|
Contributors
Barbara F. Meltz writes the Globe's Child Caring column. She is author of "Put Yourself in Their Shoes, Understanding How Your Children See the World," and a frequent speaker to parent groups. Join her chat on the first and third Monday of the month at noon.
NEW: Talk about child rearing issues and pregnancy in our Parents forum.
Child Caring ArchivesWeek of:
October 14
Week of:
October 7
Week of:
September 30
Week of:
September 23
Week of:
September 16
Week of:
September 9
|
« Easter Egg kit reviews | Main | Spring sports » Thursday, April 5, 2007Dolls, good and bad
Browsing the toy aisles of Target recently, I nearly gagged at the sight of the newest "doll" that Bratz is marketing: A super-sized, disembodied head called the Bratz Make-Up Head. She comes, you know, with make-up to apply to those giant pouty lips. Isn't this what every 6-year-old girl needs? Touring the aisles with me was Sally Lesser, owner of Henry's Bear Park, an independent toy store in Arlington and Brookline. You can bet this is not a toy you'll find on her shelves. It's no wonder that when the American Psychological Association came out recently with a report on the hyper-sexualization of young girls through the media and marketing, Bratz dolls were specifically mentioned as part of the problem. There are plenty of alternative dolls to offer girls. If I were a 7-year-old, I'd want an Only Hearts Club doll. Taylor Angelique (second from right), in her funky draw-string pants and orange tee, sits on my desk. (Full disclosure: there's a Bratz doll on a shelf behind my desk. That would be on the reject shelf.) Lesser prefers the Groovy Girls, which is probably why they are what she carries.
Posted by Barbara Meltz at 10:08 AM
|
