Barbie Dolls

[Kaya]

Barbie is always wearing high heels. Most children choose to keep their dolls long hair, short skirts, and tank tops.

Do you think barbie dolls are affecting the way young children believe a girl should dress?

[Sage]

I think studies are showing that Barbie dolls are less popular than ever as younger generations throw away their toys at an earlier age to move onto electronic devices like computers and cellphones and mp3 players.

[insanity]

how could you chuck out a barbie doll? they are so urm... fake looking...

but no not really, I was obbsesed with barbie dolls when I was little, but I was a weird child and cut all there hair off, coloured their hair and 'edited' there clothes.... an I aint about to have long blonde hair and wear crappy barbie clothes >.<

[Korashk]

I think studies are showing that Barbie dolls are less popular than ever as younger generations throw away their toys at an earlier age to move onto electronic devices like computers and cellphones and mp3 players.
This.

[Severus Snape]

Do you think barbie dolls are affecting the way young children believe a girl should dress?

I think it was a more prevalent problem a decade ago, but yes I do think Barbie warps young peoples' sense of how a woman should look. They should put a disclaimer on the packaging that reminds kids that if Barbie were real she would be a disproportionate slob unable to stand by herself.

[insanity]

but if she was real she would also look damn fine, which I am sure is more important to how well they stand....

[Severus Snape]

but if she was real she would also look damn fine, which I am sure is more important to how well they stand....

Wheel Chair Barbie. Hot. :rolleyes:

[Amnesiac]

I don't believe the dolls some 3-year-old girl plays with will influence their social stature later in life as much as mass media and today's "role models" for teenagers. It seems, to me, ridiculous to suggest that Barbie dolls present a threat to today's youth.

[insanity]

thats cause you are a guy, you never looked at a barbie as a little kid and wished you could look just like her... guys dont seem to be affected in the same way

barbie was designed to be preety... think about it long blonde hair blue eyes.... barbie is hot as hell, most girls want to look like her... apart from weirdos like me of course

[Sugaree]

Is this thread for srs or just trolling? I highly doubt that most pre-adolescent children are as focused on dolls and action figures as we were. Now it's all about the electronic age. XBoxes, PS3s, Wiis, cellphones, iPods. Kids will do anything for these. I see 8 and 9 year old's with iPod shuffles and PSPs more than I do dolls or action figures. Why? Because who needs a little piece of plastic when you have animated characters and portable music files?

It's not Barbie dolls that stress the image of self on little girls. It lies in fault of the over-publicized make up, clothing lines, and Hollywood starlets. Their public image is incredibly important. Dressing like a slut never used to help your public image, but now it's the only way to get properly noticed. A few tit flashes here and there and bingo! - you're famous. Given that many children are easily swayed and influenced, it's no wonder you see 9 year old's walking around in short skirts and shirts from Spencer's.

thats cause you are a guy, you never looked at a barbie as a little kid and wished you could look just like her... guys dont seem to be affected in the same way

Many boys looked at action figures the same way girls looked at Barbie dolls. I had many action figures as a small boy and wanted to be big and masculine looking. It was something I could look up to and be influenced by. Just "being a guy" has nothing to do with this debate.

barbie was designed to be preety... think about it long blonde hair blue eyes.... barbie is hot as hell, most girls want to look like her... apart from weirdos like me of course

Blonde hair, blue eyes...sounds like the Aryan race dream to me. Not ALL girls want to look like Barbie. If a little girl wants to look like Barbie, I'm not going to be the one to crush their dreams. If they want to look like an anorexic nightmare, let them.

[Severus Snape]

I don't believe the dolls some 3-year-old girl plays with will influence their social stature later in life as much as mass media and today's "role models" for teenagers. It seems, to me, ridiculous to suggest that Barbie dolls present a threat to today's youth.

My sister and her friends played with Barbies all through their elementary school years. Your statement is far removed from reality. The targeted Barbie demographic is ages 3-14, with most falling between the 3-11 range (http://www.thetoyreview.com/category-girls-toys.php). Basic knowledge of psychology can tell you that some girls during those developmental years may be heavily influenced by Barbie and conditioned to believe Barbie does have the ideal body, one even unattainable to the most grossly underweight runway model. Barbie may not pose a great threat, and I don't believe she does, but to say that Barbie has had no influence on thinking over the years is simply foolish and simple minded thinking at best.

Amazing what a little research can do.

[Amnesiac]

My sister and her friends played with Barbies all through their elementary school years. Your statement is far removed from reality. The targeted Barbie demographic is ages 3-14, with most falling between the 3-11 range (http://www.thetoyreview.com/category-girls-toys.php).

Amazing what a little research can do.

So? That still doesn't address my point that adolescents these days are influenced far more by peer pressure and public icons than the size of the breasts on some overrated plastic toy doll brand. Why? Because girls play with those dolls at young ages, while peer pressure and the media are forces that penetrate the mind during the teenage years, when girls are most conscious about their image.

I'm also strongly opposed to any unnecessary government regulation advocating the placement of "warning stickers" on Barbie doll boxes, which would be about as effective as the Parental Advisory stickers on CDs.

[Severus Snape]

So? That still doesn't address my point that adolescents these days are influenced far more by peer pressure and public icons than the size of the breasts on some overrated plastic toy doll brand. Why? Because girls play with those dolls at young ages, while peer pressure and the media are forces that penetrate the mind during the teenage years, when girls are most conscious about their image.

I'm not disagreeing with you but it is ridiculous to assume Barbie doesn't affect anything.

I'm also strongly opposed to any unnecessary government regulation advocating the placement of "warning stickers" on Barbie doll boxes, which would be about as effective as the Parental Advisory stickers on CDs.

How sadly unacquainted you are with sarcasm.

[Amnesiac]

I'm not disagreeing with you but it is ridiculous to assume Barbie doesn't affect anything.

Okay, but the effect it has, at least to me, is minimal at most.

How sadly unacquainted you are with sarcasm.

In this day and age of social conservatism and YouTube comments, I take every statement made on the Internet seriously, unless the author actually puts [sarcasm] tags around it.

[Sugaree]

I'm also strongly opposed to any unnecessary government regulation advocating the placement of "warning stickers" on Barbie doll boxes, which would be about as effective as the Parental Advisory stickers on CDs.

Tipper stickers are about as effective as mixing oil in water. We've already seen in the past how effective government regulation has been. This has been stated before: outlaw something and the more people want it. Let's move on.

In this day and age of social conservatism...

Oh not this again. Social conservatism is not the problem, it's a set political party system that is the problem.

[Severus Snape]

Okay, but the effect it has, at least to me, is minimal at most.

The mysterious and sometimes challenging aspect of personal opinion is that it is not always correct. The least I can do is to try and substantiate mine with some reasonably acceptable data.

In this day and age of social conservatism and YouTube comments, I take every statement made on the Internet seriously, unless the author actually puts [sarcasm] tags around it.

I try not to take any anonymous comment made on the internet seriously.

Oh not this again. Social conservatism is not the problem, it's a set political party system that is the problem.

Wha..?

[Infidelitas]

I used to rip their heads off :P

[Severus Snape]

I used to rip their heads off :P

lol me too... :P

Loved making my own line of "legless torso Barbie". My mom was not impressed and now I understand why. Those things are damned expensive.

[Infidelitas]

My sister was always mean to me, so i had to take my revenge

[Sugaree]

I used to rip their heads off :P

All I can think of now is this one episode of Roseanne when DJ rips off the heads of Barbie dolls...

[Amnesiac]

Oh not this again. Social conservatism is not the problem, it's a set political party system that is the problem.

Both of those are problems. The two-party system is horribly anti-progressive, and social conservatism is horribly anti-freedom. But then again, you know I like to piss on social conservatives just because they're all over the Internet, being pretentious douchebags. :cool:

The mysterious and sometimes challenging aspect of personal opinion is that it is not always correct. The least I can do is to try and substantiate mine with some reasonably acceptable data.

I cannot find any official study substantiating the claim that Barbie actually affects how adolescent girls look at themselves. I've only found a bunch of rants from "concerned parents" who don't use actual data in their evidence. I base my assumption on the fact that I have not heard or met one girl who has been 'affected' by Barbies; this is in no way an appropriate substitute for fact but it's the best I can do.

I try not to take any anonymous comment made on the internet seriously.

While I may not take it seriously, I do believe most people on the Internet are completely serious in their delusions.

[Sage]

long blonde hair blue eyes.... barbie is hot as hell

That looks has never appealed to me. I've always preferred girls with short, dark hair and exotic looking eyes- the sort of people every little boys' parents warn them about.

[Kaya]

Ok...aside from the real barbie doll. Heres what an online game for Bratz looks like:

http://www.bratz-dressup.com/game/4987/Cloe-from-Bratz.html


Notice the blonde hair, the makeup.

Personally, I think she's ugly. But, when I was younger...she was the most beautiful girl ever.

[Amnesiac]

Ok...aside from the real barbie doll. Heres what a typical online game for Bratz looks like:

http://www.bratz-dressup.com/game/4987/Cloe-from-Bratz.html


Notice the blonde hair, the makeup.

As well as the lack of a nose and ridiculously large eyes.

I can see how Barbie may have an influence on young girls, but Bratz... if it has any influence, it's probably more similar to what people like Britney Spears and, I dunno, Megan Fox do to girls – convince them to become sluts.

[Severus Snape]

I cannot find any official study substantiating the claim that Barbie actually affects how adolescent girls look at themselves. I've only found a bunch of rants from "concerned parents" who don't use actual data in their evidence. I base my assumption on the fact that I have not heard or met one girl who has been 'affected' by Barbies; this is in no way an appropriate substitute for fact but it's the best I can do.

Fair enough. I also seriously doubt any studies have been done anyway. It would be almost impossible to test and the study would presumably have to last for over a decade.

While I may not take it seriously, I do believe most people on the Internet are completely serious in their delusions.

Its not just people on the internet. This morning I had to waste precious seconds of my life reaching down to crumple up an invitation to the baptist church which someone had slid under my door without permission. Honestly its like legal littering, yet I'm pretty sure if I went around stuffing bits of soiled tissue under everyone's door I would at least be fined. What a messed up world we live in.

[Kaya]

I agree with that....bratz do seem like sluts

[Severus Snape]

Ok...aside from the real barbie doll. Heres what an online game for Bratz looks like:

http://www.bratz-dressup.com/game/4987/Cloe-from-Bratz.html


Notice the blonde hair, the makeup.

Personally, I think she's ugly. But, when I was younger...she was the most beautiful girl ever.

What the hell is that?!

I am going to make my own line of dolls called Slutz. I will make millions.

[Amnesiac]

Its not just people on the internet. This morning I had to waste precious seconds of my life reaching down to crumple up an invitation to the baptist church which someone had slid under my door without permission. Honestly its like legal littering, yet I'm pretty sure if I went around stuffing bits of soiled tissue under everyone's door I would at least be fined. What a messed up world we live in.

I find it ironic that the Jehovah's Witnesses think they have the right to come on my property even though every entrance to the neighborhood has a "no soliciting" sign, clearly posted, for everyone to see. I remember, they got angry at me after I refused to take their retarded brochure.

I agree with that....bratz do seem like sluts

Indeed. Now that's something I can see influencing young girls, but still, I don't really care anyway. It's the job of the parents in the end to make sure their daughter isn't turning into the school whore.

[Kaya]

Maybe that's part of the reason for the pregnant 12 year olds.

[Amnesiac]

Maybe that's part of the reason for the pregnant 12 year olds.

No, not really. As I said, it's the parents that make the most difference. When a 12-year-old gets pregnant, it's pretty obvious that her parents weren't keeping a watchful eye on her.

[Severus Snape]

I find it ironic that the Jehovah's Witnesses think they have the right to come on my property even though every entrance to the neighborhood has a "no soliciting" sign, clearly posted, for everyone to see. I remember, they got angry at me after I refused to take their retarded brochure.

They think they are entitled to everything, least of all heaven. With only 144,000 positions open you'd think Jehova Witnesses would be the least evangelic christian sect ever.

I think I am going to register myself as a pagan so they will stop showing up.

[Kaya]

True. True.

[Amnesiac]

They think they are entitled to everything, least of all heaven. With only 144,000 positions open you'd think Jehova Witnesses would be the least evangelic christian sect ever.

I think I am going to register myself as a pagan so they will stop showing up.

Actually, they haven't come by here for a few months. Maybe neighborhood security's getting around to them.

But whatever, we're off topic. Back to slutty dolls.

[Kaya]

Right. What about Ken? He's kinda..........odd looking.

[Severus Snape]

Right. What about Ken? He's kinda..........odd looking.

Ken's lack of penis is disturbing.

[Kaya]

It's because he isn't anatomically correct.

[Magus]

[-]Practising my sarcasm:[/-]
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/12/22/fulla_narrowweb__300x492,0.jpg

As you can see. The fully refurbished Middle-Eastern Barbie, aka Fulla, is used as a beautiful medium to spread the correct morals and ethics of Islam, the teachings of Allah all-mighty and the prophet Mohammad. Allah-Akbar!

This is how a barbie doll should be! Modest, clean, and nicely covered and with the correct way to put the hijabb!

Bah! So much for the secular American propagandistic dolls. Ingraining immorality and indecency; inciting harams like adultery and the like! Avert thyself from vile dolls, for it is the tools of the devil and the infidel Americans, attempting to sway us away from the right path!

Oh, and as the adventurous young boy that I was, I used to play with barbie dolls... in an instinctual way. :P <<-- Now, this is true.

[Jess]

I had barbies and I only had them to play with and dress up. I didn't really want to look like them...:/

[deadpie]

Barbie is always wearing high heels. Most children choose to keep their dolls long hair, short skirts, and tank tops.

Do you think barbie dolls are affecting the way young children believe a girl should dress?

Male and female children grow up with different toys. The girls get the barbie dolls and the boys might get the soldiers or gun things.

Which do you think is more important: A slutty barbie doll that leads the way to where someone dresses or an early onset of playing with plastic guns that leads to shooting people?


[Most] parents are known to teach there kids the golden rules so the children know what's right and wrong. Sure, toys you play with as kids could easily influence behavior in the future, but the possibility isn't that likely.

We're all influenced by many things in childhood. Scratch that, not just childhood, but just growing up overall. The idea of Barbies turning a girl into wanting to look like the perfect girl is just like the idea that violent video games will make kids want to blow holes through people's chests. Although, common sense and parental guidance will suggest that they probably won't go out killing people.

This is what we call a direct influence. The problem with direct influences is our way of common thinking and not everyone thinks the same. Which means you compare the girl who did starts dressing 'provocative' while she played with Barbies as a child and the girl who played with Barbies who didn't. Then you have to see about the ones who DIDN'T play with Barbies as a kid, but still came out 'provocative' looking.

Next, compare what else can lead to making girls dress 'provacative' or in such ways. It could be parental influence or even traummatic events can set someone onto wanting to look better. Does the Barbie look as much as a bigger influence than those two? I think not.

Finally, you have to see if this influence really is that harmful. I could see how a girl wanting to look perfect could maybe lead to anorexia, trying to be a perfectionist, things like that, but like I said, look at the other things that could influence this for young girls. The barbie doll, the parental influence, and the possibility of traummatic events. Which one is the most influential to provocative dressing in teenagers?

[Nevermore]

It's not just barbies that affects children. It's everywhere in the media, newspapers, commercials. I'll post a video tomorrow I found sadly interestingly true, that affects kids. It brings about eating disorders. I can honestly say, I didn't see many burnette barbies, so I wanted to be blonde when I was little, to be beutiful. Everything was blonde, blonde, blonde. DX Most of the kids at my school were blonde, now I don't want to be blonde. :D

[UnknownError]

If it's a toy it's Bratz.
They're more popular now. (My sister is 8, so I know. :P)
They wear fishnets and look like prostetutes.
Basically they're whores. :P

[Kaya]

True...Bratz are like that. Not as traditional...and makeup, makeup, makeup.

[Triceratops]

I do think it can trigger a girl to have a twisted perspective of how they should look. Although saying that, for years I'd avidly play dress up games with pretty Barbie dolls every single day for hours on end. As I grew up, not once did I ever think to myself "Oh I wish I looked like a Barbie". Then again, I was the girl who began savagely mutilating and burning all of my Barbie dolls at the age of about 9.

[Iceman]

To me this is like arguing that, Call of Duty, causes boys to join the army, or shoot people.

[Fact]

To me this is like arguing that, Call of Duty, causes boys to join the army, or shoot people.

You could say that. However, from what I understand, COD is a game that is meant to be played by older children, not 4 year olds. There's an age limit on COD (fair enough, I doubt people stick to it) which shows that it is recognised as a violent game.

Barbies, Action Men, Bratz, whatever they are, are dolls that basically send the same message to young children: "this is how you should be looking and acting". I don't think that's really debatable. What is debatable is whether or not this message actually corrupts the minds of children. I think that in some ways it does, but in others it can't do, otherwise every teenage girl that ever played with a Barbie would be a Barbie carbon copy.

[UnknownError]

To me this is like arguing that, Call of Duty, causes boys to join the army, or shoot people.

Basically anything can influence anything, which can be good and bad.

For example:
A kid gets on really well with their teachers and decides they want to be a teacher when the grow up.

OR

A kid see's Miley Cyrus's sex tape (It'll happen one day. :P) and decides to become a porn star like their idol.

[Triceratops]

I think the whole "everyone who has blue eyes and dyes their hair blonde wants to look like Barbie" stereotype that's going on is really silly. I have long blonde hair and blue eyes and I don't look like (or want to look like for that matter) a Barbie doll in the slightest. A lot of people tend to think I'm some dark and disturbed weirdo as opposed to some girly-girl who wears pink 24/7 and gets their nails done every week.

[Kaya]

How do you guys feel about children in pagents:

http://www.thephotoenhancer.com/MAKYNLI%20013-1.jpg

[UnknownError]

How do you guys feel about children in pagents:

image (http://www.thephotoenhancer.com/MAKYNLI%20013-1.jpg)

Lmao that's a cartoon... right? O.O

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i7zuU3Nh13k/SJp89kotUyI/AAAAAAAAAMY/OxDcb4v2MzY/s400/kid_beauty_pageant_149.jpg

^ That's a... bit more realistic looking.

[Kaya]

Nope, not a cartoon. She's probably a glamour pagent girl. Like...fake tan, fake teeth, fake hair, etc.
But yes, that one does look more realistic.

[tpzy94]

yeah i do i mean most girls wanna be like barbie cause she beautiful fit and all that good stuff and so when they cant be like her thats when they turn to more sad and depressing things i think... i mean thats how alot of people are like when i see buffer dudes or ripped dudes on tv i get kinda sad cause i wanna be more toned because they get all the ladies or whatever but then i realize God made us in his most perfect image so im ok with not be completely toned yet

[Fact]

yeah i do i mean most girls wanna be like barbie cause she beautiful fit and all that good stuff and so when they cant be like her thats when they turn to more sad and depressing things i think... i mean thats how alot of people are like when i see buffer dudes or ripped dudes on tv i get kinda sad cause i wanna be more toned because they get all the ladies or whatever but then i realize God made us in his most perfect image so im ok with not be completely toned yet

You just personified the stereotype. You just said that Barbie is beautiful, fit and "all that good stuff". Barbie's attributes are all unrealistic and fictional... not the mould for an ideal woman. This is why people end up having warped ideas on how they "should" or "shouldn't" look - because people assume that it's a "good" or the "right" way to be.

[SnowWhitesMaid]

Your kidding me right?
Barbies a toy. That'd be like me asking my brother if he wished he looked like a PS2.
Growing up I used to love playing Barbies and Polly Pockets- dressing them up and having them run around talking to eachother! She's like a best friend, a mom, a teacher and a princess all wrapped in one! :D
When were little, we can't wait to grow up. We want to have jobs and relationships and freedom! Barbie is a way to express that! Not because she runs around in tight clothes or has big plastic boobs but cause she can "be who you wanna be" ;)

[DarkNick]

Barbies and all these are toys that represents the average women-girl to the little ones.It's not exactly like brainwashing but it shows them how they should be in the future.As the young ones becomes a part of our community they are either making them a best friend because they want to follow this stereotype in the future,or they completely change them (dye their hair,cut their heads etc.) if they feel that they don't like this stereotype and they want to be something else.
Toys like Barbies aren't there only for entertainment purposes but they also want to let the kids see from a point of view how does a human look like.
So an average little girl will say hey I want to look like her etc.
These games exist to make children fantasize but in a helpful (let's say) way without them noticing it.They don't understand it.They just do things that every kid does in their age...

[Spook]

Hmm...I do think that Barbie influences the way that young children dress. When I was a baby, my sister would get mad because I would eat the barbies' hair off. xD So anyways, yes, I have seen toddlers carrying around barbies, and the toddlers were wearing little short skirts and tank tops with flashy colors. :P

[Jennifer's Ashes]

How do you guys feel about children in pagents:

image (http://www.thephotoenhancer.com/MAKYNLI%20013-1.jpg)

disgusting. things lik that teach girls from such young age about beauty ideals and that being pretty is all that matters. ever seen toddlers and tiaras on DMAX or TLC? their values are all ready screwed up from age 5.


Your kidding me right?
Barbies a toy. That'd be like me asking my brother if he wished he looked like a PS2.
Growing up I used to love playing Barbies and Polly Pockets- dressing them up and having them run around talking to eachother! She's like a best friend, a mom, a teacher and a princess all wrapped in one! :D
When were little, we can't wait to grow up. We want to have jobs and relationships and freedom! Barbie is a way to express that! Not because she runs around in tight clothes or has big plastic boobs but cause she can "be who you wanna be" ;)

^^ bravo.