Barbie dolls Archives - Mother 2 Mother Blog

January 10, 2014 by Rhonda Gales

Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?’http’:’https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+’://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js’;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);

Would you buy a plus size Barbie doll for your daughter? Apparently the idea is being looked at; however, the plus size Barbie shown is drawing controversy. Facebook group, Plus Size Modeling, generated the question “Should toy companies start making plus-sized dolls? They have gotten 36,000 likes and 1,600 shares on the idea.

Personally, I think it’s a great idea. Most women are not pencil thin. Most have curves and are proud of them. The plus-size Barbie shown was produced by artists at Worth1000.com, not Mattel. Mattel has not stated, to my knowledge, that they are entertaining the idea of a plus-size Barbie.

This plus size Barbie has come under fire by many. Many believe the image created is not how plus size women should be portrayed. In fact, many think the Barbie shown is obese not plus size. There is a difference. Not all plus-size women are obese. Did you notice that the plus-size Barbie has a triple chin and is basically three times the size of the original Barbie.

When I first saw the doll, my response was WTH. I am a plus size. Yep, size 12/14W and I am comfortable in the skin that I’m in. My goal is to be healthy and if I can accomplish that at a size 12/14, than I’m happy. I don’t have 3 chins and I’m not three times the size of a pencil thin woman. Most of the women in my family are plus size. My daughter however is petite. Imagine that.

I believe in diversity and want to expose my granddaughter to a variety of doll images. I purchase Black, Hispanic and Caucasian dolls for her. After all, the world is made up of many people from many backgrounds in a variety of hues. I want her to see the world for what it is and know that it’s okay to not be pencil thin. I want her to know that women of color are beautiful, intelligent and successful. I want her to know that not everyone looks alike, has the same shape or is the same size. That’s the beauty of the human race. I don’t know what genetics have in store for her, so I want her to have this knowledge at an early age.

If a plus size Barbie is to be marketed, plus size women should be on the team while she is being developed. I wonder who was behind the development of this doll at Worth1000.com, but more importantly who approved the final plan. They obviously need to return to the drawing the board and take some time to learn about healthy full figure women.

Mattel’s Burqa Barbie Controversy

November 23, 2009 by Rhonda Gales

Barbie is involved in another controversy, i.e. Burqa Barbie. It seems that Mattel has offended some Islamic women, and they’re demanding that Mattel take note. Mattel has produced 500 Barbies in a Burqa for auction in Italy. The auction is part of Barbie’s 50th anniversary. Proceeds will go to the Rewrite the Future, a charity, which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict.

A representative from Mattel has stated, “I think this is really important for girls, wherever they are from they should have the opportunity to play with a Barbie that they feel represents them”.

Muslim women are offended because the Burqa is not a true representation of Islamic dress, so where is Mattel coming from? Islamic women are fighting to not have to wear a Burqa. The Burqa is believed by Muslim women to be a garment forced on them during the Taliban, it is not mentioned in the Quran; therefore, it should not be seen as a part of their traditional dress. The Quran is our Bible. They see the Burqa as a means to oppress women. Muslim women are required to wear Hijabs, a scarf, to cover their heads and to dress modestly only. The Burqa is worn over a woman’s normal dress when she is outside the home in some Islamic countries. It is made to cover them from head to toe. Because of political instability, it was seen as a way of protecting women so they were forced to wear them.

I normally don’t post on religious or cultural issues, but I believe this concern was important enough to bring to light. Especially since it involved a toy maker. I am somewhat knowledgeable of Islam and I am aware that Islamic women are fighting for rights as women. Rights that we take for granted in this country. Muslim women believe that Mattel should have taken the time to understand the Islamic culture and what it represents before they produced a doll that supposedly represents traditional Islamic dress. Especially, a Barbie doll that little girls will be playing with. Burqas are currently the center of a big controversy in Western Europe. They are being banned because they are not a part of the traditional Islamic dress.I posted on the Burqa Barbie because so many problems are created simply because statements and opinions are formed without having all the facts. What’s funny is Mattel’s Barbie has been banned in most Islamic countries. They see her as being too westernized for their little girls. She has been replaced with the Fulla doll (shown above). This doll is more culturally correct as far as Islamic dress than the Burqa Barbie produced by Mattel.

I patronize Mattel and I will continue; however, a little research will go a long way when it comes to cultural and religious issues. Do you think Mattel should have done their homework before they produced a culturally incorrect Barbie? Do you think the focus was on money rather than the fight of Islamic women for their rights? Would love to hear your thoughts on the Burqa Barbie.