tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post5750045067361694613..comments2024-03-22T05:18:29.555-04:00Comments on Romance Bandits: Barbie and the Rules of FemininityLoucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02217492654108300014noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-245814395195013402008-07-28T06:55:00.000-04:002008-07-28T06:55:00.000-04:00The supposition that Barbie is to be seen as a rea...The supposition that Barbie is to be seen as a real female is illogical. It is a toy of fantasy only. The problem is that parents are not teaching their children from the beginning the difference between fantasy and reality. I knew that my toys were just for my imagination. I love my replicas of planes and ships. In reality, I cannot swim and have a fear of extreme heights. The enjoyment gained from these toys doesn't blur the reality of my fear of real ones. I can imagine the experiece with the toys without putting myself in an unpleasant or deadly situation. I had GI Joes but never desired to be a real soldier because of the previous problems. However, they allowed me to pretend to be that which was unattainable in my scope of reality. The fact that I had Barbies for decades did not make me gay, gender confused, or shallow. The fact is I never considered barbie to be anything more than a lifeless object made for imaginative play. I never thought that it had a perfect body nor was a beauty standard for real females. Having matured faster than expected, I was attracted to girls from the age of seven. It was natural for me to be attracted to Barbie because the fact that it was female and I male. Barbie allowed me to pretend the role of boyfriend and husband through my GI Joes. The fact is that the term "action figure" was coined by the creator of GI Joe to mask the fact that it was a doll. Boys do not play with dolls? Only sissies play with them? These same ones that said that while playing with or buying GI Joe were not smart enough to see that GI Joe and Barbie were both plastic and wore dressed and undressed. You could buy accessories for both. It was a marketing ploy to sell the doll to males. Nobody envolved with marketing that new toy had been allowed to call it a doll for fear that nobody would buy the doll for a boy. Little girls have been told for years that toy cars and trucks are for boys. Teenagers and older females would be livid if that same standard was applied to real car dealerships. Leave the toys in the world of fantasy. Only when the difference between fantasy and reality is blurred is there a real problem. A person may fantasize that this other person is in love with them while the reality is quite different. How many criminals fantasized about their crime before following through on it? I like the color pink as well as blue but not on certain things. I like pink on a female but not on a car. One can like Barbie as a doll but not as a beauty standard for real females.Freddie G. Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02401174826392270072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62690613791831044222008-07-28T06:50:00.000-04:002008-07-28T06:50:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Freddie G. Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02401174826392270072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27133221702982825382008-07-28T05:55:00.000-04:002008-07-28T05:55:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Freddie G. Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02401174826392270072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-59450884345568379762008-04-06T09:20:00.000-04:002008-04-06T09:20:00.000-04:00Ack! Cable went out and I never made it back yeste...Ack! Cable went out and I never made it back yesterday.<BR/>flchen1, when I had my daughter I went from an A to a C to a AA. At 39 with my son I went from AA to C to D and stayed there. Unfortunately I changed jobs after I had him and instead of being up and moving all day I sat in front of a computer and answered phones, I went from 125 to my current 182 in weight, trust me when I tell you I would rather have gone back to the AA.hrdwrkdmom aka Diannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12520769151419586319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-27563883829636594572008-04-06T00:25:00.000-04:002008-04-06T00:25:00.000-04:00I used to hate the fact that I was flat chested. N...I used to hate the fact that I was flat chested. Now I am glad. If I had had a bountiful bosom when I weighed 103 I would have wobbled like a weeble and I WOULD have fallen down!<BR/><BR/>As I recall, Kirsten, the Prince was a tenor, but he had a nice bottom range. SIGH!!dogladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03392561174583932552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-26811292874142043322008-04-05T20:48:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:48:00.000-04:00I see it, Anna, I see it! LOL! Yep, that's the b...I see it, Anna, I see it! LOL! Yep, that's the best thing I ever did. Though when I first woke up and could see my feet and nothing else, I did panic a bit. Funny thing is, I was only 20 when I did it so they sort of grew back. LOL! No specialty bras needed but just goes to show if Mother Nature wants you to have them, you're GOING to have them.Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-64068767709336353262008-04-05T20:46:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:46:00.000-04:00Well I'm headed out for an evening at my son's sch...Well I'm headed out for an evening at my son's school auction. Wish me luck -- or maybe no luck, so I don't bid on something I shouldn't and win it! <BR/><BR/>thanks for joining in the Barbie love-fest! :-) Ya'll are awesome and always make me think. Big huge sloppy kisses to all of you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-66059390515967745012008-04-05T20:45:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:45:00.000-04:00jeanne, we definitely need to have that sister blo...jeanne, we definitely need to have that sister blog! And yes, I am with you on my knees thanking God for my husband. Nothing like true love to cure all high school ills. <BR/><BR/>terrio, my sister in reduction! Was that not the best thing you've ever done for yourself? I will never forget the first time I looked in the mirror afterward --wow. What an amazing feeling. :-) And being able to wear normal, off the rack bras? Not special order ones that cost $100? Priceless!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-19980272334394090462008-04-05T20:22:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:22:00.000-04:00Terrio, did you see the post underneath this one??...Terrio, did you see the post underneath this one???!!! Didya? Didya, huh???!!!Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-2682257129021414342008-04-05T20:16:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:16:00.000-04:00Kirsten - I missed that mag somewhere. But I do l...Kirsten - I missed that mag somewhere. But I do love that they put at least one (sometimes two!) plus size models on ANTM. Though the other night they pointed out the *plus size* model this season was wearing a 10 and that wouldn't work for runway work. So 10 is now PLUS?! No wonder we're all so messed up!<BR/><BR/>And I had one of those skinny sisters. She got all the behind and I got all the up top stuff. I had my up top stuff reduced but there's nothing she can do about the junk in her trunk. Growing up, she was the skinny one and I was the smart one. Now she's gained weight so I'm the smart AND skinny (in comparison) one. I can die happy. *g*Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-62677535075674286002008-04-05T20:01:00.000-04:002008-04-05T20:01:00.000-04:00Wow, this turned into a major Barbie Marathon - or...Wow, this turned into a major Barbie Marathon - or is that a Barbie-thon? (As long as its not a Barbie Thong, we're okay!)<BR/><BR/>Susan, I just about feel off my chair imagining the parachutes and the "chuck a barbie at it" line. I'm STILL laughing. I think you and Kirsten really DON'T like our girl Barbie! Heeheee!<BR/><BR/>I do know that a lot of my toys ended up rapelling down the laundry chute and "skydiving" off the balcony, so I wasn't far off there. They didn't lose limbs, however. Thankfully my brothers were too busy shooting the army men with bb guns, like P226, to mess too much w/ Barbie.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and I'll jump on board with the sister envy blog. *wince* She's red-headed, gorgeous, curvy. I was gawky, flat-arsed, flat-chested...etc. til college, so lots of time to develop a [bad] body image.<BR/><BR/>I kinda got over it when I walked on fire tho. And got the whole boob thing worked out (not medically, just naturally, but late!) And meeting the perfect guy does wonders for your self esteem and body image too, and him I got. (gets down on knees, thanks God once again for the DH)<BR/><BR/>Grins.Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03492480881584553111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-53966173631656466512008-04-05T19:16:00.001-04:002008-04-05T19:16:00.001-04:00limecello, I almost missed your comment! You know,...limecello, I almost missed your comment! You know, I think I heard something about them redesigning Barbie too. I wonder what came of that? I guess she wouldn't be the same if she didn't have that absurdly tiny waist and gigantic boobs, though. LOL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-73638589898737001562008-04-05T19:16:00.000-04:002008-04-05T19:16:00.000-04:00Way to go on the name, Joanie T. Now how do you co...<I>Way to go on the name, Joanie T. Now how do you come to have that little bit of trivia tucked away?</I><BR/><BR/>I have lots of useless trivia tucked into my gray matter....<BR/><BR/>I liked the blue fairy godmother from Sleeping Beauty though oddly her name escapes me.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12566704374877697300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-12595422890491369492008-04-05T19:07:00.000-04:002008-04-05T19:07:00.000-04:00Ah, Caren, yes yes! The song! Can't you just hear ...Ah, Caren, yes yes! The song! Can't you just hear him singing? So sweet! So sexy! <BR/><BR/>And Aurora....well, let's just say she was longer in the looks department than brains.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-35161729191798801012008-04-05T19:05:00.000-04:002008-04-05T19:05:00.000-04:00Hear hear Terrio! :-) Do you remember they briefly...Hear hear Terrio! :-) Do you remember they briefly had a beauty magazine for the size 14 and up crowd? I think it was only around for a few months, but I LOVED that magazine. It was so awesome to see gorgeous women who weren't skinny as rails. <BR/><BR/>I now subscribe to Teen Vogue magazine (research for my YA, I swear!) and there are some really really scary looking models in there. I do wish someone would do something about that! Why oh why do they insist on having anorexic looking models whose knees are wider than their thighs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-61377832062938569152008-04-05T19:01:00.000-04:002008-04-05T19:01:00.000-04:00Caren, I had no idea there were Bratz boys! Wow, I...Caren, I had no idea there were Bratz boys! Wow, I'll have to check them out. My daughter just mentioned today that her best friend Johnny has a Ken doll but he doesn't play with him very much because, "he has boring clothes and his head fell off." <BR/><BR/>Ah, the wisdom of youth! <BR/><BR/>Nancy, YES! That is such a hot scene! And when the horse bucks him into the river -- "No carrots!" Remember that line? Or when he comes up behind Sleeping Beauty and breaks into song...ah, that voice! Pamela, he was some amazing tenor or something, wasn't he? Baritone? (Okay, I have no idea. He was just hot.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-12636783477922136262008-04-05T18:57:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:57:00.000-04:00TICD, we've got a date for San Fran and accessorie...TICD, we've got a date for San Fran and accessories. Yay! :-) <BR/><BR/>Helen, you are so incredibly sane and well-balanced! Yes, you're right (hangs head in shame) she is just a toy. Funny how we get caught up in these sorts of things, isn't it? <BR/><BR/>Now those Cabbage Patch Dolls, they're a whole 'nuther story!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-72105708625455319412008-04-05T18:54:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:54:00.000-04:00Susan, I think you and I should co-write a blog on...Susan, I think you and I should co-write a blog on SISTER envy. My ballerina sister with her long lovely legs, tons o' boyfriends, and general coolness was a big part of my young life. <BR/><BR/>Though i didn't take it out on poor, defenseless Barbies. Shame on you! ;-) <BR/><BR/>(got any pictures?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-85239971191497660712008-04-05T18:34:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:34:00.000-04:00Kirsten, amen sister! Parenting is MUCH harder tha...Kirsten, amen sister! Parenting is MUCH harder than it looks, particularly if you expect your children to act human and have manners! And yes, the hoochie trend in little girls' clothes has been horrifying the past few years. <BR/><BR/>Fortunately, my girls missed the worst of it and we were able to find normal clothes at places like Old Navy. Now, even those have migrated toward the hoochie. It seems, though, that the bare-all trend is ending. My girls (15 and 13) and I were shopping for t-shirts and shorts at Target today and the t-shirts are much longer this year (yes!). The shorts are longer, too. <BR/><BR/>I think once they realized that NO SCHOOL will allow those clothes on campus, the loss in profits spoke volumes. *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-11100784516159561502008-04-05T18:29:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:29:00.000-04:00Nancy and Kirsten, Sleeping Beauty was my favorite...Nancy and Kirsten, <I>Sleeping Beauty</I> was my favorite, too! I envied her the cute cottage in the woods. And the Prince in that one - Philip! *swoon* - was the most handsome guy ever. And his hair wasn't black, it was brown - shocker! Maleficent was a wonderful villain and she turned into a dragon, which was SO COOL! <BR/><BR/>Of course, I thought Aurora (or Brier Rose, take you pick) was beyond stupid for falling for the lure into the tower with the spindle. Gah! <BR/><BR/>Sing with me: "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam. Yet I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem...but if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream!" *sigh*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-84944691439929433702008-04-05T18:27:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:27:00.000-04:00brownone, it is hard not to read a LITTLE into the...brownone, it is hard not to read a LITTLE into the toys our kids play with, isn't it? I think you've got to have your own line in the sand, and then be prepared to erase it, or move it, or whatever you need to do for YOUR kids. <BR/><BR/>Parenting is much harder than it looks, I swear. <BR/><BR/>I get particularly nervous when I see what they try to pass off as clothing for girls these days. I mean, I bought my five year old some pants, and they turned out to be low rise that barely covered her midriff. For a five year old!! At least the Princesses don't expose too much flesh (except for that naughty Jasmine, of course!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-60857226288827682472008-04-05T18:23:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:23:00.000-04:00You tell 'em, Terrio! I myself would have had Reno...You tell 'em, Terrio! I myself would have had Renoir drooling into his French onion soup! ;-)Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-26260033388178789702008-04-05T18:18:00.001-04:002008-04-05T18:18:00.001-04:00This is such an interesting discussion. And for t...This is such an interesting discussion. And for the record, I knew her last name was Roberts. Strange I can't remember anything important but I remember that. *sigh*<BR/><BR/>I didn't care much for Barbie but I had Tonka Trucks and made mud pies. When I started reading the blog I asked my 8 yr old daughter if she really likes Barbie - she has many of them - and she said she's just alright. She's more into the Webkinz right now so there's no body image problems there. Unless she gets upset she doesn't look like that hippo.<BR/><BR/>I do let her play with Bratz. The cartoons actually have pretty good messages about loyalty, friendship and self-confidence. But I would never let her wear the real life clothes they fashion after those things. Oh, and that removing the feet freaks me out too.<BR/><BR/>I don't think Barbie had anything to do with me not liking my body. I've been overweight since age 11 and everyone from schoolmates to relatives had no problem telling me so. Comparing ourselves to others is inevitable but I often say if I were alive during the Renaissance, *I* would have been a supermodel. :)Terri Osburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176989488447450585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-16800176241394045652008-04-05T18:18:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:18:00.000-04:00Kirsten, you've uncovered my secret. It's totally...Kirsten, you've uncovered my secret. It's totally all about the prince! When he breaks out of the castle and fights the dragon--oh, wow! And so cute! I had a crush on him when I was five. (I later had a crush on Robin the Boy Wonder, so yeah, I know I'm weird. *g* I did marry an actual person.)<BR/><BR/>No, I didn't have the headgear. I think you're right about that being braces-related. I had braces, too. Just not with headgear, thank goodness!<BR/><BR/>I don't so much love Lara's guns as love that she has them! And uses them so danged well!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13705259501965011703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815530646091177574.post-86461196089655883172008-04-05T18:17:00.000-04:002008-04-05T18:17:00.000-04:00Massage for writing blocks? I could get on board w...Massage for writing blocks? I could get on board with that! <BR/><BR/>I wanted to say that I had a negative, visceral reaction to the Bratz dolls as well. My girls got a few as gifts a few years back, but they decided they weren't that interesting. They also liked to make fun of them. But we've had many conversations over the years about the message looking like a hoochie sends to the world.<BR/><BR/>EXCEPT, the Bratz dolls have much cuter and more interesting boys than the Barbies do. The boys also have better clothes. So, there were a couple of requests for Tyler or Roderick or whatever boy they wanted. Of course, that fascination wore off when boys seemed suddenly not so gross. *g*Caren Cranehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12352366686017375279noreply@blogger.com