Do Barbies and Bratz dolls have a negative affect on girls self esteem??

Question

I always played with barbies when I was smaller...all my barbies had blonde hair and blue eyes...I always would look at them and think,"I wanna look like that." But, of course I couldn't. Later I did get a barbie that resembled me more...I liked her more than the others...

Now they have the Bratz dolls for little girls. These dolls were heavy make-up and skimpy clothes...What is your take on all of this??

Answer 1

I played with Barbies and I never dreamt about looking like a real Barbie. I always knew that Barbie was just a doll, not a role model. I used to play that she was a housekeeper doing all her house chores and taking care of her children, just like my mom and grandma do, and just one day, after seeing a real Beauty contest on TV, she was a Beauty Queen. Therefore she was just a reflection of what I saw around me. If a girl gets a bad example from her mother perhaps her doll will 'act' that wrong way, if people around her give her a good example her doll will act the right way.

Answer 2

They do. I remember when i used to play with dolls and i wished i looked like them.With there pretty blond hair and perfect stomach.So yes I do think they affect girls self-esteem. I also hate bratz dolls because of what they wear. They wear skimpy clothes and to much make-up. It is a bad influence on little kids. It is like telling a 5 year old that since there dolls wear make-up and skimpy clothes that they should do the same thing. It is wrong.

Answer 3

I've played with both. Personally Barbie was better to me. She taught better lessons and that everyone was different. Even though the first ones were blonde and had blue eyes, they were all different in their own way.

Bratz however, are just stupid. They do wear skimpy clothes, heavy make-up, and just have a negative attitude for girls. Especially the new Bratz movie. Even from the previews, I'm not to crazy about it. This is going to teach girls bad things and give them the wrong message.

All in all, they should stop making Bratz and Barbies should be the only thing instead.

Answer 4

I played with Barbies all the time growing up, and my self-esteem's fine. I do think there's more pressure these days on girls to look perfect, so maybe some girls are under the illusion they can look like those dolls?

I'm pretty sure that any girls growing up now with negative self-esteem, probably don't get it just from looking at a doll. It stems more from outside pressures like (1) moms who pressure daughters to be skinny because they have weight issues themselves, (2) peer pressure, and (3) the media idolizing 'perfect' actresses.

So even though the dolls dress skimpy, girls who have supportive parents and friends should know the difference between the fantasy (doll) and reality (their own selves and bodies), and their self-esteem should be fine.

Answer 5

First, the parent or guardian needs to set the example. Spend time playing with the little girl. Yes, I said participating in play activity with the child. Through doing so, one can have a great influence on the child's perception of what is reality and fantasy. Stressing that the toys are only fantasy to the child afterwards helps set boundaries between realistic and unrealistic expectations. The problem is that girls are ignored too often and given the toys to occupy themselves by their parents or other care givers just to get them out of their way. They do not feel the need to take the time to interact with or observe the way the girls play with the dolls. Through taking an active role in these girl's lives, these adults can set a foundation for the girls to build upon as to reasonable goals in the real world as compared to the one of fantasy. The little girls get their views of the real world by the examples of parents, care givers, older siblings, relatives, friends, and the media in print or film. The dolls are an extension of those examples in the play of little girls. They observe the actions and words of them and then project that which has been mentally absorbed onto the dolls. Thus, their young minds begin solidifying what appears to be acceptable in appearance for themselves to please these living examples. The root cause, being the failure of adequate supervision and consistency of example around them, can lead to greater problems of health and well being.

Answer 6

I played with them as a girl & i'm fine now. I think it depends what the child thinks about being skinny And all.
The Tracy Turnbald doll is good! Get one of those it's a little podgy so no need to worry! lol

I think it all depends on the child weather or not they want to be like a barbie as in weight ways

Answer 7

listen barbie dolls, brats dolls and every other doll toy maker have come up with are simply just for revenue, they find what interests girls at that time and make the dolls to suit the lifestyle of the times, personally i think that dolls, yes can have a strong influence. i have a young girl cousin who loves dolls and things like that and she always puts on her mums make up or my aunty's and loves it. yes it can have a negative effect but then its the parents fault for letting the child's take on what a girls life should be get so out of hand.

Answer 8

Sorry with reference to the bullying. i think of actual everyone has had to handle it to an volume unfortunatly it seems such as you have been they are considerable aim for some screwed up reason. issues are plenty distinctive after severe college many times. i'm 36 now and that i've got extra acquaintances than i understand what to do with. without a dought severe college wasn't continuously friendly for me. P.S. by using the way is it in simple terms me or do those avitars style of remind absolutely everyone of the brats dolls?

Answer 9

my niece has several Bratz dolls...she loves them....likes playing with them....doesn't even see them like that...just sees them as dolls to play with.....

...they do have pretty faces.....they are smiling ....so they seem pleasant to look at....

Answer 10

its trying to make little girls dress in skanky clothes which shows what our society has become