How can this be good in any way?

Apparently Barbie has decided to convert to Islam.

I have no issues with Muslims any more than I have with most other patriarchal religions that enforce women's servitude through various means (i.e. stifling Choice, rigid codes of dress and behaviour you know the rest). 

And I just don't have the idea of a Creator in my everyday sphere of thinking (except maybe the Flying Spaghetti Monster, but that's because my first ever academic endorsement is published on his Noodley Goodness' site--you have to scroll down a bunch to see it).  However, I digress...

The cult of Barbie gives me the willies.  It's just the secular version of enforcing patriarchy in young girls.  Modest Head-covered version, or slutty, boobs that defy logic version, they're still telling girls what to aspire toward in their culture.  All for $19.95.  Accessories not included.

Comments

[Laura]

Ahhh, you, too, have been touched by his noodly appendage!

[jen]

I know the guy who started that site! He's a friend's best friend, and he's really nice :D

[Julie]

Accessories not included?!? It looks like she comes with a headscarf *and* prayer beads!

[Kathy]

Mmmmmm....spaghetti....

[sequinK]

I don't know who the marketing manager is for Barbie, but he/she needs to be slapped. Have you seen "Bling Bling Barbie"?? Good lord.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B000A7S596/qid%3D1130519688/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/102-0465007-8609701

[fillyjonk]

Yeah, gotta get 'em with the virgin vs. whore dichotomy early....And while you're at it, set up that unrealistic body expectation so they'll never be happy with how they look.

I don't know. I remember being given a Barbie (Malibu Barbie, whooo) when I was a kid. And I sat there, with the unwrapped gift, knowing I had to say something nice about it, but all the while thinking "how the heck do I PLAY with this?" (I was a landlocked kid who cared not a whit for fashion).

I think I gave Barbie away. And continued to play with my zoo animals and my Legos.

[anne]

I was a real doll kid, and Barbies made *me* uncomfortable. I did like the less developed Francie and Skipper versions, though.

[Julia]

aaahhh! That just gave me the worse temporary existential crisis. *shiver* ;p

[IDA]

Agree!
IDA

[Gwen]

So I'll probably get all sorts of hate mail, but I had a Barbie and a Midge and a Ken, and my self image was never damaged, thank you. (But I do not disagree with you on the assessment of the Muslim view/treatment of women.) I had a very broad and creative repetoire to choose from for activities when I was little, so I never really dwelled on Barbie's boobs.After a while, I spent more time sewing and knitting clothes for my Barbie. She had dark, short curly hair, and actually kind of looked like my mother, boobs and all! (She has since become a collectible - they don't make Barbie's with short,dark, curly hair,anymore, I don't think. I think, too, that I when I outgrew her, I gave her to one of the girls I babsat for. My best Barbie memory was the red turtle neck,fringed tunic sweater I knit for her when I was maybe 10 years old. My daughter played with Barbies, and my son had a Ken doll. Both very well adjusted adults. So hate me.

[jane]

I just read about your new ballwinder!!! My sister works for Otto Strauch and makes the ballwinders! It's exciting to see them on the blogs, I just got one, too-I have had it with my blue plastic one falling apart and I had 1100 yards of mohair to wind. If you ever want a dust cover for it let my know, my sister makes them for the ballwinders and drumcarders. Happy winding, Jane

[minnie]

i had a barbie when i was young (i won't say small, because i'm still not that big, lol) and i used to play dolls once in a while. i also had an antique doll my grandmother gave me, plus a couple others. i didn't play dolls much, because it was much more fun to chase my brothers all over the farm. however, i will never forget the clothes my grandmother would sew for her. they had the TINIEST seams, and hems, and yet were beautiful ( hey, i was 10, i didn't know the inherent evil of polyester in the 70's, lol). she even crocheted a dress for her. while i do agree that barbie in muslim dress is disturbing on a lot of levels, my barbie gave me an appreciation for hand crafting.

[julia fc]

How can this package denote anything like "play"?
By accessories do you mean a hegemonic flail, a man-beast with a yard stick to ensure she remains six paces behind, and a suitcase full of self loathing? Are they afraid that little boys wandering through the doll aisle might be corrupted by the sight of Barbie's outlandish proportions? I could go on . . .

[Leslie]

Wonder what she's got under the burkha?

[Cheryl]

You are so wrong about the Muslim women. The hijab frees the woman --go to any true muslimah site and you will see that -- and when they are covered they are keeping the men from lusting at them-- and to make fun of their prayer beads. Why shouldn't little muslimah's have a doll to play with? They have gotten really carried away with Barbie, but they are bought by adults. I am a "pastafarian" as well, and have been touched by his noodley appendages.

[jones]

I teach college courses on Islam. The hardest thing for many US people is to get past stereotyping Muslims because of their clothes.

There are 2 billion Muslims in the world, half of them women. Why not have a doll wearing a hijab? Is a draped piece of cloth so powerful that it negates a woman's intellect or humanity?

It is so enlightening for the non-Muslim US students to interact with and learn from Muslim women students (some in head scarves and tight jeans, some fully veiled from head to toe) in my classes.

Is a woman in a leather mini-skirt, denim overalls, stretch leggings, or whatever passes for current female fashion automatically more liberated than a woman in a hijab? Feminism should at least be about getting beyond judging people based only on their clothes.
--atheist commie mommie, college professor and obsessed knitter

ps I am lusting over that handpainted sock yarn

[Aminah]

I am a muslima and i wear the burka...i find some of these comments very rude.you should study islam before you judge.You should learn what islam is all about.Have you ever even studied?I wear the burka and i go to school...and i personaly dont care what you or anybody else has to say about me or my brothers and sisters.You should study before you say anything.

[Aminah]

I am a muslima and i wear the burka...i find some of these comments very rude.you should study islam before you judge.You should learn what islam is all about.Have you ever even studied?I wear the burka and i go to school...and i personaly dont care what you or anybody else has to say about me or my brothers and sisters.You should study before you say anything.

[Barreya]

Whats the matter with barbie wearing a khimar??!Muslims are just trying to teach young girls that a naked barbie is haaram and that a woman should be covered from head to toe so that men will not lust.