I'll admit that I rolled my eyes at myself at first, and thought I
was over-thinking the situation. Then I thought some more and realized I
should never compromise my standards because I think someone may have
to work too hard to reach them. That's integrity, right? Anyway, that's
not what this rant editorial is about.
I came across this post on Naturally Beautiful Hair about ethnic dress up games for kids. My immediate reaction was "grrreat, more Barbie dolls colored brown- but with kinky hair!"
Then I looked again and wondered why the Pocohantas She-Ra-looking doll
had her g-string popping out. And why did the doll with the mini skirt
and knee high boots have her leg propped up on a stool? Hmm, this isn't
right.
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| Image courtesy of NaturallyBeautifulHair.blogspot.com |
Is
it too much to ask that we teach our girls from a young age to
appreciate any body shape and value a healthy physique, not just a thin,
or curvy, or voluptuous body? Is it too much to ask that the dolls we
hand to our girls reflect realistic images of women? Of course in order
to do that, there would need to be a variety of doll prototypes, not
just a singular archetype with an anatomically impossible physique. Then there are the
subliminal messages imparted by the scant clothing and suggestive poses. I shouldn't even have to say that the party girl with a martini in her hand- party foul! Highly inappropriate! Wait, maybe the blogger got this mixed up because I can not believe this is designed for kids.
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| Image courtesy of NaturallyBeautifulHair.blogspot.com |
Maybe
I am being prudish but I wouldn't want to encourage my
young or even teenage daughter to value herself through scant clothing
and seductive poses. Yes that is a part of femininity, one I enjoy quite
a bit. However the lessons of womanhood (for that is what it is to
claim and wield one's own female body) should be learned from real women
not Barbie dolls, neither white nor brown.
The artistic skill is nice but the artistic vision in short-sighted at best. I do
appreciate the variety of natural hair styles among the dolls, and of
course that is the artist's intention. However I see this as a missed
opportunity to challenge many other issues among girls and women of
color.
Any artists out there want to
take a stab at improving this idea? How would you design an ideal doll for young girls of any color?
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