| | | | Bratz V. Barbie: Are Our Little Girls Growing Up Too Fast? |
By Sara Richmond Walls
When I was young, I loved Barbie. I loved dressing her, styling her hair, and manipulating her life. These days, Barbie has some stiff competition in the world of little-girl play time. That competition is stemming from a product created by MGA Entertainment, a product known as Bratz. Somewhere between tweens and teenagers, these fashion-focused dolls are taking over the world.
Though they were originally born in 2001, Bratz dolls seem to be increasingly growing in popularity. Mattel has even produced their own line of hip dolls known as Flavas to try and keep up. When you compare the difference in appearance and where these dolls seem to be heading in their lives, it’s not hard to see why these girls are creating controversy among parents.
Bratz V. Barbie Fashion
Barbie’s sense of fashion over the years has changed with the decades. Depending on the type of Barbie, she could be wearing a mini-skirt and sweater, or an elegant evening gown. Typically, Barbie wears moderate make-up and a charming smile. The Bratz dolls, conversely, wear thick makeup, eyes lined heavily with liner and shadowed with shadow. Her eyes are locked in a seductive gaze and her lips heavily lined and vibrantly colored, the Bratz doll wears low-rise jeans, halter tops, and spiky boots. Though there have been Barbie collections, such as Lingerie Barbie, that may not be appropriate for children, it is generally easy for parents to find more conservatively clothed Barbie dolls.
Bratz V. Barbie Occupation
In addition to fashion, Barbie and the Bratz dolls also have different take on career life. Barbie has been everything, from a veterinarian to an astronaut. Bratz, however, spend their time hanging out at the mall and enjoying slumber parties. Perhaps playtime is not the time for little girls to be worrying about what they want to do for the rest of their lives, but there is something to be said for the life that these dolls are portraying. Barbie spends her time challenging male-dominating roles such as doctor and scientist. The Bratz dolls, however, seem to hold a superficial mentality based on materialism.
Should You Be Concerned?
A line is drawn between the dolls that children play with during playtime and how they want to live their own lives. Whether a child prefers Bratz over Barbie or not, it is important that parents explain to them the difference between real-life and make-believe. It is up to the parents to establish how much make-up is too much and how low is too low for a pair of blue jeans. While Barbie also had a large amount of controversy surrounding her when she first appeared on the scene, parents should be aware of the toys their children are playing with and how it is affecting their perceptions of the world in which we live.
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Hi I'm Angelina, Angela 4 short, I think the bratz dolls are really cool. I used to play with the Barbie dolls all the time, then my Grandma got me my first Bratz doll, in my head I was thinking oh, this isn't as cool as my barbie dolls, but then I started playing with it and I'm like, WOW! this is soo cool! Who cares if the bratz don't have jobs, it dosent mean you can't make them have jobs, with all the stuff that they make, I think the kids can use all the furniture & makeup to turn it into a bueaty parlor, or a hair salon. Isn't playing with dolls all about creating an imagination!? I think so.
Angelina
I have to admit that I am truly disgusted at the bratz dolls. No, I'm not a concerned parent, I'm only 14. I think that the bratz dolls do nothing but reinforce vacuous sexist stereotypes. Yes barbie isnt exactly a feminist, but at least she keeps it covered if you know what I mean. She looks like the type of doll that a little girl could play with. The bratz dolls look like toy hookers that would come free with some pornography collection. It's dolls like these that make girls think being a slut is cool, and I feel as though us feminists are slowly being reduced in numbers
Ellen
I hate the Bratz line. I am a feminist, and I think that the Bratz dolls are making it look like being a whore is the right thing. Instead of thinking about what to do when they grow up, they can dream about slumber parties and boys and shopping; things that, eventually, will make no impact on their later life. I used to own ONE of the dolls, and I replaced her slutty clothes with more modest ones. Are they really about friendship? Or are the Bratz dolls in league with Playboy to get more Bunnies?
Anastasia
I used to love barbies when i was little, these Bratz dolls are hopeless and brainwashing kids little as 4 to wear makeup and wear platform shoes. Iam disgusted shove a little sense into kids these days they dont know what they want. G string and padded bars,do they need it NO!! parents should be ashamed of themselves think about what you child would turn into those half naked skanks on the box! just tell them NO you cant have it that will kick some sense into them. And kids if you think your inocent with you brazt dolls youre not its called sucking you in and you paying the proce for it!!
Gen
I seem to recall Barbie going through her share of scandals with feminist groups. It's all in how you present these things to your children. If you lead them to believe that these dolls depict real life people, then you may have your hands full. my kids play with Bratz (they are 4 and 8), and they have them "interact" with Barbie and Ken, but never have I seen or heard them say that they wanted to look like these dolls (other than maybe wanting to dye their hair, but that is a big thing in my house, so there are other contributing factors - lol). I find no shame in allowing my children to play "make believe" games with TOYS.
dianerene
I have a brat doll and it is so fun to play with.Yes there are some things that are inappropiate,but i wouldn't think of them that bad. there's only 1 thing wrong with it. the clothes. I like the idea of them making their own magazines for a business. also, there never afraid to jump for their dreams. Another thing is their friendship is very powerful.So before you jump to conclusions about these things you should give it a good chance first. you should also tell your little kids how to really dress.So they wouldn't get caught in that kind of situation. They are going to see bad dressing with or without a brat doll.There's bad dressing everywhere.
anderea
The problem I have with these dolls is not only the way they dress, but also in the name. Being a brat is a BAD thing... NOT a cool thing! It's like that damn song... "I'm BOSSY." Now these girls are going to go to school, and think that not only dressing like that, but also being a snobby brat are the coolest thing, and then treat those not so fortunate even more cruel than they have in the past. And then the girls who can't look and act like that feel worse about themselves because they can't be a "brat." It's not like kids have enough stuff to deal with in school without girls going out of their way to be slutty brats.
Jamie
This debate has gotten way out of control, i think. If a parent thinks that a Bratz doll is going to affect their child so much, then why even buy it for them in the first place ? No little girl really cares about the whole slinky clothing, puffy glossed lips and spiky high heels - they like to use their imagination to make Barbie and Bratz be friends . Some of the Bratz clothing is innappropriate, and yes always wearing dark eyeshadow and lipstick isn't always the way to go, but is Barbie much different ? Her crazily disproportioned body is NOTHING to look up to , girls will put themselves under pressure to be that skinny . Just because Barbie doesn't wear make-up doesn't mean she is less slutty , and just because she wants to be a Vet in one of her crazy 'New!' styles doesn't mean she is something to look upto . If you notice your kids going out of control because of a doll , then there are problems . But until then , let your kids imagination run wild .
Tash
This bratz doll phenomena is soul-wrenching and morally disgusting. I agree with the comments in line with the dangers of promoting promiscous attitudes, self-hesteem based on a plastered materialistic image, and I believe this isnt even an appropiate for full-grown, "mature" women, let alone the impressionable, innocent hearts and minds of children, "tweens", and teens.
Rob
Seriously i think that there is no problems with girls playing with bratz.Barbie isn't perfect either there is moreaccounts of girls trying to look like barbies than looking like bratz.I think both teach girls to live life while your young and be great in what you do.They both have there problems ppl!
De'angline
I have a 4 year old niece, who loves bratz. she would be so upset if I was to tell her that bratz are not going to be in the shops anymore. I bet alot of the fans will be angry and upset too.
Chii
Hii, I have a Little daughter, and I think That Barbie ans Bratz are a little mature for then youger ages,such as my daughter
Logan
i'm a teen and i think bratz are better than barbies because they have a variety of fashions, races, and styles. If barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends? Bratz appeal to kids more than parents because generations change. In an interview with a parent who favored barbie and her daughter, who she forced to only buy barbies, the parent obviously liked the barbie dolls while the child said that she liked bratz because of their fashion even though her mom disliked them. Think about it people, generations change, barbie won't be number one forever. Bratz are truly so much better! Mattel always tries to eliminate "doll company rivals" simply to keep barbie on top. They sue companies because of petty reaons such as, "the outer part of the eye is similar", or the "wave in the hair looks the same". I mean come on! Barbies are all white blonds while bratz are asian, african american, spanish, white, and ALL races. Carter Bryant, the creator of bratz, came up with the idea HIMSELF. That doesn't mean the company he was working with, Mattel, owns it! He drew a doodle on a piece of paper, saved it, quit, got hired at MGA, and showed then HIS idea which THEY accpeted. If mattel owns bratz, then that means that if I drew a picture of a flower in a classroom at my school, the school administation would own it. Face the truth, each idea is unique and some similarities dsn't always mean copyright infringement exists. Think about the Constitution of the United States of America's rights, powers, and ammendments. Mattel made lawsuits with polly pocket, bratz, my scene, and even betty spaghetti! Do you even remeber betty spaghet, the funky doll who appealed to young kids? I didn't think so, especially after what Mattel did to them. UGH! I mean come on, listen to the voices of children around the world. Parents need to learn to accept their child's view on these matters, it's not like we kids are going to dress like barbies OR bratz. End of story, bratz rule!
Anonymous teen
i think bratz are cool but barbies just scare me cause of their scary faces, growing up i loved barbies but my cousin she likes bratz i'm only 22 and right now i'm pregnant with a little boy i'm going to name him trent.And i think bratz are good cause my 7 year old cousin loves to play with dolls and she always plays with bratz and not scary barbie dolls.
Bridgette
I agree, Barbie is a little scarey. Plus her measurements frighten me too.
ChristineB
barbies are alright but bratz are awsome barbies have make up and wear high-heels and so does brats but barbies are not a good influence because on barbie .com they have a hairstyle game and you cut their hair and put make up on wash and blow dry there hair and dress them in like high-heels and stuff so little kids r tring to put make up on like barbies and bratz but other little kids will try to cut there hair and stuff and try to act like barbies theres a lot of bad things with barbie and only a couple of things in bratz like high-heels and make up so they should let bratz still be aloud and delete barbies :]
megan
I'm 12 and once i heard about this i felt so sad and angry on the 'concerened' moms! Bratz have thought me 2 believe in myself, not care what other ppl think about my fashion. style or dreams! But barbie, barbie took me into imaginery worls full of sweetness, and once i turned 7 i found out about the dark side and couldnt stop asking myself- 'why isn't it like for barbie, is there something wrong with me?' Barbie has make up, high heels and mini's, so do bratz! So Bratz r sexy but Barbies have big chests and r perfect, the bratz aren't and ppl aren't!END OF STORY:(
anonymous
excellent post, anonymous
dianerene
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