Scholastic expels Bratz
Categories: Kids 5-7, Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Media
We love book order day at our house. Because we're heavy library users, and because we already have a large book collection, we rarely spend money on books. But my kids love to flip through the flimsy pages, oohing and ahhing over the offerings, and if there's an especially good deal or a classic we don't own, we'll order it.
But when school children everywhere get their future Scholastic book orders, something will be missing... Bratz. Scholastic recently announced that they will no longer be selling Bratz products in their book orders or school fairs. The ban comes following an email campaign launched by consumer group Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, who claims to have barraged the company with 5,000 emails. Scholastic, however, is mum on whether CCFC's efforts had something to do with them dropping the passionate-for-fashion dolls.
Initially, Scholastic claimed that the books were necessary for reluctant readers, but the CCFC shot back that the computer games and "design your own purse" Bratz products Scholastic hawked at their fairs were hardly literature. A lot of girls love fashion, my own included, but there are better, less-sexualized, more appropriate toys out there for fashion-forward girls than Bratz. I applaud this decision, but it's sure to be controversial. What do you think? Did Scholastic do the right thing?
But when school children everywhere get their future Scholastic book orders, something will be missing... Bratz. Scholastic recently announced that they will no longer be selling Bratz products in their book orders or school fairs. The ban comes following an email campaign launched by consumer group Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, who claims to have barraged the company with 5,000 emails. Scholastic, however, is mum on whether CCFC's efforts had something to do with them dropping the passionate-for-fashion dolls.
Initially, Scholastic claimed that the books were necessary for reluctant readers, but the CCFC shot back that the computer games and "design your own purse" Bratz products Scholastic hawked at their fairs were hardly literature. A lot of girls love fashion, my own included, but there are better, less-sexualized, more appropriate toys out there for fashion-forward girls than Bratz. I applaud this decision, but it's sure to be controversial. What do you think? Did Scholastic do the right thing?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
isisaquaria 9-22-2008 @ 10:33AM
Maybe-but with the wrong explanation. Based on this article, a commercial free childhood would not only exclude Bratz, Disney, Dora and Diego and any other book which also has toys and market (read everything on the planet) So are they going to ban all of those as well-
I get that most people see these dolls as sexual--but I do not understand truly the fuss over Bratz vs Barbie when the latter was modelled after a German hooker and no one seems to be concerned.
Personally, my 6yo bypassed Barbie for Bratz and I was thrilled to get rid of of the puke pink-she sees them as dolls not role models. Her role models are human.
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Uly 9-22-2008 @ 2:06PM
Frankly, I think that yes, those items should not be sold through the schools. Schools are not there to sell big brands, those can advertise quite well enough for themselves.
Joy 9-22-2008 @ 11:01AM
I am not a fan of Bratz dolls. My granddaughter isn't allowed to have them but I don't like censorship of pretty much any kind. Those who don't want them don't need to buy them but if you want to, you should be able to.
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Fizzygrrl 9-22-2008 @ 11:04AM
I think those dolls are disgraceful. Seriously.
The baby version wear diaper THONGS for crying out loud. Sure, it is cute for a little girl to act grown up when they are like five or six, people think of it as a gimmick or something, but how cute do you think it is going to be when your twelve year old starts coming home in those clothes.
I am not a big fan of Barbie either to be honest. But at least she is portrayed as an ADULT, not the tweens dressed like they are one button away from a lap dance like the Bratz dolls.
Everyone knows that if they give a Bratz item to my daughter, that it will be thrown away. I won't even donate it, I wouldn't want some child in need to get a hold of that kind of inappropriate nonsense just because they couldn't afford to be more discerning. I would buy a Strawberry Shortcake and donate it instead.
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Jenni 9-22-2008 @ 11:21AM
I have thought that Scholastic has gone very commercial lately and I am glad to see this. I hope that they continue this trend with other products as well. While I love scholastic and how well they give back to us teachers and schools that order from them, I have found it more and more difficult to find books that I would like to have students interested in rather than the commercialization that they seemed to lean towards lately.
I'm very glad to see them make this decision and hope that there is more to come.
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Stacey 9-22-2008 @ 11:40AM
I am glad someone else can see that these dolls are more than just toys to some little girls. I own a lingerie store and when I have mom's buying bras and thongs for their 7 year olds something is wrong here. It is not just the dolls but any thing that shows young girls wearing minis and fishnets sets the wrong example for kids. I refuse to buy them for any of my nieces and thank God everyday I have two boys.
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Lindsy 9-22-2008 @ 12:07PM
I think they did the ABSOLUTE right thing! With as many negative influences as we have today, it's great to see someone stand up and take a position. I see nothing positive coming from a Bratz doll that looks like she just left the club at 2 am. Good for them!
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Kam Wilson 9-22-2008 @ 1:45PM
I think it's awesome to see some change BACK to doing things a little more old fashioned--in fashion that is. No, I'm not for wearing dresses as swimsuits, but I certainly think modesty has almost lost its meaning in some circles. Way to go Scholastic! There are all kinds of more creative ways to be fashionable without simply reducing your clothing length to mere inches :)
Kama from http://www.raisinglakota.com
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Chere 9-23-2008 @ 9:03AM
I agree with them 100%. I do not believe in censorship either but I believe that companieshave a choice and I think they made the right choice. Are these dolls really in line with what they want to promote? In my personal opinion the Bratz dolls are sexualized and completely inappropriate, the sexy clothing, thong underwear, makeup, it is all just wrong. I am not sure why we would want to make our children grow up faster then they have to. I would never buy a bratz, I just can not support that. Good for you Scholastic!
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BM 9-25-2008 @ 10:02AM
I think you're all crazy for not liking bratz. theyre DOLLS! I have three girls who play with them, They do not try to dress like them and do not try to wear makeup. I do not wear make up or dress like them either. They understand that its doll clothes not people clothes.
same goes for celebs and movies and music videos. I watch with them and explain to them that "real" people dont wear that. works for my family! Although it helps to live in canada where we dress in jeans and sweaters, and love to layer because it gets cold!!
as for scholastic, way to commercial lately.
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