No Bratz Dolls Please
I know I am supposed to be writing about issues dealing with saving money and time, but I just have to say something about these dolls. I feel that being thrifty goes with many areas of life, and not just with money.
I just can’t get over the toys that toy manufacturers are coming out with these days. I look at these Bratz dolls and do you know what automatically comes to mind? I’m sure you can imagine.
Here’s a little something I found at Wikipedia:
The parental group Dads and Daughters was outraged by the release of the Bratz Secret Date collection. The dolls were packaged with a Bratz and matched with a mystery Boyz doll behind the door on the left. A window showing the doll’s feet would provide a clue to which Boyz doll it was . . . The group complained that the dolls sent a negative message, and that they were forcing young girls to grow up too soon, and allegedly promoting the idea of sneaking out of the house to go on blind dates with complete strangers.
The allegations don’t stop there. There are other claims of the dolls wearing thongs and singing profanities. The American Psychological Association is concerned over the self image and lifestyle these dolls promote.
Bratz dolls come dressed in sexualized clothing such as miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and feather boas. Although these dolls may present no more sexualization of girls or women than is seen in MTV videos, it is worrisome when dolls designed specifically for 4- to 8-year-olds are associated with an objectified adult sexuality.
– APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls
If these dolls are targeted to girls that are 4-8 years old, then I’m confused about these horoscopes that are on their site.
You won’t admit you still have feelings for that old crush of yours. Puh-lease sistah, it’s so obvious! Hey, he’s a total hottie, so it’s understandable! Don’t hold back those feelings girlfriend!
For those of you that are wondering, I realize that Bratz dolls are not the only dolls out there seeming to promote this sexual image. I’m with Hsien, I’ll take the sweet and innocent dolls.
Source: Wikipedia, Images: Toys ‘R Us
32 opinions for No Bratz Dolls Please
Revka
Feb 26, 2007 at 9:51 am
Ugh! I hate those things and will NOT buy them for my daughters! If someone has the lack of discernment to purchase one for them, it will be gone, gone, gone! This is soooo wrong.
Karen
Feb 26, 2007 at 10:12 am
No kidding. They can save their money.
Char
Feb 26, 2007 at 10:37 am
There is nothing cute, educational, or whatever about Bratz. They are not allowed in our house either. If the girls get one as a gift - it goes right back.
Personally, we like the much more wholesome (but not thrifty) American Girl dolls. I like the educational (Reading and history) aspect of them so much more.
Karen
Feb 26, 2007 at 10:42 am
I agree Char. I’d definitely be taking a Bratz doll back to the store. My kids aren’t allowed to watch SpongeBob either. Some might roll their eyes at that, but there’s nothing funny about a 3-year-old calling someone an idiot after she heard it on the show.
Erica
Feb 27, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Congratulations, this post has been nominated for a Hot Stuff Award at GNMParents (www.gnmparents.com).
Good Luck
Hot Stuff: Vote For YOUR Favourite | GNMParents
Feb 27, 2007 at 3:34 pm
[…] Megin has nominated this article ‘No Bratz Dolls Please‘. Megin says she hates these things and I’m inclined to agree with her. When it comes to toys I’m pretty relaxed, I don’t mind the odd cowboy outfit with holster or lightsabre or a bit of ‘dressing up’ make-up, but these dolls go too far. They won’t be taking residence in my house, that’s for sure. Well done to Thrifty Mommy for highlighting a topic that I’ve heard a lot of unhappy parents complaining about. Gift Inspiration The Not Quite Crunchy Parent has a post on giving the gift of experience. Megin nominated this and posted something similar herself a while back which really struck a chord with me. So much so that on behalf of Erin I requested such experiences and she was lucky enough to receive vouchers for a ceramic centre, vouchers to the zoo and we were even given cinema, meal and accompanying babysitting vouchers This really is the way forward. […]
Gerald
Feb 27, 2007 at 4:39 pm
I guess if you want trashy daughters, then BRATZ would be the way to go.
Kristen King
Feb 27, 2007 at 6:41 pm
These toys just make me sick. I was so proud of my friend’s little girl. She received one as a gift from an adult family member and she burst into tears because she didn’t want it because they upset her so much. She’s only 6! I was really impressed with her. She knows that they’re not good toys for kids, and her parents never even talked to her about it. She figured it out on her own.
Amy
Feb 28, 2007 at 7:11 am
Congratulations on your nomination! I am not a fan of these dolls myself. My daughter is not at the age where we are worrying about this yet, but it is good to be aware of what is going on right now!!
Thanks for swinging by my blog!
mcewen
Feb 28, 2007 at 9:48 am
I suspect we’re swimming against the tide. I used to think that Cabbage Patch dolls were objectionable - little did I know that the next generation would produce for the current crop.
Cheers
Kristen King
Feb 28, 2007 at 11:57 am
Incidentally, and I meant to mention this earlier, since when are 4-year-olds even aware of their horoscopes, much less going online to check them? I mean, seriously!
And has anyone caught the Bratz cartoon? I sat through about 15 minutes one day and found it so offensive that I had to turn it off. It was like the cartoon version of 90210, The Bitch Years.
Karen
Feb 28, 2007 at 1:09 pm
They were right to name these dolls Bratz. I guess if you want your daughter to be a brat, then you should buy these dolls.
I agree about the horoscope thing. I had to include that in the article because it blew me away too.
Kristen King
Feb 28, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Cabbage Patch dolls? Do tell! Garbage Patch Kids, definitely, but the originals? I’m dying to hear what you thought about them.
kk
kellys
Mar 1, 2007 at 10:39 am
I was introduced to the Bratz dolls when they were going to be sold with thongs. HOW REDICULOUS!!!! I am so glad the company changed thier m inds and put underwear on them. I’m still not buying them. I think they are trashy and wouldn’t have them in my house if they were free.
Tara
Mar 1, 2007 at 11:46 am
My cousin loves these dolls and I can’t stand them. I think the clothes they wear are trashy as is there name. I’m not surprised by the wikipedia comment either. they are sticking around it seems though.
Karen
Mar 1, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I know what you mean Kelly. I had someone offer me all of her daughter’s bratz dolls. I turned down the offer. What’s really interesting about this, is her daughter is really sassy!
Carnival of Family Life - Be A Good Dad
Mar 5, 2007 at 11:32 am
[…] Karen presents No Bratz Dolls Please posted at Thrift Mommy. […]
Thrifty Mommy - The Carnival of Family Life 3/5/07
Mar 5, 2007 at 1:16 pm
[…] This week’s Carnival of Family Life host is Mike at Be a Good Dad. There are many articles to keep you busy. My post No Bratz Dolls Please is also included in the carnival. While you’re at Mike’s site, you might want to wander around. Even though I’m not a dad, I many times enjoy his articles on parenting. And sometimes it helps to read things from a dad’s perspective. Technorati Tags: Be A Good Dad, blogging carnival, family […]
skeet
Mar 5, 2007 at 9:34 pm
And here I thought I was the only old fuddy-duddy who finds such things objectionable. Don’t even get me started on the gasket I blew the first time I saw the matching thong and bra sets being sold for little girls. Grrrrrrrr!
Great choice to post in the Carnival of Family Life! I’m glad I’ve had the chance to see so many wonderful posts!
Karen
Mar 5, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Skeet: You’re definitely not the only one that finds these dolls trashy. My kids were with me at T.J. Maxx today and they had these dolls there. My daughter was asking about them. I told her we would not be having them in our house. She knows what a brat is, so I explained that we didn’t need any brats in our house. Thanks for visiting our site. I hope you’ll drop by again sometime!
Julia
Mar 16, 2007 at 10:25 pm
To each their own when choosing toys for their children, but I would like to note that my daughter is eight and loves her many Bratz dolls which she has played with since she was four. She is bright, happy, decidedly untrashy, and well-behaved. The dolls don’t affect her behavior and outlook; our parenting affects her behavior and outlook. And if someone says that I am a bad parent for letting her dress up dolls she loves, then so be it. She plays with her American Girl dolls in the exact same way. I remember dressing my Barbies in lingerie when I was a kid…
Karen
Mar 16, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Hi Julia. Thanks for visiting and for disagreeing with us all in an appropriate manner.
I believe you when you say that your daughter is decidedly untrashy and well-behaved, but aren’t you concerned about the adult sexuality they promote? Sometimes there are affects that are not seen until later.
I also agree that parenting affects children’s behavior, but I also believe that tv, music, and other outside influences affect them as well.
Julia
Mar 16, 2007 at 10:56 pm
No, I don’t worry about her being affected by the sexuality they promote because I am very open with her about sex and she is aware of the mostly unattainable ‘perfect woman’ shown in magazines and on TV. We recently had ‘the talk’ because I am more worried about her peers, even at this age, affecting her behavior than I am some dolls. We live in such a strange society that is prudish when it comes to talking frankly about sexual issues, yet everywhere you look it’s pushed on you. I don’t believe that she is going to one day wake up and decide to dress like a —- just because she played with Bratz dolls when she was younger or watched the cartoon on TV. It’s going to be because she wants to look like her friends and we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it (though, hopefully, if I’ve done my job right, it won’t come to that). She knows that Bratz are toys and that real women have noses and feet that don’t pop off.
kellys
Mar 17, 2007 at 6:36 am
Julia, I agree with you that our parenting skills have alot ot do with how our kids turn out. I like the idea that you bring up that sex is pushsed on you all the time. I know we will have to have “the talk” sooner with our little girl than my mom did with me.
I don’t think you are a bad parent for letting your daughter play with the dolls. I like that you seem to be a very active parent with your kids. It seems that she plays with all kinds of dolls. Good for you.
I however, subscribe to a phrase that my sister told me last summer. She told me that our kids will always go one step less conservatgive than we dress them and allow them to go. So if I think a crop top is ok, then she will want to wear a belly shirt that barely goes below her chest. This is a generalization of course but it makes sense. Think about how we were allowed to dress nd the way we actually dressed when we were in school.
Her friends will have a lot to do with what she wants to wear. I think that how we dress as moms has a lot to do with it as well.
kellys
Mar 17, 2007 at 6:39 am
I am enjoying the comments here on Bratz dolls. I think sharing ideas with other parents is what Thrifty Mommy is all about. Thanks for talking.
Julia
Mar 17, 2007 at 7:55 am
Kellys: I agree with what you’re saying about how we as parents dress ourselves and them affecting our kids, too. She always wears long t-shirts (as do I - even in high school I wore baggy clothes, but at least they were in then) and I don’t allow her to wear anything tummy bearing - inappropriate for an eight-year-old in my book, but I see little girls like that all the time! I guess that just brings my point full circle. A doll isn’t going to cause a girl to act trashy or sassy - it’s how her environment is presented to her. If it’s bad and she has Bratz dolls, maybe she WILL turn out not-so-great, but if it’s positive and she has Bratz dolls, I think it’s just a matter of knowing how to differentiate between play and reality. I am comfortable that my daughter knows how to do that and I trust her. She adores her Bratz and I have no problem with that!
Julia
Mar 17, 2007 at 8:08 am
Oh, and I love Spongebob as much as they do - it is completely hilarious! LOL Different strokes for different folks is what makes the world go round!
Revka
Mar 17, 2007 at 10:29 am
Wow! This discussion sure has taken off! Julia, I understand where you’re coming from in saying that allowing your daughter to play with Bratz does not make you a bad parent. I agree.
However, I also agree that these dolls are portraying women in a horrible way, and I think it is done intentionally to condition our children to be accepting of more “radical” dress and behavior. Target is now pushing bras for little girls, and our culture keeps pushing our children to grow up too soon. Like KellyS said, what we allow in moderation, our children will carry to excess. I love the American Dolls and others like that because they set a wholesome example for my children to copy. Even though the Bratz are just dolls, I believe that the more our children play with them the more normal their clothing and implied behavior will become to our children.
Julia
Mar 17, 2007 at 11:42 pm
I think that our culture has had no problem accepting radical dress and behavior without implication from any dolls. Each decade has progressively become more lax in sexual innuendo and what constitutes shocking behavior. She learns more from the girls at the mall wearing t-shirts three sizes too small and jeans riding at the crotchline than she does from her Bratz. I know a couple girls from her class who do not own Bratz dolls and talk about boys and dating and tuck their shirts up so that their bellies show AT EIGHT while my daughter who has played with Bratz for years will tug at the bottom of her shirt if it’s beginning to get too short and still finds boys yucky.
So, do Bratz portray women in a bad way? Take a close look - Bratz are teenagers. Look at the teenagers today. I think that it’s more likely that Bratz are reflecting on kids than that kids are relecting on Bratz. Toymakers want to stay current so they try to mimic in the dolls what’s actually happening in society. So I would say that Bratz are actually portraying kids in a realistic way whether it’s something that anyone wants to admit or not. I agree that the trend of trying to make our children grow up too fast is ridiculous, but I don’t blame Bratz for that. That is wholly a product of our impatient, convenience-oriented culture.
kellys
Mar 18, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Julia, it’s not that I blame the Bratz dolls for how our society teaches little girls that showing their bellies is ok. After all, they were going to put thongs on the dolls until parents complained enough. It’s that I don’t want to support something that so obvoiusly goes against what I will let my daughter do. I would not buy her a teenage doll that gives birth which says that we should be tolerant of teenage sex. Granted, it happens and we need to teach our kids that that kind of behavior is not acceptable but that we love them unconditionally anyway. So why would I give her a doll that I don’t approve of the dress code when there are other dolls like the American doll series that does fit my lifestyle.
I don’t think that makes me narrow minded, just trying to be consistant with what I teach her. Nor do I think that soemone who lets their daughter play with a Bratz doll is a bad parent. I think we are just different in our approach but want our kids to make the right decisions.
Julia
Mar 21, 2007 at 8:38 pm
This is just one of those things where a parent has to do what they feel is right. I don’t feel as though I’m promoting loose behavior by letting my daughter play with Bratz. On the contrary, I don’t try to shelter my kids from much because by forbidding certain things I feel that I am setting myself up for rebellion down the road and if they are able to take the mystery, so to speak, out of the situation, then they won’t be as liable to seek these things out in the future. That’s why I am very frank with them and often give them choices between the good and the not so good and then talk to them about the decisions they have made. I do not believe it’s the video game, the song, or the doll that makes a kid decide to behave in a certain way - it may be the catalyst, but it’s not the cause. If I can make my children aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly and teach them how to make good choices among them, then I will be exceedingly happy. I’m not offended by Bratz and don’t think they reflect on women any worse than, say, the average teenage girl walking through the mall these days.
Tracee Sioux
May 22, 2007 at 11:23 am
I’m late in chiming in, but I strongly objected when my daughter’s soccer team name was Bratz, read all about it at http://www.traceesioux.blogspot.com/2007/02/go-bratz-go.html . Next season, we are repooling because I can’t stand supporting those blasted horrific dolls.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: