Posted on 05/01/2009 7:11:19 AM PDT by grundle
Barbie has been given a set of tattoos to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Tramp stamp: The new Totally Stylin' Mattel comes with a selection of tattoos - there is even one that declares her love for male doll Ken
The doll's makers, Mattel, insist the move will bring Barbie and her brunette equivalent Nikki up to date - although there are no plans to give Ken any tattoos.
Critics, however, say the dolls will further encourage the sexualisation of young girls.
Ed Mayo, chief executive of the watchdog Consumer Focus, said parents 'will be dismayed' because their children might pester them to get tattoos themselves.
A multi-million-pound industry is now targeting children and the cynic would say that Mattel is simply courting controversy in order to give Barbie more of an edge,' he added.
'There is always a fine line to draw with toys for young children, but my personal view is that this launch will make life harder for parents - including those that were once Barbie fans themselves.'
Earlier this year, Mr Mayo, the author of the book Consumer Kids: How Big Business Is Grooming Our Children For Profit, successfully lobbied WH Smith to drop a range of Playboy-themed children's stationery.
The new Barbie dolls are part of Mattel's 'Totally Tattoos' range.
They are available for around £20 in toyshops and online with a description that reads: 'Over 40 easy, no-mess tattoos to design and decorate Barbie doll's fashions.
'Customise the fashions and apply the fun temporary tattoos on you too.'
It adds: 'This type of open-ended, creative play is a healthy form of self expression that Barbie brings to girls.'
The tattoo transfers, which are applied with a washable ink, include a mix of hearts, flowers, stars, rabbits, butterflies and a Barbie silhouette.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I wonder if Asian women get roman letters tattooed on their lower back.
outrageous. I hope Christian parents boycott this
Amy Winehouse has the most awful tatoos I’ve ever seen out side of someone with a mullet haircut who spends every friday in local lockup and drives a ‘87 oldsmobile in bondo color with a emergency spare tire on one side.
Interesting question. I’m sure you could find some willing research assistants and maybe get a Federal grant to study this significant cultural factor ...
I’m having trouble caring about the Barbie-tattoo thing, though. Little kids get water-soluble tattoos all the time, with coloring books, as handouts from Sunday School, with “Hemby Bridge Fire Department” on them. We used to get them in Cracker Jack boxes or the candy machine, when I was a little kid.
maybe but it looks like they get ritual scarification of the country ‘Indonesia' on their lower back....(see photo)
Given Barbie’s origins, this would be totally appropriate.
“We used to get them in Cracker Jack boxes or the candy machine, when I was a little kid.”
I remember those!
Maybe they can knock some of Barbie’s teeth out so she can look more like Amy Winehouse.
Is that Angelina Jolie?
And bubble-gum wrappers, I think. My brother and I don’t have any tattoos now (and he was in the military for 25 years), and neither does my 18-year-old, who (egad!) had stick-on “Lion King” tattoos when she was six.
Just further degradation of humans, females in this instance. The women’s movement has done so much for the betterment of females, hasn’t it?
Over the years, I’ve really come to dislike Barbie.
When do the piercings start?
Or how about some of those enormous ear-lobe enlarging hoops, or neck-lengthening rings favored by females by those oh-so advanced civilizations in Africa.
Maybe Barbie should also have a nipple pierced? One thing is for sure, she was way ahead of her time - shaving before shaving was cool.
That raised “Indonesia” welt on Barbie’s back looks like it was done with a white-hot branding iron.
How hip. How edgy. How outlaw tough.
Just the thing for the next round of sluttish one-upsmanship in Hollywood and Leftist enclaves everywhere...
Ha! Joe..
Oh man - I could have lived a long and happy life without seeing that tranny-looking meth-mouth so up close and personal...
Some people should be heard, and never ever seen.
As for Barbie *shakes head* I’m scared to see what they come up with next.
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