Do you think Barbie and Bratz are a negative influence?

Question

in the way young girls start to identify their body image?
Growing up I never had a barbie doll, I've never had an issue with my body image.
I see alot of girls on here asking if they are fat or hot. Im wondering do you all think it starts with these so called harmless dolls ?
I know I have gone into the girls aisles in the toy stores and I am sickened by what I see and im gonna have to work hard to keep my daughter from wanting that crap.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

i think they do! i mean the barbie is known for being perfect, and a lot of girls play with barbies and they would want to look like that. also the barbies have micro minis that r EXTREMLY short, and girls would want to dress just like them

Answer 2

No I don't think they are bad. We should care about our body image. It is the was we present ourselves to others. We should try to look the best we can.
For the Fat part. Well......In the US all the women look different then the other women in the world. Women aren't suppose to be tiny skin,big boobs and large mouths. A parent needs to tell their child. I do mine.
There are more things we should be worried about other then a doll. Music video and the trash on TV is the real problem. Dolls have been around forever.Plus when I think of brats. I think of the baby brats. HA HA !
Yes we should worry if our daughters want to be 6 inches high...lol

Answer 3

I don't think so, but here is an interesting fact...

LONDON - Barbie, beware. The iconic plastic doll is often mutilated at the hands of young girls, according to research published Monday by British academics. “The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a ‘cool’ activity,” said Agnes Nairn, one of the University of Bath researchers. “The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving.”

Researchers from the university’s marketing and psychology departments questioned 100 children about their attitudes to a range of products as part of a study on branding. They found Barbie provoked the strongest reaction, with youngsters reporting “rejection, hatred and violence,” Nairn said.

“The meaning of ‘Barbie’ went beyond an expressed antipathy; actual physical violence and torture towards the doll was repeatedly reported, quite gleefully, across age, school and gender,” she said.

Answer 4

I think Bratz should be banned! But I had no problem with Barbie and her perfect plastic body, I never thought about that. I did envy vet barbie though because of her job.

Answer 5

No. No one worries about little boys and their self images when they play with G.I. Joe and Superman. A child's biggest influence and determination of self confidence comes from their parents.

Answer 6

I think it's a neg. influence. That's probably why there is anorexic/bulimic people on this Earth.

Answer 7

Your right.