Apparently Bratz Dolls do serve a purpose!

[Guest]

Who knew?

My 9-year-old daughter and I just spent the last two hours transforming four of those slutty, big-headed pseudo Barbie dolls into Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. (It's for her book report on Little Women.) They are required to do oral book reports twice a month in her 4th grade class (her teacher is excellent) and use of props is encouraged.

If you look past the big lips, big hair, and oh-so pouty expressions, it almost works! (Of course, the butt-ugly dresses I found at the Dollar Store are adding soooo much.)

But my daughter is thrilled with the results and that's what is important.

Anyone else have any positive uses for Bratz Dolls?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

My cat has almost chewed the head entirely off of one. Not sure which one she is, but wears a gawdy wide-brimmed red hat, black hair, cheetah print vest and some low rise boot cut pants.

It amuses me that the kitty is so enthralled with her and I'm waiting to find two separate pieces of her somewhere. She gets more nibbling than I do around here.

~lucky

p.s. Hubby used the damn thing to dig around in garbage disposal the other day when a fork got stuck. Men.

 

[Guest]

*grin*

OK, I'm ashamed to admit I know this, but I believe the name of that doll is "Jade."

(Now don't get me started on the BOY Bratz dolls!)

 

[lucky-E-leven]

*grin*

OK, I'm ashamed to admit I know this, but I believe the name of that doll is "Jade."

(Now don't get me started on the BOY Bratz dolls!)

Don't be ashamed. I've got the feeling I'll be the only sucker to admit to having one of the little plastic bitches around

At any rate, if she wasn't Jade-ed before she surely is now. She's been through quite a bit and I daresay she would have some wicked good stories to tell if the cat hadn't chewed her face off.

~lucky

 

[destinie21]

but the bot bratz are so ripped and every girl adores a metro sexual male with a kick ass pair of shell tops and and a gaggy haircut

 

[Guest]

Yeah, the boy Bratz dolls are a bit - androgynous?

They come with jewelry, shoulder bags (I just heard Carson on Queer Eye discussing how all men need a shoulder bag!) and interesting haircuts!

The only good thing about Bratz is that they fit all the Barbie stuff we already have. They fit in the cars, the house, even the clothes!

Oh, except for the shoes. Every Bratz doll owner knows that you don't change shoes with these dolls.


You change the entire FEET!

 

[English Lady]

I think these dolls are freaky and down right scary!


thank goodness beth isn't old enough to be into them...yet!

 

[whispering_surrender]

I think these dolls are freaky and down right scary!


thank goodness beth isn't old enough to be into them...yet!

Oh, just you wait! Those freaky dolls are just one of the plethora of things you have coming. *grin* *muahaha*

Whisp

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

My daughter can stick to Barbie. No Bratz dolls will be bought by me. If she gets them, it will be from someone else.

CM

 

[kellycummings]

The only positive use I can think of for those over-priced, freakish Barbie ripoffs is to use them as kindling in the fireplace. Disgusting toys, they are teaching very young girls that looks and clothes are more important than anything else and they have a certain sexuality to them that is way beyond the age of kids that want them. Makes me sick.

 

[Guest]

 

[kellycummings]

HAHahhahahaHHHAAHAH!!! ack cof


you make me LAUGH!

I do not see the difference between Bratz and Barbie..it is all the same.


in fact my girls seem to be able to distinguish reality from play.

Barbie has always given the impression of an independent woman with brains. Her sexuality has always been more subdued, although it's there, no question. I just think that she is a more positive toy. The Bratz are all about looks and clothes, nothing else.

My girls no the difference between reality and play also but I still don't like them getting any message that says looks and clothes are more important than intelligence, hard work, respect and love. Bratz don't seem to have any of these qualities. They are portrayed as simple minded girls who's only goal is to find a boy.
I know, I know, they are just toys but I don't like them. Just my opinion and I'm usually wrong.

 

[Guest]

 

[kellycummings]

you are welcome to your opinion...and encouraged to express it.

The comical thing (to me) is that the EXACT same arguement you are making against Bratz have/were/are being made about Barbie.....so NOW by virtue of comparison to a tarmpier doll, Barbie is NOW elevated to a postitive role model.

in the toy industry...(which i am in)...cultural trends are reflected in toys....and also influenced BY toys.

just look at how Army figures are so pervasive.

I am In the industry, but not OF it. I OFTEN laugh it.....so I am not (exactlly) laughing at YOU.....rather at trends and opinions in general.


rhino-teehee

you should see MY dolly collection!

I personally think that Barbie has grown over time to become a more positive role model. Maybe you are right, maybe it's simply because a trampier version has come out that makes her look better or maybe it's because of shifting mores/values. Who knows. It certainly won't change my opinion of Bratz though, that's for sure.
Don't get me started on army/gun toys. If ever there was a more morally repugnant toy I haven't heard of it. Teaching boys that guns and killing are fun is a horrible thing. I know that most know that it's just play and that they will never grow up to even consider doing something wrong but to push instruments of death on our kids as toys is a terrible thing.
Before anyone says something, I am not a gun control nut or anything like that. I have owned plenty of guns before and believe we should be allowed to have them if we want (within reason). I also played with toy guns as a child. My only point is that fact that companies push these things on our kids as something that is fun and acceptable.
Oooops, I got started on it anyway. Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now.

 

[RenzaJones]

I can see where KC is saying, Barbie is still a bitch in a box but she at least has pretend aspirations the whole bratz thing is about a passion for fashion. I don't think theres anything wrong with children playing with the dolls since most little girls aren't going to be going over the social validity of wearing a pair of lowrise hip hugging jeans or striving to be a blonde amazon in a questionable nurse uniform. Personally the only problem I really have with bratz is their freakishy oversized heads and the girls lips which seem to be enhanced to pamela anderson proportions.
Still a toy is a toy.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[TheEarl]

Errr... What's a bratz doll?

DYK that if barbie was a real person, she'd have to walk on all fours? The thinness of her waist and the width of her hips and chest would make it well nigh impossible for her to stand upright,

The Earl

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Rhinoguy,

I am loving the troll-headed Barbie! Hilarious and very un-sexy. I was a tomboy as a child and never had Barbies, but my sister had suitcases of them and now her daughter has a suitcase full of Bratz!

I think it would be possible to argue against almost all children's toys except maybe Chalk, but the bottom line is kids just want to have fun. I find that the more I discuss grown up concerns with kids (i.e. guns, sex symbols, political correctness, etc...) they begin to look at things different. I don't necessarily think this is a positive thing, either.

Toy guns were not allowed in my home because my Mother is vehemently opposed to them, but it only made me befriend little boys everywhere to get my hands on the forbidden. The only time we ever pointed them at one another was when laser tag came out and we were aiming for their laser sensors because we knew they could not be hurt.

I suppose as they get older it's good to be sure they don't misconstrue play with reality but I think this will happen without too much work if you educate your kids on the right and wrong of all aspects of life...not necessarily as they relate to child's play.

~lucky (a few more than two cents, but I'm feeling generous today)

 

[Guest]

 

[Remec]

I think it would be possible to argue against almost all children's toys except maybe Chalk, but the bottom line is kids just want to have fun. I find that the more I discuss grown up concerns with kids (i.e. guns, sex symbols, political correctness, etc...) they begin to look at things different. I don't necessarily think this is a positive thing, either.

This may be just, like, totally anecdotal, but I remember reading about a study where they were testing some sort of game. It was apparently something akin to Cootie, where the players rolled dice or struck a spinner to get pieces to build whatever the goal of the game was.

The researcher explained the rules. Showed the kids the pieces of the game. Played through a couple of turns to make sure they understood it. Then was "called away", so they could monitor the kids on how fun they thought the game was.

Within minutes, most of the kids were playing other things entirely. Not only had did they ignore the game being tested, they took the game pieces and built "guns" to play with.

 

[Guest]

rhino-teehee

. . . you should see MY dolly collection!

Ummm, just what kind of dollies are in your collection, rhino?

(Hopefully not lifesize or inflatable?)