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teachermom
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by gina409
Posted by MsSissy
I never had a problem with the old Barbie dolls.
But I also don't a problem with the new ones. I don't see anything wrong with kids having a mix of them. A little diversity is good thing.
That's what I mean
I don't get why it's coddling our kids?
They didn't take away the old
Ones right?
What it is, IMO, is taking just a little more responsibility away from parents and leaving it to "society" to do the right thing by our kids and raise them. It's OUR job a parents to teach our children about tolerance, and diversity, and loving ourselves, and being kind to one another. That is why it's called RAISING children. I think nowadays everyone wants to pass the buck and we're so quick to blame everything around us for why our children are turning out like $hit.
Guess what??? Your kid is fat because YOU (collective you) take them to McDonald's 5 times a week for chicken nuggets and fries because that's just easier. It's NOT McDonald's fault for making cr@p food, we all know that fast food isn't good for you but parents are lazy and then when the $hit hits the fan and their kids are unhealthy it's somehow McDonald's fault for having the nerve to serve nuggets.
Your DD doesn't have body issues because of the Barbie doll she played with when she was 7. She has body issues because you didn't do your job as a parent and raise her with good self esteem. As the parent you didn't do your job and raise her to understand that there is more to you than your looks.
Your kid isn't a self entitled brat today because of "all this technology". Sure, the technology is there BUT it's your job as a parent to set limits. A 13 yr old does NOT need a phone. Somehow, I managed to make it to 28 yrs old without one and I survived. As a KID and a teen, my parents ALWAYS knew where I was and who I was with because guess what??..................parenting. I don't understand why a 13, 14, 15 yr old NEEDS a phone. Who needs to reach them??? They have no job, they should be at school the whole day and when they aren't you as the parent should always know where they are. You should be monitoring their computer use. A 13 yr old shouldn't be posting pics of themselves all over Instagram and FB which eliminates the need for duck lips and fake lashes. Again, parenting.
You, as the parent, decides if your DD wears make-up and what she wears. You buy her clothes which means you get to decide if she looks like a hooch or not. When I was 13 I had no money so guess what??.........my mom had final say over EVERYTHING that went on my body.............make-up, clothes, piercings, you name it..........it was HER call, NOT mine. Parenting.
My point is "back in the day" people took responsibility for their kids and how they turned out. If they turned out great, kudos to you mom and dad. If they turned out like cr@p, where did you go wrong mom and dad? Responsibility. Nowadays we look to everything else around us for why our kids are failing in school, are $hitty human beings, are self entitled and self absorbed, have no respect, have no self esteem, are unmotivated, have no work ethic, are fat, are bullies and on and on and on. Somewhere along the line we've stopped holding parents accountable. It's the teachers fault, the schools fault, the toys fault, the food industry's faulty. It's everyone's fault but the parents.
So back to Barbie, it's NOT Mattel's job to make your DD feel god about herself, it's the parents job. And you're kidding yourself if you think that because there is a "curvy" Barbie now that your DD is going to all of a sudden feel good about herself as you're shoving cheeseburgers from McDonald's down her throat 3X/week because you're too busy to bother cooking a healthy meal for her. Great, now she has a chubby Barbie and STILL hates looking at herself in the mirror. Buying a "relatable" Barbie won't fix the issues a young girl has with body issues but having an involved parent will. Just sayin'.
Not trying to offend anyone (and of course not directing my comments at anyone on here) but I truly feel like as a society we keep excusing the epic amount of $hitty parenting going on and we allow (and encourage) parents to blame everyone else around them for all of the issues and problems with THEIR kids. There is such a lack of accountability in our society nowadays and I think it's a real shame.
Do you have children?
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Posted 1/31/16 12:58 AM  |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by gina409
And let's also not assume bc you are curvy you are stuffing cheeseburgers down your mouth.
I think that's exactly the point. Some people are curvy bc they are just curvy. So maybe it would be nice to see a doll
That looked like
Them
The word "curvy" to me is not even a word that applies to a young girl of Barbie playing age. Curvy, to me, is a word more applicable to a girl through puberty or an actual grown woman, not a little girl. Little girls don't have "curves", they have undeveloped little bodies.
As for your other response, I don't think it's a bold statement to say that body issues stem from parents. Girls who play with Barbie's are 5, 6, 7, 8 yrs old. We're not talking about teenagers who really have more of a sense of their bodies and self and *might* compare themselves to some ideal of beauty.
My DD is 7, she doesn't give a passing thought to what her butt looks like, her weight, how her shirt fits, if her hair is perfect, or how flat her stomach is. She's 7. Those things don't even cross her mind. All she cares about is playing and having fun. Period. She's never commented on what a Barbie looks like or that she wishes she had Barbie's body. Why would she??? And all we ever tell her is she's beautiful, smart, and filled with man wonderful qualities like being kind and caring. She would have no reason to develop body issues at this age because she's surrounded by people who are nothing but positive.
IF you have a kid that age, Barbie playing age, that has A LOT of body issues and is actually feeling upset by what a Barbie looks like compared to her I would bet money that somewhere in that kids life there is a parent or family member telling them that they look too chubby in those leggings, or that their hair is too frizzy, or that their legs aren't shaped right. Most little girls don't give a passing thought to what they look like unless someone in their life is making it a point to bring those things to their attention and putting it in the forefront of their mind.
It starts somewhere and a little girl doesn't start obsessing over how they look for no reason. There is something that is propelling and fostering that kind of thought process.
You are so wrong on so many levels. If you think your 7 year old isn't already noticing the appearance of other people and the fact that a certain often fake, unattainable
" ideal" body is presented over and over again in the media as perfection, you are sadly mistaken. Rather being such a critic you should take an honest look at the world around you and reserch the messages girls are bombarded with every single day.
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| Posted 1/31/16 1:05 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by teachermom
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by gina409
Posted by MsSissy
I never had a problem with the old Barbie dolls.
But I also don't a problem with the new ones. I don't see anything wrong with kids having a mix of them. A little diversity is good thing.
That's what I mean
I don't get why it's coddling our kids?
They didn't take away the old
Ones right?
What it is, IMO, is taking just a little more responsibility away from parents and leaving it to "society" to do the right thing by our kids and raise them. It's OUR job a parents to teach our children about tolerance, and diversity, and loving ourselves, and being kind to one another. That is why it's called RAISING children. I think nowadays everyone wants to pass the buck and we're so quick to blame everything around us for why our children are turning out like $hit.
Guess what??? Your kid is fat because YOU (collective you) take them to McDonald's 5 times a week for chicken nuggets and fries because that's just easier. It's NOT McDonald's fault for making cr@p food, we all know that fast food isn't good for you but parents are lazy and then when the $hit hits the fan and their kids are unhealthy it's somehow McDonald's fault for having the nerve to serve nuggets.
Your DD doesn't have body issues because of the Barbie doll she played with when she was 7. She has body issues because you didn't do your job as a parent and raise her with good self esteem. As the parent you didn't do your job and raise her to understand that there is more to you than your looks.
Your kid isn't a self entitled brat today because of "all this technology". Sure, the technology is there BUT it's your job as a parent to set limits. A 13 yr old does NOT need a phone. Somehow, I managed to make it to 28 yrs old without one and I survived. As a KID and a teen, my parents ALWAYS knew where I was and who I was with because guess what??..................parenting. I don't understand why a 13, 14, 15 yr old NEEDS a phone. Who needs to reach them??? They have no job, they should be at school the whole day and when they aren't you as the parent should always know where they are. You should be monitoring their computer use. A 13 yr old shouldn't be posting pics of themselves all over Instagram and FB which eliminates the need for duck lips and fake lashes. Again, parenting.
You, as the parent, decides if your DD wears make-up and what she wears. You buy her clothes which means you get to decide if she looks like a hooch or not. When I was 13 I had no money so guess what??.........my mom had final say over EVERYTHING that went on my body.............make-up, clothes, piercings, you name it..........it was HER call, NOT mine. Parenting.
My point is "back in the day" people took responsibility for their kids and how they turned out. If they turned out great, kudos to you mom and dad. If they turned out like cr@p, where did you go wrong mom and dad? Responsibility. Nowadays we look to everything else around us for why our kids are failing in school, are $hitty human beings, are self entitled and self absorbed, have no respect, have no self esteem, are unmotivated, have no work ethic, are fat, are bullies and on and on and on. Somewhere along the line we've stopped holding parents accountable. It's the teachers fault, the schools fault, the toys fault, the food industry's faulty. It's everyone's fault but the parents.
So back to Barbie, it's NOT Mattel's job to make your DD feel god about herself, it's the parents job. And you're kidding yourself if you think that because there is a "curvy" Barbie now that your DD is going to all of a sudden feel good about herself as you're shoving cheeseburgers from McDonald's down her throat 3X/week because you're too busy to bother cooking a healthy meal for her. Great, now she has a chubby Barbie and STILL hates looking at herself in the mirror. Buying a "relatable" Barbie won't fix the issues a young girl has with body issues but having an involved parent will. Just sayin'.
Not trying to offend anyone (and of course not directing my comments at anyone on here) but I truly feel like as a society we keep excusing the epic amount of $hitty parenting going on and we allow (and encourage) parents to blame everyone else around them for all of the issues and problems with THEIR kids. There is such a lack of accountability in our society nowadays and I think it's a real shame.
Do you have children?
Yes. My DD is 7, DS is almost 3.
Message edited 1/31/2016 8:19:50 AM.
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| Posted 1/31/16 8:05 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by teachermom
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by gina409
And let's also not assume bc you are curvy you are stuffing cheeseburgers down your mouth.
I think that's exactly the point. Some people are curvy bc they are just curvy. So maybe it would be nice to see a doll
That looked like
Them
The word "curvy" to me is not even a word that applies to a young girl of Barbie playing age. Curvy, to me, is a word more applicable to a girl through puberty or an actual grown woman, not a little girl. Little girls don't have "curves", they have undeveloped little bodies.
As for your other response, I don't think it's a bold statement to say that body issues stem from parents. Girls who play with Barbie's are 5, 6, 7, 8 yrs old. We're not talking about teenagers who really have more of a sense of their bodies and self and *might* compare themselves to some ideal of beauty.
My DD is 7, she doesn't give a passing thought to what her butt looks like, her weight, how her shirt fits, if her hair is perfect, or how flat her stomach is. She's 7. Those things don't even cross her mind. All she cares about is playing and having fun. Period. She's never commented on what a Barbie looks like or that she wishes she had Barbie's body. Why would she??? And all we ever tell her is she's beautiful, smart, and filled with man wonderful qualities like being kind and caring. She would have no reason to develop body issues at this age because she's surrounded by people who are nothing but positive.
IF you have a kid that age, Barbie playing age, that has A LOT of body issues and is actually feeling upset by what a Barbie looks like compared to her I would bet money that somewhere in that kids life there is a parent or family member telling them that they look too chubby in those leggings, or that their hair is too frizzy, or that their legs aren't shaped right. Most little girls don't give a passing thought to what they look like unless someone in their life is making it a point to bring those things to their attention and putting it in the forefront of their mind.
It starts somewhere and a little girl doesn't start obsessing over how they look for no reason. There is something that is propelling and fostering that kind of thought process.
You are so wrong on so many levels. If you think your 7 year old isn't already noticing the appearance of other people and the fact that a certain often fake, unattainable
" ideal" body is presented over and over again in the media as perfection, you are sadly mistaken. Rather being such a critic you should take an honest look at the world around you and reserch the messages girls are bombarded with every single day.
I'm not going to go back and forth with you as I've made my points, I stand by what I've said, and I completely disagree with you.
ETA - I promise you, my DD at 7 yrs is blissfully unaware of any "fake beauty ideal" out there...........which is EXACTLY how it should be at 7 yrs old.
And as I've said, positive messages about your body begin in the home. I don't need a Barbie doll TOY to make my DD feel good about herself. And AGAIN, there will ALWAYS be some "ideal of beauty" in our society, that is a fact. It's our job as parents to raise our daughters (and sons) to feel good about themselves and love who there are regardless of what airbrushed, fake pics they see in a magazine. Don't underestimate the power of parenting in how your child turns out on EVERY level............you're a complete fool if you do.
Message edited 1/31/2016 8:14:42 AM.
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| Posted 1/31/16 8:07 AM |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Do a little reserch in addition to your stellar parenting. Obviously self-love starts at home. Unfortunately we internalize the messages and images we see everyday and kids form a vision of what is perfect and expected as they process the visuals and messages. You do you and I'll stick with the actual realities of the world.
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| Posted 1/31/16 9:52 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by teachermom
Do a little reserch in addition to your stellar parenting. Obviously self-love starts at home. Unfortunately we internalize the messages and images we see everyday and kids form a vision of what is perfect and expected as they process the visuals and messages. You do you and I'll stick with the actual realities of the world.
 Okay, you do that.
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| Posted 1/31/16 10:18 AM |
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WonderLady
LIF Infant
Member since 1/15 355 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
I don't know if you actually REALIZE that Barbie made you feel self conscious about yourself, kwim? I know I always feel fat. I think many women do. I'm not saying that's FROM Barbie but it's a collective society thing, kwim? Thin is beautiful here.
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| Posted 1/31/16 11:40 AM |
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teachermom
LIF Adolescent
Member since 8/11 843 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by WonderLady
I don't know if you actually REALIZE that Barbie made you feel self conscious about yourself, kwim? I know I always feel fat. I think many women do. I'm not saying that's FROM Barbie but it's a collective society thing, kwim? Thin is beautiful here.
You are completely right.
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| Posted 1/31/16 12:15 PM |
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summerBaby10
let's be nice
Member since 9/07 10208 total posts
Name:
Wifey
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by teachermom
Unfortunately we internalize the messages and images we see everyday and kids form a vision of what is perfect and expected as they process the visuals and messages. You do you and I'll stick with the actual realities of the world.
ITA! I actually do remember thinking that it would be nice to have a brunette barbie like myself & my friends & I would role play scenarios imagining our teen years living in Cali, being blonde & rollerskating at the beach because that is what we thought of when we thought of barbie. And.. as an adult, I still want to up & move my family to Cali but I will keep my pretty, thick, brown hair 
Message edited 1/31/2016 12:17:45 PM.
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| Posted 1/31/16 12:16 PM |
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Paramount
Sweet!
Member since 7/12 4289 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
To the woman above who said her 7 year old is blissfully un aware of difference in body type etc, I would respectfully
Disagree with you.
In the grocery store there are mag covered of sexy skinny women on every mag.
Showing what their momma have them.
Sexy men.
On tv the adds are all skinny women, sexy. The kids commercials have beautiful kids. Non of them are fat.
There is a kid in your kids school this is made
Fun of for being fat. Or maybe left out. Your DD knows which kid this is and why they ate left out. (Insert: disability, ugly, mean etc for "fat").
I always wished there was a brunette Barbie. However I never ever looked at Barbie thinking she was beautiful and I wasn't. I was always super uber skinny and never thought anything of Barbie.
But all there were were white dolls
With blond hair.
I think it's a great idea for Barbie to change some of the body types and ethnicities. However, I can guarantee when you kid (collective your kid) walks by they are going to think or say "oh that's the fat and skinny Barbie".
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| Posted 1/31/16 4:17 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by Paramount
To the woman above who said her 7 year old is blissfully un aware of difference in body type etc, I would respectfully
Disagree with you.
.
She is blissfully unaware that any type of "beauty ideal" matters or even exists...............I did NOT say she was unaware that people look different. That being said, she is unaware that being blonde and skinny is better or having blue eyes makes you more attractive. Or whatever other thing society deems is most attractive. Right now, she is just happy being who she is.
She doesn't stress about the color of her hair.
She doesn't worry about what clothes she's wearing.
She doesn't comment on what other people look like.
She doesn't spend hours in front of a mirror analyzing her body.
She isn't trying to impress anyone.
She doesn't comment that she wishes she was one way over another.
She's 7. You know what she cares about?
That she is wearing her sneakers on Wednesday and Friday so she can play gym.
Playing with her friends and her little brother.
Reading.
Coloring.
Watching her favorite show.
When the next holiday is.
What time Grandma is coming over to see her.
That's what she cares about at 7 yrs old. She is a child who is concerned with child things. NOT body image, looking beautiful, being skinny, and looking perfect. She's 7. It's just not something that is registering with her at this young age.
I'm not saying that as she gets older that won't change because I remember that those things mattered to me more as I got older and into my teen years and had more self awareness. But right now, at 7 yrs old, it doesn't matter to her. You can disagree but you also don't know my DD. She is young, innocent, and blissfully unaware of the "grown up" world. She's more worried about getting her hands on the new Shopkins than being able to bounce a quarter off her abs.
Message edited 1/31/2016 5:20:09 PM.
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| Posted 1/31/16 5:10 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Some thoughts:
Although parents do most of the "raising" we don't live in a bubble.
It takes a village
Corporations and media do have some social responsibility
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| Posted 1/31/16 5:37 PM |
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Ultimately this is about marketing, IMO.
On the one hand I think my kid looks at Barbie and realizes her shape is kind of ridiculous. But unfortunately she is bombarded from everywhere else with images of perfection. A few weeks ago, she told me she thinks she's fat. Besides the fact that it broke my heart a little, I wondered where it came from. She's not fat, I've never called her fat, never called myself fat in her presence. We try to eat well but aren't fixated on what's fattening and what's not.
It sucks that she's 8 and this is already a topic but I think it's bigger than what Barbie looks like.
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| Posted 1/31/16 8:01 PM |
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shadows
LIF Adult
Member since 1/10 4694 total posts
Name:
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New Barbie dolls?
IMO the new Barbie is silly.
It's a doll. A toy. And I think most girls, even at a really young age, know that. I believe most girls take it for what it is and aren't aspiring to BE Barbie.
Society will always glamorize something different from what we individually are. Skinnier, blonder, curvier, richer, whatever. Part of growing up is learning to accept that and I see no point in sheltering kids from it.
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| Posted 1/31/16 9:05 PM |
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KateBennetReel
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/15 555 total posts
Name:
Keep
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
And technology...
I love how far we've come....with technology...
That we can have things come closer to real.
More authentic.
Like a curvaceous barbie.
or a petite barbie.
I think that's so cool.
I remember when "Day to Night Barbie" came out. She had a business suit and briefcase for the day. And then a cocktail dress[?] For the night. I was about 10? And I thought, wow - a modern Barbie! What will she do next!?
I love Barbie. And skipper too! But she had a funny face. She looked more like Ken :D
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| Posted 1/31/16 9:44 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10314 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
I agree with Hofstra.. I raise my child and I know outside influences will affect them but I will be here as I best I can. I speak from experience I tried to raise my my stepson as best and I can, however, outside influences are making him make stupid decisions.
I agree a 6-8 shouldn't be worried about body types and if my child is then something is wrong. My 11 yr old niece told me the other day she thought she was fat. I told her wth is wrong with you and do you want me to tell your mom to limit TV if you're going to have this nosense in your head. She grabbed a little fat from her tummy (by No means is she chubby). I told her flat out first off you just ate, second it's hormones , your body is used going to change and get crazy, get used it/ it sucks. It did scared me but she doesn't play with Barbies.. This is when kids may have those issues.
I just feel like incorporating black/tan Barbie is not the same as this.. Don't compare the two.
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| Posted 1/31/16 11:10 PM |
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Sash
Peace
Member since 6/08 10314 total posts
Name:
fka LIW Smara
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by jlm2008
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by Hofstra26
I think we are raising a generation of kids who are going to grow up thin skinned, offended by everything, and with the mentality that the world should cater to them and all of their "feelings".
It's a doll. A toy. I had a million Barbies as a kid and NEVER felt like I needed to be Barbie or look like Barbie. And guess what, it's YOUR job as a PARENT to raise your child with a good self image and to help them develop self worth. If you're relying on Mattel and a silly plastic doll to do it for you then you have issues.
I disagree that it's any different now then when we were kids. We had magazines and models and an "ideal of beauty" that is really no different than today. And when my DD is 13 she will be 13 because I won't let her act like a "mini adult" the same way my parents didn't let me. Again, it's called parenting and raising your child. That's MY job, nobody else's and certainly not Barbie's.
Exactly. Who is buying these 13 year olds iphones and fake lashes and allowing them to have Instagram accounts.
I blame the parents for the way our society has become. Nobody else.
ITA with both of above!
A million  's
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| Posted 1/31/16 11:14 PM |
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Kitten1929
LIF Adult
Member since 1/13 6040 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
There is so much horse shit on this thread it's unreal...so many people are missing the mark.
It's downright idiotic to think that Mattel making dolls in different body types/aesthetics has anything to do with parenting or being responsible for raising children.
It's incredible how many people miss the point.
Message edited 2/1/2016 8:47:47 AM.
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| Posted 2/1/16 8:37 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by shadows
IMO the new Barbie is silly.
It's a doll. A toy. And I think most girls, even at a really young age, know that. I believe most girls take it for what it is and aren't aspiring to BE Barbie.
Society will always glamorize something different from what we individually are. Skinnier, blonder, curvier, richer, whatever. Part of growing up is learning to accept that and I see no point in sheltering kids from it.
Exactly. My DD loves her Ariel, Lilttle Mermaid doll, I doubt she looks at it and says, wow, how diverse, some people have fins and tails.
Or, I really hate myself because I don't have a tail.
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| Posted 2/1/16 8:51 AM |
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Momma2015
Mommax2
Member since 12/12 6656 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by MsSissy
I never had a problem with the old Barbie dolls.
But I also don't a problem with the new ones. I don't see anything wrong with kids having a mix of them. A little diversity is good thing.
If I had a child that played with Barbies I would absolutely get them a few different ones. Without explanation since I don't think everything needs an explanation. Just let them see that everyone isn't the same.
Same with different race dolls.
Could not agree more. Barbie's look did not affect me in the slightest as a kid, but I do agree that times are different now, too. And everyone saying well don't buy your kid an iPhone or let them wear make-up or whatever at 13- that has it's effect, too. I know you have to parent them, but you can only do so much. I'm having a little girl and it scares me! I see my little cousin who is 12 and looks like she's 16 and it makes me sad. I was still so childish at 12. But back to the topic at hand, I still would've liked a little diversity in my dolls when I was a kid- not for a body positive image, but just because they all looked exactly the same and that was boring.
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| Posted 2/1/16 8:54 AM |
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AllyMally
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/13 881 total posts
Name:
Alyson
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by teachermom
Do a little reserch in addition to your stellar parenting. Obviously self-love starts at home. Unfortunately we internalize the messages and images we see everyday and kids form a vision of what is perfect and expected as they process the visuals and messages. You do you and I'll stick with the actual realities of the world.
Well aren't you just the example of kindness!
It's a doll. It's a marketing thing because of all the new barbieish toys. Monster high and so on. It's our job as parents to teach and talk to our kids, both boys and girls, about body image and how to treat people. If a plastic "curvy" Babrie is where my child is learning her self worth we're all screwed.
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| Posted 2/1/16 8:55 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Posted by Kitten1929
There is so much horse shit on this thread it's unreal...so many people are missing the mark.
It's downright idiotic to think that Mattel making dolls in different body types/aesthetics has anything to do with parenting or being responsible for raising children.
It's incredible how many people miss the point.
Actually, it is you that has missed the point.
The point is that it doesn't matter what Barbie looks like in the eyes of a 6 yr old girl who, for the most part, isn't old enough to have any kind of self awareness to care about someone being curvy, thin, blonde, or blue eyed. And to that end, as parents we have a responsibility to our children to build them up and make them feel good about themselves outside of some silly doll that means nothing or some "beauty ideal" they see on a magazine cover. So, IMO everything has to do with parenting and like you so eloquently said before you deleted your original post, it does NOT make me an "a$$hole parent" because I place a high level of importance on the roles parents play in how a child views themselves in the world. Your comment was ignorant and obnoxious.............which you likely realized so you deleted it.
It doesn't bother me what kinds of dolls and toys are out there, or that some kids have phone at age 10, or that some 13 yr old girls wear a $hit ton of make-up because at the end of that day it is MY job as the parent of MY kids to set boundaries and limits AND make sure they grow up kind, caring, considerate, tolerant, and with self esteem and love for themselves and others. That's MY job as a parent and I'm not sure how that make me an a$$hole because I feel a strong need to take responsibility for my children and not rely on a toy, or a store, or any other outside force to build up my kid and make them feel good about themselves or be a worthwhile human being in this world.
THAT was my ONLY point. It was NOT specifically about a doll. And don't kid yourself into thinking that there won't be some parent out there who gives their DD a curvy Barbie and thinks they did their part to make her feel good about herself because the doll "looks like her". I think what toys kids play with and what messages they hear around them matter less than what is happening within their home on a daily basis with the people closest to them.............especially when they are young. You might disagree, and that's fine, but I don't think my placing a high importance on my role as a parent makes me an a$$hole or makes think I have "stellar parenting skills" as some other obnoxious poster pointed out. I don't apologize for doing the best I can for my kids and shouldering the responsibility for how they turn out despite what other kids are doing, what toys are being manufactured, and what images they see on TV. I also don't think I am "perfect", I'm just a mom like everyone else doing the best job I can for my kids. Period.
And as an aside, this incessant need on LIF to CONSTANTLY call out and put down ANYONE on this forum who feels like they are doing a good job as a parent is so pathetic and childish that any time it's done I feel like any point you're trying to make, valid or not, is lost because of these silly attacks on people. We are grown women on here, how about we act like it instead of calling someone an "a$$hole parent" because we don't agree with their point of view. The level of immaturity on these boards is astonishing to me.
ETA - spelling
Message edited 2/1/2016 9:36:14 AM.
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| Posted 2/1/16 9:21 AM |
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DiamondGirl
You are my I love you
Member since 7/09 18802 total posts
Name:
DiamondMama
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
I never had Barbies growing up. My mom, when I got older told me it was intentional, she didn't like the idea of parading around a skinny, blonde ideal while raising a chubby brunette
My mom also hated Ariel and a lot of those sexy kiddie idols for girls and she kept me away from them as best she could.
I don't know if there is a correlation but I am extremely confident and never felt inferior based on my looks.
Just sharing my experience. Not sure what I will do with my own DD as she is only a baby.
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| Posted 2/1/16 9:31 AM |
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MandJZ
Time for Baby #2!
Member since 8/10 4194 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Children may not outright think to themselves "oh Barbie looks this way, so I have to also." No. Of course not. But dolls like the original Barbie are just one way in which young girls (yes, as young as 4-8) are inundated with the idea of what beauty is. It's not a conscious thing, but you bet your ass it influences later thoughts about beauty standards and body image. This isn't an opinion, this is the result of decades of research and studies into body image and beauty messages we received in Western society.
I literally do not understand how anyone can find it problematic that toys are becoming more diverse. Period. Whether it's skin type, hair style, or body shape, how can it be an issue that there are more options to choose from?
To the woman who said her daughter likes having dolls that look like her (as she's Asian) that's exactly it. Representation MATTERS. Representation of race and ethnicity and yes, body type and body differences. If as a parent you prefer for your little girl to only play with the original Barbie, well that's your choice as a parent. I'm glad we live in a society where companies are catering to the demand for diversity and representation, and where we acknowledge and understand that our children receive messages from EVERYWHERE.
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| Posted 2/1/16 9:35 AM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
Name:
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Re: New Barbie dolls?
Why does it have to be one or the other? All attributable to the parents or all attributable to societal norms and culture? Why can't we recognize that it's both? Wouldn't that be a more nuanced, accurate approach?
And why are both sides putting each other down? The harshness detracts from what might otherwise be valid points. We're all doing the best we can. No one needs to be shamed.
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| Posted 2/1/16 9:41 AM |
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