Saturday I had the occasion to go into Toys R Us with the express purpose of locating and purchasing a highly requested item: a Barbie Mermadia doll for the daughter of some of our good friends who was turning 4 and had asked us to her birthday party. On perusing the multiple Mermadia options (as well as the Fairytopia ones, since they seemed to be related), I decided on what I perceived as the best of both worlds - Elina, the fairy who transforms into a mermaid. So she has pretty pink wings that fold down and then a purple plastic mermaid tail that you slide over the wings (and the wingtips puff out the bottom for a more flippery fin.) So I reached out to grab said Barbie and was faced with a difficult choice: sitting side by side were light skinned Elina and dark skinned Elina.
Now, if all they'd had was one or the other, the decision was simple - I just wanted the Elina doll, so I would take what they had. But having to make a conscious choice threw me into paroxisms of PC turmoil.
The little girl is light skinned - does she want dolls that look like her?
Or should I encourage diversity by specifically opting for dolls that don't look like her?
Will anyone really even notice which one I get?
Does the fact that I'm agonizing over this make me a Barbie racist?
Finally, I closed my eyes and just grabbed, peeking through a slit eyelid I found that I had grabbed the light skinned doll. And for just a moment I hesitated - was I feeding whatever stereotype prompted them to create identical dolls save for skin tone rather than making two separate dolls: Elina the light skinned fairy mermaid and Elana the dark skinned fairy mermaid? (And how much better of a marketing plan might that be?! Because then I might just have bought two, so they could fly and swim together!)
I'm frankly a little annoyed with Mattel for putting me in the situation in the first place and now think that all Barbie flesh should be green. Then no one has to think that you're making a statement when all you want to do is purchase a gift for an adorable little girl. Nor would you feel like maybe you need a little asterisk that indicates that you are an equal opportunity Barbie buyer.
Talking to her parents at the party they sympathized with the plight and assured me that either would've been fine and that basically I was thinking way too hard about it. But my question still remains, so I'll ask for your thoughts: What color Barbie would you (or do you) buy and why? (Is it situationally dependent? Do you "match" the tones to the child? In which case, what do you get for Asian children?)
1 day ago
I tend to for go the Barbie option all together, take a chance at dissapointing a little girl, and give her a book, a puzzle, art supplies, or something else. I have enough problems as an adult not comparing myself to the ridiculous notion of beauty that the completely improbable porportions of Barbie cause.
ReplyDeleteBut if I know that a little girl has her heart set on a doll, I go for the least expensive on. If price were the same, and I had to buy one or the other, I'd go for diversity and give a gift recipt.
Sorry for the long reply..
My niece loves Barbie. What girl doesn't. But for her bithday a couple weeks ago, I was amazed at the variety of Barbie dolls. I wound up buying a plush bendable Barbie. Her skin tone was darker than what you would consider white but I attributed that to the material that she was mde of. I also got a doll that I referred to as "Barbie's rich black chick skiing friend". Then I bought a princess wheeled plastic tote to store it all in. The princesses where the standards, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, you know all the Disney ones. They were all white but you know, my little princess didn't care a lick and has no problem identifying with any princess. She is such a little girl.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's been a few years since I bought Barbies but when I did, I remember being equally frustrated by my own girls who always (if given a choice) wanted the light skinned ones. I would ask, don't you want a "Black Barbie" or a "Chinese Barbie" (although I know there is no such thing as a "black" Barbie, and the "Chinese" Barbie may well have been Korean) and the answer was always, "No, I want this one" (light skinned Disneyfied Barbie with the disproportionately sized chestal region).
ReplyDeleteOk I was thinking of getting my niece a Barbie for Christmas, but geee there's that many choices. She's finally old enough for Barbie and gosh I have a lot to think about now. :)
ReplyDeleteSomewhere - I probably would've chosen a book or game, given my druthers (I actually asked if there was a my little pony she wanted since I know she's crazy about those) but they said she wanted the Barbie. With any luck, it'll be the last one I buy. :)
ReplyDeleteDane - I think you're on to something...they probably don't care as long as they either are or can become a princess. Unicorns optional, but recommended.
Gwynne - ALL of them have disproportionate chestal regions. I believe this is why my mom never really wanted us to have them (my grandmother gave us each one, and those were pretty much it for us on the Barbie front...though I think I also had a Ken doll, you know, when they were still together.)
Dawn - I was amazed at the sheer number of Barbies out there - they dance, they spin, they swim, bend or not bend...some of them even take batteries now, which blows my mind. Why does a Barbie need a battery? (To spin, I'm guessing, but really...and don't mix up the swimming with battery operated one, I'm guessing.) Good luck!
I went through the same thing! In the end, I bought a Barbie horse. It was much easier. :)
ReplyDelete