Despite The Feminists, Barbie Is Back (About Time Alert)

Debbie Schlussel.com ^ | 12/12/2006 | Debbie Schlussel

[goldstategop]

Hillary Clinton wouldn't let Chelsea have one (no, not a mirror). And hundreds of thousands of feminists constantly speak out against Barbie. (I had several as a kid--"Superstar Barbie" was my favorite.)

It's no big deal to them that there are far worse dolls, like Bratz. And that one toy company recently scrapped plans to make stripper dolls aimed at six-year-olds. They're dead set against Barbie, mostly because Barbie is thin (and also because she's feminine).

It's not like Barbie (full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts) made anyone anorexic. Has the thin Barbie has made a dent in the ever-increasing obese population of American women? Hardly.

Barbie And Friends: A Girl's Dream Toys

Despite all the opposition and villification of Barbie, the doll is the TOP TOY for girls, this holiday season, according to the National REtail Federation (TMX Elmo is tops for boys). Sales of Barbie have been up, this year, for the first time in several years. I think it's a backlash against feminism and the butchification/masculinization of women, and Mattel's abandonment of silly Barbie-broke-up-with-Ken-and-is-an-independent-woman stories. (If only Mattel could get the hint and stop turning Ken into a girlie-man.)

Sales of the Rosie O'Donnell doll--not doing too well. The Hillary doll. Ditto.

And BTW, for our readers who may need some lessons in holiday shopping tips for kids, here are a couple of hints:

These are for GIRLS (NOT boys) . . .

(I got both of these for Channukah as a kid and enjoyed them.)

These are for BOYS (NOT girls) . . .

I hate these liberals and feminazis who insist on giving their boys effeminate gifts and their girls masculine ones. Way to mess up your kid.

[Millee]

LOL - that's disturbing!

[cyn]

Our Barbies preferred dating GI Joes.

[Verloona Ti]

The typical American woman per the CDC in Atlanta is 5' 3.7", not 5' 7". A little under 5' 4", but weighing over 150lbs.

[Millee]

ROFL!!! Barbie never liked Mr. Sunshine either. Actually I think GI Joe knows more about that baby then he ever let on. ;o)

[najida]

There's also Ebay Barbie and
Internet Dating Barbie and Ken.

I love the attempted suicide picture (I'm twisted).

[FastCoyote]

"If the current Barbie were blown up to a 5-foot-7 inch typical American woman her measurements would be something on the order of 45-22-39."

What's not to like about that?

[Libertarianchick]

GI Joe is hot. :)
My cousin's GI Joes were gigolos to my promiscuous Barbies. Ken was not in the picture.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Did you have the grandparents?

I had those but my favorite was the Western Dolls. They came with rifle, pistol, canteen, knife, fake campfire and frying pan.

[bk1000]

"Gloria Allred threaten to sue several stores in the LA area because they listed toys as boys toys and girls toys in the merchandise racks."

Isn't that silly? Any kid can tell the boy toy isle from the girl toy aisle in about .01 second.

[SauronOfMordor]

Guy I know has multiple daughters with Barbies. They typically wind up without their clothes in the corner. He tells his daughters "See where a Barbie lifestyle winds you up? Naked, face down in the corner, covered in dust bunnies"

[Millee]

No, didn't have the grandparents. I did have the Janie West doll, is that what you're talking about? Those were awesome!!!!

[retrokitten]

That poor baby looks like he's got his own problems. His head is about 2/3 the size of his body. He's going to be 14 by the time his neck is strong enough to support that giant head!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

That was the one. Jane and Johnny West and their four kids. They were the best. My dad made me a covered wagon and they traveled many miles down the hall to the living room where they finally built their home on a cliff. (Known as the coffee table to the less imaginative sort.)

The Indians lived on the couch and the Army lived in the gorge between to keep the peace.

[madison10]

Our Barbies preferred dating GI Joes.

So did mine. (GI Joe was owned by younger brother and was Barbie's choice. Ken didn't even make it into the house...poor dude.)

I always wanted the GI Joe Footlocker full of stuff. Barbie's accessories were nothing compared to Joe's kit.

[CORedneck]

LMAO ;)

I remembered a show on Friday night on ABC that was an imitation of Saturday Night Live -> called Fridays. My favorite skit was the "kids" playing in the sandbox. The boys would play with GI Joe and other assorted toys of war and the one boy would take his "sister's" Barbie dolls and besides tearing them apart, he would destroy them such as setting them on fire ! Hilarious.

I would love to find DVD's of the series even though it was on for a few short years. One of the names was Melanie Chartoff (sp?).

Of course, if I had a son, and caught him doing anything with his sister's Barbies other than pulling them apart or cutting their hair off...

[CORedneck]

Also reminds me besides the "Fridays" show, my cousin had this Barbie Doll penthouse. Whenever I went to their house in OH around Thanksgiving, I use to be destructive. I would "shake" the penthouse and say, "earthquake time" ! She took it in stride.

Of course, if I had a son, and caught him doing anything with his sister's Barbies other than pulling them apart or cutting their hair off...

[MoochPooch]

That Prozac Barbie is a hoot! I just e-mailed it to my co-workers.

Actually, Barbie vs. Bratz kind of reminds me of PLAYBOY vs. PENTHOUSE. One was the girl-next-door, the other the hooker. Unfortunately, the success of Bratz shows how we have become a PENTHOUSE culture.

[madison10]

The Bratz are skanks!

Aren't they the ugliest "girl" dolls you've ever seen? My sister won't let her girls have them. The Bratz look like two-bit hookers.

PS Can't tell this is a conservative web site can you? LOL

[CORedneck]

Looks like something from a video game, like Duke Nukem'. Good game ! You can even blow up a toilet and water sprays everywhere ! LMAO !

[MamaB]

My late daughter and I collected dolls and bought some Barbies. I probably have about 40 Barbies. My favorite ones are the angels.