’s simply that Barbie is bad…it’s when that’s all you have and you’re taught that’s how women should be. Gigi will certainly have a much broader spectrum of toys and images coming to her from her feminist mom and I’m sure more involved discussions will be had when she begins to understand the world a bit more.

]]> By: marie-genevieve http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-392 marie-genevieve Sat, 03 May 2008 03:18:20 +0000 http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/04/bitchin-barbies/#comment-392 oh dear! that's one thing i always think would be tricky about being a parent. but then, i was a barbie fanatic as a kid, and i turned out pretty good. :) i think a lot of that in my case had to do with balance. i know i'm not a feminist mom, but i had a feminist mom (and dad) and they always tried to make sure i had a lot of balance in what i saw/played with/heard about in my childhood. like i had ton of barbies, but almost as many hot wheels cars and playmobil (which is or was a pretty gender neutral toy, i think). and for all the mainstream/normative propaganda i watched in saturday morning cartoons, my parents read to me all the time, and they chose really good, well-written, intelligent books with strong (dark haired even!) female characters. so while it may be a bit early for media literacy, maybe just giving genevieve a whole gamut of options when it comes to media will help her see there is more variety in life than busty blonde princesses who marry their prince charming. oh dear! that’s one thing i always think would be tricky about being a parent. but then, i was a barbie fanatic as a kid, and i turned out pretty good. :) i think a lot of that in my case had to do with balance.

i know i’m not a feminist mom, but i had a feminist mom (and dad) and they always tried to make sure i had a lot of balance in what i saw/played with/heard about in my childhood. like i had ton of barbies, but almost as many hot wheels cars and playmobil (which is or was a pretty gender neutral toy, i think). and for all the mainstream/normative propaganda i watched in saturday morning cartoons, my parents read to me all the time, and they chose really good, well-written, intelligent books with strong (dark haired even!) female characters.

so while it may be a bit early for media literacy, maybe just giving genevieve a whole gamut of options when it comes to media will help her see there is more variety in life than busty blonde princesses who marry their prince charming.

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