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Lileks laments Baby Bratz
Filed under: Work Life, Development/Milestones: Babies, Media, Toys
Political commentator and frequent daddy-blogger James Lileks wrote a ditty yesterday about
Bratz, the creepy coochie-mama dools who look like they're either headed to the Britney Spears concert or are preparing
to troll the street for new clients. As if the Bratz weren't bad enough, however, Lileks informs us that "the
hooker-in-training dolls have
children". In classic Lileks fashion, he takes apart the TV ad copy that announces, "They're keeping it real in the
crib". "What exactly is the penalty for failing to keep it real in the crib? Someone busts a cap in yo Pamper? I know I
am old and so out of step it's a wonder I don't just appear as an indistinct smear, but was it really necessary to push
the Age of Sultry Hussyism down to the infant stage?"
You may not agree with Lileks on political issues, but few parents will deny he's spot on with this one. What baby needs painted fingers and toe nails, and a bottle on a bling chain? And is that a thong diaper? MGA Entertainment has crossed the (already thin) line from creepy exploitation to blatant child pornography. I'll fall asleep tonight praying that there's a Chapter 7 filing in this company's future.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
12-18-2005 @ 6:37PM
Chinese Citizen said...sorry buddy, this company is on the move, and while you pray about it going on chapter 7 think about bigger issues like the war and real children dying in iraq, why dont you pray for that, get over your petty concerns and realize that this countrys government is making irrational decisions while china takes over the world.
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12-18-2005 @ 6:37PM
Completely Disgusted Mom in Georgia said...I am a mom of a 3 year old girl that has proclaimed with tears in her eyes that she wants a Bratz Baby! HECK NO!!!!! She will not get that from me or anyone else. These dolls are extremely offensive! Helllllooooo!!! What's with the underwear????!@#@!#@# You know, people complained about Barbie dolls not being PC and being completely unrealistic with her body measurements. Has anyone bothered to look at these ghastly dolls? Eyeliner and lipstick on babies???? Someone please help me understand what they were thinking when the designed these dolls. I would also like to know where they got the focus groups that actually thought these dolls were a great idea.
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12-18-2005 @ 6:37PM
Starr Elaine said...Well, I for one am completely offended by these Bratz Babyz. They're sexualizing babies! And I cannot believe that there's not a national uprising over these things.
I am actually in the process of creating an uprising where I live. Today I was in Target, and for some mysterious reason, I was drawn into the WHOLE AISLE devoted to these Bratz dolls. I think the regular Bratz dolls are pretty sick, and I would never let my daughter play with one. But the babies, give me a break! That's where I draw the line. I immediately called the manager over and complained vehemently. I mean, there was a Bratz Baby motorcycle (what baby rides a motorcycle). But worse, the drawing of the doll on the motorcycle box had her mini-skirted booty pointing right out at me. I challenge anyone to debate me that that is not sexually suggestive. There were Bratz Baby twins called Phoebe and Roxxi "My name is Roxxi, but my friends call me Spice, 'cuz I like to spice things up." I'm sorry, but
"Roxxi" is a porn-star name, and I don't think this "Baby" was alluding to cooking. Well, the mgr of Target agreed, but he couldn't pull the dolls without corporate approval (I called headquarters from the aisle, but they were closed for the weekend). I also called a few other stores in my town. All of the managers agreed with me, except they were bound by "obligation" to keep the dolls on the shelves. Except, one of the Wal-Marts in town actually did pull the dolls (Yay!). They said they were going to send them back to the District headquarters and request that they stop sending the dolls to their store. This is probably the only good thing I can say about Wal-Mart.(Another Wal-Mart in town, though, told me the same story of having to get instructions from headquarters).
I, personally, am going to fight to keep these dolls off the shelves. They are extremely sexually suggestive, and I would challenge anyone to debate me on that.
These dolls are a clear sign of how sick our society is. I work with domestic and sexual violence survivors, and I make no distinction between the images and suggestions that these dolls are selling, and the pervasive, epidemic cycle of brutalizing and oppressing women. The psychological and sociological (not to mention pathological) impact these dolls have on our psyches is way too much for me to go into here.
Educate yourselves. Protect the women and children in your lives. Boycot MGM Entertainment. Put pressure on retailers to ban the dolls. Let's start teaching our lovely children about self-respect and not "bratitudes." (Quoted from a Bratz box).
As I'm sure all are well aware, unspeakable things happen to babies and children all over this planet. The U.S. is not immune (quite the contrary). Vow to stop the sexualization of children (and the sexualization of women). Women, we need to collectively reclaim our true, God-given sexuality. We've been robbed of it over centuries by a force seeking to objectify us. I believe that there is a force seeking to systematically corrupt our children. I've studied this for years, trust me on it. I hope I'm wrong, but for their sake, PLEASE don't let your children play with these dolls.
One final note, my good friend works with young people in drug rehab. At his fairly typical rehab center, at least 95% of the girls there have experienced some form of sexual abuse. Now, I wouldn't go quite as far as to say that these dolls CAUSE sexual abuse, but I do consider them to BE A FORM of sexually abusing children. Not to compare a plastic doll to the abhorrent, evil acts themselves, but they are unequivocably in the same realm.
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12-26-2005 @ 1:07PM
somebosy said...Have you seen the bratz babyz stuff? Brattoo parlor, Babyz night out, etc.? I think these little girls are 2-year-old hookers. And guess what? Thanks to MGA's evil world takeover plan (which is sadly working) known as every bratz item in the world, little girls everywhere will WANT TO BE JUST LIKE THEM? And soon, things like PRETEEN pregancy, early sex, and other guesome things will be possibe! DON'T BUY BRATZ BABYZ!!!
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