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Mattel Gives Ken Doll A Makeover: Heavy-Set, Cornrows, Man Bun, 'Ethnically Diverse'
CBS News ^

Posted on 06/20/2017 12:50:08 PM PDT by drewh

CBS Local– Mattel, the makers of the famous Barbie and Ken dolls, decided to shake up the Ken doll’s previous image. Typically he’d be portrayed as a “nice guy,” as Mattel put it, with wavy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He would have had hardly an ounce of body fat if scaled onto a real human.

He’s the guy Barbie would take home to mom to compliment her pot roast and taste in cardigans. But he’s vanilla no more: Mattel has released a line of 15 new and improved Ken dolls.

ADVERTISING

Diverse beyond just their ethnicity, these new Kens come in all shapes, sizes and haircuts. One even has a man bun. A tank top is involved. They’re meant to better depict Ken to mirror this generation.

“By continuing to expand our product line, we are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation,” Lisa McKnight, Barbie’s senior vice president and general manager, said in a press release. “Evolving Ken was a natural evolution for the brand and allows girls to further personalize the role they want him to play in Barbie’s world.”

Ken used to be an afterthought and a man that was just the aforementioned “nice guy” to have alongside Barbie. After all, she needed a groom for the weddings, someone in the passenger seat of the Barbie dream car, and an audience for all those snappy outfits.

“In the past Ken was really viewed as more of an accessory in Barbie’s world, to support the narrative of whatever was happening with the girls,” said Michael Shore, Mattel’s head of global consumer insights, via GQ.

Now, Ken is his own man with a persona of his own and is finally ready to step out from behind Barbie’s picture-perfect shadow.

(Excerpt) Read more at detroit.cbslocal.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: diversity; dolls; manbun; mattel; metrosexuals; toys
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To: TontoKowalski

Sort of like our former first couple, no?


61 posted on 06/20/2017 1:59:05 PM PDT by zerosix ( Native Sunflower)
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To: detective

LOL

Supergay


62 posted on 06/20/2017 2:00:44 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES)
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To: drewh

Countdown to claims that Mattel is culturally appropriating in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...


63 posted on 06/20/2017 2:01:05 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: drewh

Next...Convertible Barb. Depending on your mood that day.


64 posted on 06/20/2017 2:01:37 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: ponygirl
My Barbies always bypassed Ken for G.I. Joe.

My wife used to babysit these kids, with the girls playing with the Barbies, and when the brother was safely out of the room, would grab his G.I. Joe and marry her to him. Sometimes the boy would come in, screaming "Noooooooo!!!!"

The little brother took it very seriously, even though it happened dozens of times.
65 posted on 06/20/2017 2:02:03 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: Disambiguator

Abso-friggin-lutely


66 posted on 06/20/2017 2:04:00 PM PDT by bar sin·is·ter
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To: ponygirl

When I was growing up my sisters had Barbie dolls. My younger brother had his GI Joe dolls kidnap the Barbies. He then cut off their hair and stabbed them with a pocket knife(or maybe scissors).

Anyway, they were mad and complained to my mom.

Their Barbies had stylishly short hair styles after that.


67 posted on 06/20/2017 2:10:22 PM PDT by detective
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To: LydiaLong

68 posted on 06/20/2017 2:12:07 PM PDT by Impala64ssa (Islamophobic? NO! IslamABHORic)
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To: drewh

Somebody made a mistake. That’s the Toshiro Mifune doll.


69 posted on 06/20/2017 2:13:13 PM PDT by firebrand
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To: zerosix
Well, I don't know about the former first couple, but the penchant for crazy women certainly made it up to me. Although my wife does not meet the pro-status certified crazy level that some of my former loves did, she also can't be called a rank armature in this regard.

The siren call of the crazy chick also drifted through the genes to my son, who dates only the most inappropriate women. I really worry about him.

In a room full of debutantes, he will invariably find some trashy slut to hit on. I thought it was just a horny youth thing, but he doesn't seem to be growing out of it.

70 posted on 06/20/2017 2:13:47 PM PDT by TontoKowalski (You can call me "Dick.")
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To: bigtoona

Our world is a non-stop skit on a comedy show!
____________

Your post is spot on!

I often wonder what it’s like to be a rational person living in a large urban area. Maybe like you’ve crossed into another time-line?

It’s crept into our little town and countryside, here and there. There’s always this moment of displacement, thinking: what is that and how did it get here?

Mostly, I only see occasional flashes of the insanity from a distance. I hope that can continue.


71 posted on 06/20/2017 2:16:19 PM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: drewh

To go along with the woosy man bun and stringy beard, Mattel needs to be sure that Ken has a mechanical arm so he can physically abuse Barbie, just beat on her.

Metro leftard wimpy males are spineless little snowflakes in general...........but they seem to summon the few shreds of “manliness” that they have when it comes to beating up women.

Next: Transgendered Ken with large breasts and a schl**g. Might as well throw in a “strap on” unborn baby and maternity dresses for him.


72 posted on 06/20/2017 2:16:27 PM PDT by RooRoobird20 ("Democrats haven't been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves.")
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To: detective
My Nazi "action figure" could kick all of their butts.


73 posted on 06/20/2017 2:21:22 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: TontoKowalski
Sorry to hear about this trait.

I'll admit, I do know or have knowledge of some guys who seem to go nuts over trashy sluts.

When my stepson brought home a young woman he met at a college party. The minute she walked in the door I was shocked.

She was dressed and made up like a hooker! I was certain he brought her as a way to shock us. For me, at least, it worked.

They married, had two children and she has had no end to affairs but he has hung in "for the children!"

Their youngest graduates next spring and we're all wondering what he will do.

I had thought it was more women who seem to gravitate to brutes, thugs and lowlife but I guess guys , really nice guys, choose impossible women too. Big shame when there are truly nice, kind and worthwhile men and women who hunger for decent mates but spend years alone.

74 posted on 06/20/2017 2:42:40 PM PDT by zerosix ( Native Sunflower)
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To: drewh

Barbie has never been anything more than Ken’s beard, and the new Coming-Out-Ken dolls simply verify what we already knew.


75 posted on 06/20/2017 2:45:29 PM PDT by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
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To: Slyfox

Phrasing...


76 posted on 06/20/2017 2:49:03 PM PDT by FredZarguna (And what Rough Beast, its hour come round at last, slouches toward Fifth Avenue to be born?)
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To: reformedliberal

THis new form of liberalism with all the gender bending, social justice warrior stuff and white privilege is called Post Modernism. It is another spinoff of cultural marxism. It’s go is to destroy all hierarchies that keep our society together.

Here is a link to a Jordan Peterson video on the topic. He is quite amazing and probably the most knowledgeable on the topic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf2nqmQIfxc


77 posted on 06/20/2017 3:20:53 PM PDT by bigtoona (Make America Great Again! America First!)
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To: LydiaLong

I would wager that there are not many Trump voters among that type.


78 posted on 06/20/2017 3:22:08 PM PDT by Rockingham
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To: detective
The new Ken dolls all look gay. Especially man bun Ken.

Nah, I think it's the third guy from the left in the polka dot shirt and tight pants. Or maybe both.

79 posted on 06/20/2017 3:26:27 PM PDT by Albion Wilde ("We will be one people, under one God, saluting one American flag." --Donald Trump)
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To: ponygirl

My Gi Joes would hold my sister’s naked Barbies upside down by their ankles from the top of the stair railing while my sister screamed in outrage below...:)

LOL, nowadays, I think the Department of Youth Services would probably have paid a visit to my house!


80 posted on 06/20/2017 3:30:46 PM PDT by rlmorel (Liberals are in a state of constant cognitive dissonance, which explains their mental instability.)
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