A bonding moment...
I have been really enjoying my new co-worker – she is young – younger than my daughter.
We are having a blast together and I am bummed out because I want the powers that be to hire her…..but of course they probably won’t – yeah so what else is new….
At any rate we began discussing our childhoods, mainly the TV shows we watched and the toys we played with. She mentioned mainly things that I refer to as ‘nostalgia toys’ – cause apparently certain generations of parents wanted their kids to play with the same toys they played with as kids: Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Bright, My Little Pony, Care Bears…
I (of course), gave her crap about this – we were both giggling like school girls.
Then we moved onto that doll of every little girl dreams: Barbie
She agreed with me that Barbie was/is evil and we both admitted we hated Barbie – it was a bonding moment.
This girl brings out the silly in me so I began musing about why we don’t see less-perfect ‘model-like’ Barbie dolls – some examples I cam up with:
‘Cleft Palate Barbie’
‘Hunch-Back Barbie’
‘Quadriplegic Barbie’
‘4-eyes Barbie’
‘Bad-Hair-Day Barbie’
‘Bag-Lady Barbie’
‘Hooker Barbie’ (but if you ask me she’s already kind of slutty looking)
I am sure you all can come up with your own – the hell with all these celebrity Barbie(s), let’s get down to the nitty gritty ‘real-life’ type of dolls every kid needs for that sort of wake up call/slap-in-the-face feel to their toys – boys have war toys – why not give girls equally as depressing models to play with?
*evil grin*
We are having a blast together and I am bummed out because I want the powers that be to hire her…..but of course they probably won’t – yeah so what else is new….
At any rate we began discussing our childhoods, mainly the TV shows we watched and the toys we played with. She mentioned mainly things that I refer to as ‘nostalgia toys’ – cause apparently certain generations of parents wanted their kids to play with the same toys they played with as kids: Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Bright, My Little Pony, Care Bears…
I (of course), gave her crap about this – we were both giggling like school girls.
Then we moved onto that doll of every little girl dreams: Barbie
She agreed with me that Barbie was/is evil and we both admitted we hated Barbie – it was a bonding moment.
This girl brings out the silly in me so I began musing about why we don’t see less-perfect ‘model-like’ Barbie dolls – some examples I cam up with:
‘Cleft Palate Barbie’
‘Hunch-Back Barbie’
‘Quadriplegic Barbie’
‘4-eyes Barbie’
‘Bad-Hair-Day Barbie’
‘Bag-Lady Barbie’
‘Hooker Barbie’ (but if you ask me she’s already kind of slutty looking)
I am sure you all can come up with your own – the hell with all these celebrity Barbie(s), let’s get down to the nitty gritty ‘real-life’ type of dolls every kid needs for that sort of wake up call/slap-in-the-face feel to their toys – boys have war toys – why not give girls equally as depressing models to play with?
*evil grin*
posted by Colette at 2:57 PM
8 Comments:
You know what I'd like to see? An obese barbie!
There are all the "slut diva" variety of toys. Of course the drudgery and depressing state of life is maintained with the ever popular "housewife" toys of kitchens, dishes, vacuums, stoves, and realistic crying babies.
Still not good enough? What about the career aspiring toys like McDonald's cash register or self-diminishing vanity dress-up sets and too-early-makeup kits?
It's a gender equal-opportunity demoralizing market out there for toys.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tink,
I agree wholeheartedly
Darling,
No offense but I don't agree with you.
Perhaps you should ask the 'real' women who grew up being forced to play with this unrealistic plastic doll....
Housework is only drudgery if you make it so - so is the hell of having kids - and/or if you have a partner who doesn't give a fuck...that's what makes those situations depressing.
There's nothing to compare with giving boys soldiers and weapons of mass destruction to play with. Perhaps some of the girls would be happier with such toys?
McDonald cash registers have no gender, Erin - but I'll bet parents are more likely to give it to their girls...
As far as vanity and make up kits - I agree, I don't think girls should play with that crap either...but it's way better for their body image issues than some slutty blonde bimbo of a doll that isn't even real looking (unless there's (pun intended) plastic surgery involved and lots of money)- Barbie is - always has been and always will be an unrealistic representation of 'real' women out there...
Yes darling there are plenty of demoralizing toys on both sides of the gender fence - but I was comparing Barbie to boys playing with war toys, GI fucking JOE - there IS no comparison...
True, cash registers aren't gender specific, but likewise they are mostly given to girls - parent ignorance and gender-typing at work here. GI Joe isn't gender specific either, but parents mostly give them to boys. So why is that?
I contend that GI Joe/Bionicle/Superheros/etc is what boys ask for. My Katie however asks for those kinds of toys too. She's actually more likely to play with "boy" toys than fru-fru girl toys. You've seen her out playing swords and guns with the boys and the "bad seeds" (also girls).
And why must girl toys be pink, soft, cute, or crafts?
Gender typing is unfortunately societal. Try finding me a 13yo boy who likes to make bead bracelets and doesn't get his ass kicked regularly at school, and you'll find a boy who doesn't tell anyone of his hobbies any more, other than perhaps his mom.
One other thought, as bad as the show is, Power Rangers have as many girls as they do boys. Can you say "Pink Ranger"?
OK say it with me now....
People are stupid...out and out stupid - and they raise equally (or more) stupid people to carry on the legacy.
I contend it's TV we have to blame for a lot of stereotypical gender assignment to toys...boys watch more 'action packed' cartoons/shows, girls seem to gyrate towards more 'fluffy and pink' kind of shows...however you see more of the cross mixing with things like Pokemon and Power Ranger - all of which I think are cool...
Your darling beautiful daughter is an example of a child being raised by at least one intelligent (if not brilliant parent) - kudos to you for nor enforcing the 'norm'/complacency/conformity on her - she is a very unique and special little girl.
And for the record, I had way more fun playing with the boys in the mud, playing with Tonka trucks, climbing trees and being rough than I ever did with Barbie...and I don't remember getting my arse kicked by girls for doing so...of course I did not have tons of 'girl' friends either.
Perhaps it's that boys are more critical of other boys being soft/girly/gay?
I would like to start off with, we are born with a gender, and having 4 kids, it shows! My daughter, she always picks girlie things first, I do not interfer with my childrens movie watching or toys. My son picks trains, cars, etc. My other son, same way, but he does it to annoy my eldest son. Then my daughter will see my Eldest getting annoyed, so she helps out, total team action without any talking involved! And then there are movies, My eldest son's fav. movie: Pride and Prejudice. And I am not kidding! He also LOVES Sense and Sensability! My daughter will watch both these movies, but it took her like 3 months to actually get mad over not being able to watch Pride and Prejudice when she wanted to. So my conclusion is, God made little boys to be little boys, and God made little girls to be little girls. There is nothing wrong with a girl to play with the trucks and trains, just like I think its down right adorable when my youngest son picks up my daughters baby doll, and cuddles it, and then beats it up. But I will not be buying him a barbie, now will I my daughter, and I wont be buying my son some action hero figure. I do not promote sluts, or fighting in my household, nor should anyone eles. And dont even get me started on the "bratz" have you seen baby bratz?! I mean little "babys" in bikinis, can we say this world is very very close to the End?!
Second of all, if you dont like your children, mabey it is you not them? I can actually say that I have never in the past 4 years, ever wanted any of my children to be gone! I can not stay away from them for more then 3 hours of a time period without missing them, and desireing to be back with them. I actually start to get nervous! I actually have to admitt I love my children too much. Which alot of people would say thats not possible, but in the bible it is.
Oh and mom, who posted a post that you deleted? IM curious, and I hate it =)
I am not ashamed to admit that even as an adult, I HAVE played with Barbies!! Society does impose it's rules on kids at an early age.
Let them be kids and play with whatever they want, I say!
I would promote a childs imagination, no matter what direction it took that child in.
Just love your kids and let them play with whatever they want to play with (as long as there's no sharp edges or tiny parts).
P.S. I find Ken just as intimidating. I don't have six pack abs, and no willy! Hmmm, anyone smell the emasculation!?
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