Barbie vs. Bratz
I have been avoiding the Bratz craze like the plague. Mostly, because of the name. Who wants their little girls playing with a brat? Doll or otherwise. But today, we received some toys from a friend whose daughter has outgrown them. Of course, a great big trunk full of Bratz dolls and doll clothes was in the mix.
I started to just put them away to take to the donation place, but instead I place them to the side and went through all the clothes instead. (I so appreciate hand me down clothes like nobody’s business!) When Reese woke up, first thing she found were the Bratz products….and was instantly smitten. She cried this morning when she had to stop playing dress up doll and go to school.
As I watched them play I wondered if they are really all that different than Barbies, a toy I do let the girls play with. I mean they look different. Bratz have big fat lips with obvious lipstick and liner, and gobs of sparkly eye shadow, along with stylish clothes. Barbie has the perfect body, and multitudes of stylish clothes, a dream house, dream Ken, as many convertibles as she wants since they only cost $10 and make great birthday gifts.
So, I sit here wondering if I should really not allow the girls to play with them. Frankly, they may be a little star struck over them because I vehemently oppose them. Who knows.
I’d love your thoughts today!
If I had a child, I would definitely let him/her play and collect Bratz dolls. I’m a huge collector of Bratz dolls myself. I dislike Mattel with a passion, so no BARBIE or any other Mattel products would be allow near my child.
If you forbid your daughters to play with them, they might go behind your back and play with them at some friends’ houses who have some.
Fulliem,
So, my question for you is “Why do you hate Mattel so much?”
I don’t like Bratz for many different reasons, including the one you mentioned. But I think most of it is personal. I just wouldn’t like to play with them myself. I think as long as your kiddo knows that it’s just make believe and that real ladies do not act that way then it’s OK. If anything, it may open up some interesting conversations and lead to some good teaching opportunities.
Also…they don’t have feet. Their legs end in nubs around their knees. Frankly, I find that creepy.
Kelly,
Yeah, when Reia and I were talking about how they looked, she said, “Mom, I don’t want to look like them. I just want to play with them.” and had that “Duh” look on her face.
I’m too old for this.
Remember when my niece got a Bratz baby for Christmas? And the baby had a THONG on? Yeah…maybe you could just get them different clothes.
I don’t like Bratz because I don’t like the ‘attitude’ they seem to portray. The makeup, the clothes, the name itself, it all kind of reminds me of everything I don’t want my kids to be.
But there is something more subtle that I see as more of the issue. It’s the adultifying (if I may say) of kids. The clothes and the makeup seem very adult to me. I feel uncomfortable allowing kids to be portrayed as adults, and then presenting that to my kids as something FUN! It has nothing to do with whether my kids will try to emulate the Bratz doll. It’s just a subtle message that says to my kids that ‘kids acting like adults and it is cute and harmless and fun.’ And, while there are exceptions to this statement, it’s generally not something I want to teach them.
How Bratz differs from Barbie is, to me, found in that subtlety:
Barbie is an adult woman doing adult things
Bratz is a young girl trying to make herself look like an adult (why is that cool?)
Lori and Lorren–good points. I definitely have something to think about.
Gotta say I agree with Lori on the Bratz thing. I don’t like clothing trends that “adultify” (if she can use it, I guess I can too) kids either. I don’t even like the t-shirts with the supposed “cute” remarks like “I’m a princess and you’re not”. I think it’s just setting the example that being obnoxious is somehow adorable.
But, you’re right - if you make a big deal of how much you are opposed to them, they will definitely want more. You’re getting the hang of this Mom thing! ha
I was generally against them at first too, but the older my daughter got the more she became interested in them. So, we compromised. She can play with them, if the ones she chooses are mom approved. She knows what we feel about the clothes and attitudes of the dolls, so she generally knows which ones are off limits.
I will say, though, that we went to see the Bratz movie when it came out. I was pleasantly surprised. I think it had a great message and it was a good movie. I wish the dolls were more like the movie.