When I was a kid, my mom did not let me play with Barbie dolls because they presented an impossible standard of beauty. I didn't care that much for dolls, but I loved playing dress-up and did resent the Barbie sanctions. My daughter will play with Barbie if she wants.
A couple of years back, I encountered the Bratz dolls. These little 10" fabrications of feminine ideal are just about the sluttiest thing for ages three and up. Bratz dolls make the anorexic Barbie (a 5'9" Barbie in real measurements would have a 36" chest, 18 waist and 33" hips) look wholesome. No way would a child of mine be playing with these belly-baring, poof-lipped, pubescent prettygirls that truly belong in the virtual reality section of an Adult DVD store.
Bratz came about in 2001. That wasn’t long after Brittany Spears declared she was saving herself 'til marriage, even though she wanted someone to hit her "Baby, One More Time." The Spice Girls were peaked and already broken up by the time the Bratz got packaged, so the dolls were not breaking new ground.
The Bratz dolls were for little girls, and therefore lingered longer. I would not be able to stop my kid from seeing these and wanting their hyper-sexualized glamour as they stood in plastic-packaged splendor in the toy aisle of everywhere. They are in the zeigiest. Pandora was here and the box is open.
Now I see new hope.
Turns out, Carter Bryant, the creator of Bratz, was working for Mattel when he sold the idea of Bratz to MGA Entertainment. Since he was on their payroll, Mattel had the rights to his ideas. The lawyers began their work.
I don't know if Mr. Bryant brought his teenage slut fantasy doll up for consideration to his then-employer Mattel. They already had been making and selling Barbie for more than 40 years. Perhaps they had more shame than MGA proved to have.
Either way, the courts say Mattel owns Bratz now. It's a business, after all. The Wall Street Journal said, "Mattel Inc. faces a big question in the wake of a federal judge's order handing it control of MGA Entertainment Inc.'s popular Bratz dolls: Are the Bratz worth more to Mattel dead or alive?"
Can we hope for dead? The times have changed. Brittany Spears long ago lost her schoolgirl allure. And isn't it a common rule of thumb that hemlines rise and fall with the economy? Let these barely-clad Bratz recede into history already.
Please Mattel, let the Bratz die. Barbie can handle the future.
![...Baby One More Time [ENHANCED CD]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lF8e2by6L._SL120_.jpg)
Article comments
1 - Sheela
Bratz are just cute little dolls with a lot of accessories.
2 - Sheela
What a dirty mind you have.
3 - Jordan Richardson
There is nothing remotely "cute" about these skanky little "dolls."
4 - Jenifer
Have you SEEN some of today's barbie dolls? They are dressed just as badly, they are copying the Bratz style in every detail, short skirts, puffy lips, big shoes, the whole bit.
Mattel doesn't care about wholesome family matters, they care about the bottom line. They sued a company who makes educational materials for autistic and mentally disabled children because they used the word SAY. (Google mattel vs super duper) and lets not forget how much trouble Mattel has had with LEAD in their toys!
MGA makes dolls using healthy safety practices, they subscribe to the highest standards, no lead or dangerous chemicals in their toys. They are a small, family run company. Mattel didn't sue them way back when they came OUT into the market, they only waited until Bratz posed a threat to their monopoly of some kind before suing them.
Who would buy from Mattel? Not me. I'll never buy a Mattel product for my neices.
5 - Amira Adorable
Ha, I see you're very bored. Dolls are just dolls. I grew up with all dolls: Barbie, Bratz, Pullip, etc, I just chose to stick with Bratz. I am an avid Bratz collector: 59 Bratz since July 2004, even at me being 15 years of age. Dolls never made me dress the way I do now: I've never seen a Bratz dolls with Teased hair, converses, knuckle duster necklaces, and Nightmare Before Christmas hoodies, now have I?
I think you're bitter. Not being able to play with dolls as a child, that's harsh. You need to stop worrying and start living. How about all the little girls (or whomever) that love Bratz? They'll be crushed. If you're so worried about what will corrupt our children of today, why don't you tell Mattel to stop making Top Model dolls and for Vh1 and MTV to stop their T.V. productions?
Man, I'm Roman Catholic, and I don't even find dolls offensive. What century do YOU live in?
6 - Toni
The "my scene" barbies are slightly worse than regular barbie, but much better than Bratz. I'm hoping Mattel lets them die. I hate them. Or at least tones it down!
Also, the family that runs MGA are kind of jerky.
the sad thing over all, in my opinion, is that the dolls sell at all. My daughters know that Bratz dolls are OUT. They can have Barbies (so far, not interested much. They much prefer Disney Princess dolls with Mulan and Arial being the most cherished).
7 - Shelly
I love Bratz dolls. I grew up playing with Barbie dolls. I love the fact that MGA produced Bratz in every color as they represent our nation beautifully; from Chloe to Felicia. We own at least one of every shade from Chloe to Felicia.
With Barbie they have either white or black; no in between shades.
As far as the clothes they aren't so bad. What happened to morals teaching us not to judge. If you don't like it don't buy it. What's wrong with shorter skirts and high heeled boots? If you can wear it why not? Everyone has at some point had these items in their wardrobe. I would much rather see them on the dolls than on my daughters of course. I feel that when a child plays with Bratz they get this fantasy out of their system early (reverse psychology).
One of the best memories is when I watched them play with their Bratz dolls, combing their hair, rolling their hair, and it holding the curls after it dried. They were so excited because they did it and it looked great. The smiles will last me a lifetime. With their Barbie dolls the hair is matted, dry, and tangled. Bratz dolls are very nicely made as not one has broken to date. If Mattel continues to make them; great. I hope they will continue to hold up the same quality standards. If not that's okay too as we have already purchased about 10 more for my three year old for future use.
8 - jared
funny thing is bratz were made in 2001 when they got close to being the number one doll in 2006
barbie fight back with the law the bratz doll
is being renamed and mga will start over in 2010
with there new doll beacuse is not about sex or children is all money that all mattel and mga care about all ok to me after all don't think
all the people in gaza care they just like to stop get killed by bombs but go on fight to kill
a doll or childrens toys things like this is the reason we have wars anyway you don't like the don't buy the freedom of choice I was thing that
is why i got my legs blown off for so mabe i was
wrong I get back to a place that just don't care
9 - PBnJ
|-- Bratz are no worse than Barbie is and will continue to be. --|
I find it humorous that people have just redirected their indignity at a new target. For now. Who are you going to blame for your daughters wanting to wear makeup and heels when Bratz go away?
Duck Barbie, they'll be coming back to you!!
If children emulate toys, dolls in this case, it's the fault of the parent not the toy. They will learn more from their parents and peers and the pressures both apply, then they _ever_ will from a $10 piece of plastic.
10 - Annoyed
Mattel just wanted to be top dog. They didn't want to sue until their my scene dolls didn't do as well. My daughter loves the Bratz but I won't be buying them as long as mattel owns them. Its the principle of it all. If mattel was upset then they should have sued right off, not years later.
11 - Matt
One Thing I Have To Say
[Gratuitous vulgarity deleted by Comments Editor]
Bratz arnt representing Sluttiness and im sure kids dont see them as "Role Models" neither with barbie but you really dont get to have a say in which doll is the sluttiest.
12 - bellaB
Mattel has pushed out every other dolls in the play line area ever since 80's (or even earlier). The big white fat asses are now troubled because their 'long-dead-own-creativity' doesn't sell - and somebody else's did. Bryant was right to bring his creative ideas elsewhere. Mattel would have just distorted his ideas (just LOOK MyScene dolls...) They ewere Bryants own ideas, not Mattels. If you were beginning a new business, would you just drop unemployment without any solid foundation for your future? Mattel is a bully white trash and MGA is a fresh breeze of new ideas. The creator of Apple Machintosh worked in a computer company ELSEWHERE when he had the idea of MAC - does all the Mac's belong to some other company that Apple?
13 - bellaB
The autor of this article should go and resolve her own issues with sexuality - and not project them on children's toys. I'm 37 and have never seen those dolls as 'sluts'.
I don't like the fake smile of Barbie - you know: behind the ever-lasting-smile there can be a lot of suppressed issues... Don't bring it on children! Let them play with Bratz.