that is the question, which has gripped many a
post-feminist modern mother of young daughters for years and years. In the anti-Barbie camp are the arguments of ‘they are cheap, tacky, and the clothing is appalling,’ or the ever popular ‘they objectify women and focus on appearances rather than intellect and achievements.’ Both unassailably true, although we have yet to see an inanimate doll that espouses intellectual growth. Naturally, those savvy subversive doll marketers are well aware of these points of view and have been working tirelessly to bring us the
Lilly Pulitzer
and Juicy Couture Barbies in recent years. However, since we have still not seen Investment Banking and Nobel Prize winning Barbie, many have argued the intellectual Barbie gap remained. Until now. Soon the well mannered modern mother will be able to procure at considerable expense four Barbie dolls with brains, unparalleled Machiavellian tendencies and fabulous style. That’s right, the
Mad Men Barbies are due out this July. And so, well mannered daughters will no longer have to suffer with brainless tacky barbies. Going forward these lovely young ladies will be able to play with smart, dastardly, adulterous, flawlessly dressed 60's Madison Avenue and Suburban Housewife Barbies. Progress is wonderful.
5 comments:
I don't care who makes their clothes. I think Barbies are tacky, I guess that puts me in the first "camp."
It's hard to argue with that. Is that you, Mrs. Baxter?
I must say I disagree with the anti-Barbie campaign. Playing with my Barbie dolls is one of my fondest childhood memories. And it didn't involve fighting or killing.
My daughter (6) doesn't care a whit about Barbies, and she has 2.
Of encouragement to me, a self-professed geek and married to another geek, is the fact that "Computer Engineer Barbie" is on the market. http://shop.mattel.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4032107
I just wish the laptop weren't PINK, for crying out loud.
Missed this when it first appeared, but I am pretty sure that was the day Abby (7) decapitated the Barbie with the perennially pink legs and put the head (after a good short haircut with safety scissors) onto pillow of brother #2 (11yo) and the rest of the torso into toothbrush holder of brother #1 (14yo).
Abby's inherited a couple of boxloads of barbies over the years. When they first arrive - half-dressed, dissheveled, maybe with a random naked Ken thrown in - the contents could be leftovers from a porn movie. But I have to admit- those Barbie movies are quite good.
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