The harsh truth about sexy dolly politics

Barbie and Bratz are fighting it out, with Barbie parent company Mattel (we like to think of it as Barbie's "Mom") suing MGA Entertainment, saying it owns the rights to the Bratz line.

Frankly, one hates to see Barbie lower herself in this way. Bratz may be challenging Barbie's throne, but amid the target audience at our house, Barbie rules. "Barbie" is the identity for every non-baby dress-up doll (Mattel: please don't send a cease-and-desist for misuse of the brand name; 4-year-olds can't read).

My daughter has SEVEN of them, only one of which we bought for her. All the others she has received from grandparents, as birthday gifts, or bought using money she's saved from allowance. In the doll world, Barbie is the standard bearer.

While the Barbs are mostly identical, I've found that over time I've developed favourites - probably because I still not-so-secretly long for my old Barbie Townhouse (if you don’t have a sensitive moral code, you'll enjoy this site's description). Herewith, the Stepford lineup at our house:

Island Princess Barbie - Sings via a plastic jewel embedded in her sternum, has peacock back ornament and sparkly legs. Obviously the queen of Barbies, whether they like it or not.

Pediatrician Barbie - Examines babies on a high table without side guards and no visible soap dispenser. Shops at Boden.

Barbie with red hair and fringe - Most likely lives in Dalston, plays guitar and hangs out with Bratz girls just to make the other Barbies mad.

Barbie with dog & puppies - Also known as "A dog isn't just for Christmas" Barbie. Spends all her time feeding, petting and paper training her dog and puppies. A step less scatological than the "cleaning up after dog mess" Barbie.

Rapunzel Barbie - Hair down to her knees; MIA for two weeks. Stolen by Ken?

The twins - Blue eyes, pointy breasts, yada yada yada

Then there is Barbies' supporting cast:

This Is Me doll - The "mummy Barbie" or "teacher Barbie" since she's, you know, taller. She has pink-and-white hair, is soft and bendy and spends most of her time in her underpants since her boot laces, earrings and trousers were lost within the first 24 hours of play.

Fairy doll - I bought this figure to go in a cake (like this one). Now, she's been rebranded as "little sister Barbie".

Polly Pocket - Retains her own identity, along with a wardrobe of rubber clothing

Of course the real joke is that the Bratz dolls have already staged the ultimate coup, by making huge eyes,tiny outfits and an up-for-it demeanor de rigeur in doll world.

Comments

[M]

I love Barbie, probably because I wasn't allowed one when I was little. I totally understand her allure and I'm not surprised that even thought she is banned in Iran and the government brought in a nationalistic alternative, the black market version is still popular. My (daughter's) prize possession is an Indian one - from India, not the national costume one from the US. I remember those Pippa dolls and also Tressy, which had hair that retracted into a hole in the head, so you could vary the length.
My daughter has masses of the new shape Barbies, they never have clothes on, because she creates things for them, like Delilah's daughter ( I loved your post, Delilah) and she cuts their hair. These days, she goes on collector sites where they are dressed in really expensive fashions by men who are getting serious money for them! I don't mind because one day, she may do the same, whereas my mother thought them as a social ill.

[Delilah]

The prize toy at Granny's house is Sixties Barbie, complete with ballistic breasts, a malevolent Coco Chanel expression, a removable bald head and a rack of beehive wigs. Plus all the to-die-for Jackie-O clothes.

Barbie isn't any worse than the paper dolls Edwardian children used to play with (often supplied free with fashion catalogues). I think children who play with Barbies (I can't bring myself to say Bratz, at home we call them Prostitutes which makes for interesting playdate conversations) are just interested in clothes, what could be more natural than that? Some parents who are prissiest about Barbies seem quite happy to let their tweeny daughters carry out far more dubious fashion experiments on their own bodies, which I personally find disturbing. In the olden days you could buy little patterns and make (or even design) clothes for your Barbie using scraps of cloth. My tweeny daughter has developed quite a passion for running these things up freeform, some of them look a bit bizarre but then, that's couture for you.

[Lazy Mummy]

Honestly, I can't think of anything sensible or silly to say about this except that it reflects more on what your family thinks of your daughter's tastes than on anything else (or, like my family, they see the child with one of something & keep buying presents along that theme; hence everything ours was given was Thomas-themed for ages tho' this has thankfully ended now).

Think I had a Pippa doll for a while as a child; no barbies allowed & as I was a tomboy & not v. doll-oriented I didn't really care anyway.

[Jennifer]

I used to have a Tiffany Taylor doll when I was a girl in Texas. It had hair you could swivel round on top of its head - either dark brown or blonde. How i wish i would have kept it.

[mmmm]

Yes Wendy, Sindy had bigger eyes, bigger hips, and I'm convinced bigger heart. She was the woman to Barbie's girl. But I also had a thing about pippa dolls and their plastic knee length boots, that I've never quite got over.

[Wendy V]

I have a reissue of the original Barbie in black-and-white striped swimsuit), and one Bratz with a surfboard, both my own as my daughters preferred cuddly toys to dolls.

Bratz were said to be "more realistic" when they first came out, but looking at mine I'm not so sure. Lollipop figure, and you have to take her feet off to put her skinny jeans on. How realistic is that? My Barbie doesn't have that problem, standing permanently on tiptoe. But she does fall over.

As a kid I preferred Sindy. She was definitely more healthy than Barbie, and less aloof.

[glitter_junkie]

I had clicky-knee Barbie. Not convinced that was the aim, but her knees were semi-jointed for some reason, and they clicked. She was my favourite.
I always hoped they'd come out with career Barbies: like gynocologist Barbie, journalist Barbie - perhaps they already did?