The inevitable post about Bratz Girls
My four-year-old, Cath, is having her fifth birthday this month. We were looking through a catalog of party accessories (Elmo birthday plates, Spongebob napkins) when we came across the Bratz Girl page:
I want a Bratz party!
Well, that’s not going to happen.
(Pause.)
When you die, I’m going to have a Bratz party.
I’m not going to beat myself up just because she knows what a Bratz Girl is (but I thought that’s why we only watch PBS!). At least she gets how strongly I feel about them.
There’s a great article in the Daily Mail about the “tarty Bratz doll.” I especially enjoyed the doll designer’s thoughts about what seven-year-old girls need:
Product designer, American Paula Treantafelles admits to deliberately designing a fashion doll for the seven-to-ten year olds that Mattel - makers of Barbie - was failing to reach.
“At this age, they’re very different to four-to-six year olds,” she says. Bratz “are about self-expression, self-identity. When Barbie was in her prime, girls were taught to be career women, to be men’s equals. Today, yes, career and education matter, but it’s also “express yourself, have your own identity, girl power.”
My dear Cath, someday you will understand why you weren’t allowed to have a Bratz Girl. You see, Mommy’z afraid that zomeday you will have a blog like thiz:
I’m such a Bratz whore…
And even though the new stuff is, meh, I still have to get them. Why? Because everything else currently out has bored me, and I need new stuff.
And to think I used to worry about Barbie. I’d never thought I’d say this, but I hope Barbie kicks your butt, Bratz Girl.
December 13th, 2006 at 8:54 am
Say, those are some pretty mean eyebrows on that Blatz babe. Maybe you can compromise with little Cath and buy her a nice eyebrow plucker as seen on TV.
Or, if her cosmetically enhanced duck lips are her thing, try this.
Hope this helps! And Happy Chanukah! Which reminds me: Someone at work asked me the other day, “Mel, are there two holidays coming up for your people? I’ve seen cards for Hanukkah and then it looks like the same holiday, only it starts with a C-h. What gives?”
Great question! In fact, Ashkenazi Jews (my people) wrote in Yiddish, which has a Ch in its alphabet. It’s pronounced the same as “ph,” which is no surprise since the word “elephant” comes from the Yiddish word for “big grey animal in forest.” The Tzifardim (although not my people, they’re related, like Sunni and Hopi Muslims), spelled it Hanukkah. This was in Morocco (present-day Tunisiastan) to escape suspicion from the authorities, who had banned chocolate coins.
All’s well now. Chanukah or Hanukkah, Jewish people the world over now happily celebrate Christmas each year on the checkout line at Target.
Keep up th’ good work!
January 31st, 2007 at 11:47 am
I don’t have children but I am horrified by these Bratz dolls, I think they are awful and demeaning and it seems like young girls love them and try to emmulate them, which makes me sick. I am so glad that you aren’t letting your daughter by into this sick and twisted version of femenity, I hope that more mothers will start doing the same.
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:01 am
I JUST HAVE TO SAY WHAT’S THE PROBLEM THERE JUST DOLLS IT’S NOT LIKE THERE HURTING ANYBODY THEY ARE 4 KIDS TO PLAY WITH NOT TO THINK THAT THEY ARE AN ABUSE. PEOPLE,KIDS, AND PARENTS SHOULDN’T THINK THERE SEXY THEY SHOULD THINK THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL! SHIS WHAT ARE PEOPLE FREAKIN PROBLEM.
May 30th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I wrote a letter to the company when I was 15 (i’m now 18) about how much I hated those things, and what I could see that they were doing to young children’s mind in how they view their selves. and CAN YOU BELIEVE… they are coming out with a Live Action film for Bratz! Unbelievable…. never let anyone you love or care about go see it!
May 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
BRATZ ARE THE ROLL MODELS YOU HOPE YOUR DAUGHTERS FOLLOW!!!!!!!!! GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE GUTTER, MAYBE YOUR KIDS WOULDN’T BE SO SCREWED UP IF THEY HAD POSSITIVE MODELS LIKE THE BRATZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROCK ON BRATZ, WE LOVE YOU
June 12th, 2007 at 5:29 am
Iwant all bratz
August 9th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Bratz are damn sexy!!!! i have wet dreams about bratz doing naughty things. in my opinion all girls should try their best to look just like bratz!!! but if the company wants more sales they should make the dolls’ chests bigger. and all u parents out there please let ur girls play with bratz. they are the perfect girl and should be a role model for all girls.