The new Barbie...opinions?

salt78 · October 2011

I just came across this article this morning.

Barbie has apparently gotten a makeover by tokidoki, who I absolutely LOVE. She is covered in (non-removable) tattoos.

Apparently this is causing a huge problem with parents who think that if their kids see this doll that they will think it's perfectly acceptable to get tattoos. Personally I think it's AWESOME with a capital awesome, but then my daughter will be allowed to get tattooed as soon as she turns 18.

What do you think of the new Barbie? Would you buy her for your child if your child was in to dolls?

I'd totally get her for B. Or for myself. I love her.

MrsMincks · October 2011

I don't have a problem with her. I have a few tattoos and I think it's a good idea for children to learn that people with tattoos are not automatically punk monsters! There is still too much of a stigma attached to tattoos for my taste. I'm not saying everyone should go out and ink themselves until they have no bare skin remaining, but tolerance of reasonable tattoos on reasonable people is a step in the right direction.

Also, of COURSE kids are going to think tattoos are cool. What about temporary tattoos and skin paint?

jayleigh68 · October 2011

Parents are so stupid. I'd get one for my kid. Plus, this is the hottest I've seen Barbie ever look.

LillyGrrl · October 2011

I have no issues with it personally. I do believe she was created as a collectors item though and not for playing with- not that it matters. I think if you are against getting tattoos just don't buy the doll. To me, people getting in a huff over a doll is a little ridiculous. There are bigger problems in the world.

Dee6922 · October 2011

I love it and would definitely get it for my child...I don't see what the big deal is!!! People that don't have a broad mind probably wouldn't like it...but I love it!!!

digwriter · October 2011

As both a Barbie and tattoo lover, I think she fab! Love her. Clearly the parents having a problem with her are unable to grasp that fact that she was created for collectors aka grown women and some men who love and collect Barbie. Although, at the same time, I'd probably let my kid play with her(unless she's super expensive). I honestly can't even believe that ink is still controversial in this day and age.

jennre · October 2011

I love it. I would totally buy it fo rmy DD. She loves my tattoos.

msteph82 · October 2011

I am in love with that Barbie - she's beautiful, unique and classy in her own right.

The traditional Barbie is unrealistic and, honesly, so fake looking.

Now if only they'd come out with a Barbie with real people curves. And maybe a short one too.

salt78 · October 2011

cruelsound:
(lurking)

So, it's bad for Barbie to have tattoos, but perfectly ok for her to be way too skinny and look like she's had a little work done on her face?

Ok.

Exactly.

Dewey12 · October 2011

I want her hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Honestly, I think this is great. Barbie rocks because she can *be* anything and *do* anything.

P.S. I still have some of my old Barbies.

danlexi04 · October 2011

I adore her! If DD asks for one for Christmas (and it's not collector expensive) she will have one. I'd much rather her play with a barbie that has tattoos then a skanky outfit on. It's ok for Barbie to dress like a .02 whore but not have tattoos? Not in my opinion.

msteph82 · October 2011

I showed this around the office and everyone loves her. LOVES her.

Cholzmei · October 2011

jayleigh68:
Parents are so stupid. I'd get one for my kid. Plus, this is the hottest I've seen Barbie ever look.

I'm not a fan of Barbie and I only had like 4 Barbies growing up (that I didn't really play with much), but this Barbie is super cute! She looks like a cute derby girl. I love tokidoki too!

digwriter · October 2011

msteph82:
I am in love with that Barbie - she's beautiful, unique and classy in her own right.

The traditional Barbie is unrealistic and, honesly, so fake looking.

Now if only they'd come out with a Barbie with real people curves. And maybe a short one too.

Didn't they try that once with the Rosie O'Donnell doll back in the 90's?

Irisheyes1247 · October 2011

Well, I will be the lame mom. I'm not saying DD couldn't play with this Barbie if she wanted to (and she does look pretty cool), but DH and I are both pretty anti-tattoo. Neither of us have them. If DD (and next LO) decide they want tattoos, they can wait until they are old enough to get them on their own. And personally I probably wouldn't be happy with that decision.

I have my nose pierced and DH asked, "What if DD wants that?" Then she can wait until she is old enough to get one. "And what if she says, but you have one?" Then I will tell her how I didn't get it until I was 21 and she can wait that long if she would like. I am not aiming to be the cool mom here, obviously.

MamaValley · October 2011

I like it! She's hot!! I don't see a problem with it at all. It's nice to know that Barbie is branching out a bit and is learning to live a little Smile

nah82 · October 2011

She's totally cute! I had heard they were making a tattooed Barbie but hadn't seen a picture yet. She is only being sold on the Barbie collector's website, not in stores. She isn't geared towards little girls to play with, she's geared towards adult collectors, I don't know why people would be freaking out, it's not like they would be walking through the Barbie aisle at Walmart and see her. Not that there's anything wrong with tattoos. I wouldn't give my kid permission to get a tattoo until they are 18. That's too young to make such a permanent decision and a visible tattoo can hold them back in the job market, that's not a ramification that a 16 year old would consider (or an 18 year old necessarily, but by then they wouldn't need my okay, and it would be their decision to make). The only reason I wouldn't let my kid play with this Barbie is because it's a collector's edition, I'd want it to stay in the box!

Lanatir · October 2011

My problem's not the tattoos... It's STILL the ridiculous fact that all Barbies have to have obvious make up on... Ugh. You don't like tattoo Barbie, there's still other options. But (unless I missed something in recent years) even the younger aged Barbies had make up on...

blaharn · October 2011

I also do not have a problem with the tattoos. But does she still have the unrealistic and exaggerated measurements that no human could ever possess? I really don't have a problem with Barbie in the first place - I was obsessed with her when I was little - but when I read the headline of this post I thought it might be that they had made a more human-like Barbie

Oh well, I'd still buy if my kid wanted it.

bigv44 · October 2011

My DD would love this doll. She is 14yrs, but loved the Brats dolls; which were the "alternative" doll to barbie when she was younger.

jgal84 · October 2011

I guess I'm in the minority here. I hate it. It's just too much for me. I won't be buying one for DD. I'm pretty conservative when it comes to her, though. Way more than I ever thought I would be!

FWIW, DH and I both have 1 tattoo each (LOL, no it's not each other's names or any other sappy crap like that!)

Ivana_Stolichnaya · October 2011

I like how parents get worried that a f ing DOLL will persuade their kids to get tattoos when there's actual live human beings walking around on the street that have tattoos.

If you don't like the message that Barbie sends...tattoos or not, then don't take your kid down that aisle at the toy store and don't buy the dolls. I think it's wasted energy for these parents to make a fuss over a toy like this.

I was a doll freak when I was a kid, I had a ton of them and a lot of Barbies too, did I let her warped out looking body give me a mental complex? NO! It's a doll., it's not real. Ken doesn't have a penis, did that freak me out about when I first saw a penis live and in the flesh? No....Ken is not real! I think some parent's are a little nuts to think a doll is going to cause their precious daughters to starve themselves and ask for implants....or in this case cause them to get tattoos.

LuckyMarley · October 2011

LOVE IT!! Best. Barbie. Ever.

Wifey1012 · October 2011

Not a fan.

Mrs_MBed · October 2011

Irisheyes1247:
Well, I will be the lame mom. I'm not saying DD couldn't play with this Barbie if she wanted to (and she does look pretty cool), but DH and I are both pretty anti-tattoo. Neither of us have them. If DD (and next LO) decide they want tattoos, they can wait until they are old enough to get them on their own. And personally I probably wouldn't be happy with that decision.

I have my nose pierced and DH asked, "What if DD wants that?" Then she can wait until she is old enough to get one. "And what if she says, but you have one?" Then I will tell her how I didn't get it until I was 21 and she can wait that long if she would like. I am not aiming to be the cool mom here, obviously.

But it sounds like you are still approaching it in a cool and collected manner, rather than freaking out over a doll. DH and I don't have any tattoos either and don't really have anything against them (we let the girls do the temporary ones occasionally), but if our LOs want to get them, they just need to wait until they're old enough.

Salt - I think that Barbie is super cute! I don't know if I'd buy it for the girls, but only b/c they have a couple of the Disney princess Barbies that they don't really play with. Growing up my sister and I had one of those HUGE rubbermaid tubs filled to the top with Barbies / Barbie gear. I loved how she could be anyone she wanted to be. But I do wish that they'd change her to make her more real-life looking.

SheenaNash1 · October 2011

LOVE it. Seriously, I think I have a girl crush on the new Barbie. My dad took me and my best friend to get matching tattoos on graduation day, I was 17. I've had a love affair with them ever since. I think diversity in any way can only be good for kids, never harmful.

greengirl0909 · October 2011

Barbie can do what she wants, but I'm not buying her. I think tattoos can be a tasteful form of expression, I think if you cover yourself in them you are shutting doors to the professional world in the US. I'll encourage my kiddo to make choices that support their future and I don't see a large amount of very visible tattoos doing that.

gothgrrl · October 2011

This Barbie is hott!!! I have no problem with her makeover - my issue is the unrealistic body image she promotes to young girls...I wish Mattel would make efforts to address that. Even with that being said, I collect the more unique Barbies myself - will this one appear on my Christmas wish list? Maybe!

salt78 · October 2011

guppysown@yahoo.com:
Barbie can do what she wants, but I'm not buying her. I think tattoos can be a tasteful form of expression, I think if you cover yourself in them you are shutting doors to the professional world in the US. I'll encourage my kiddo to make choices that support their future and I don't see a large amount of very visible tattoos doing that.

I don't think this is nearly as true as it once was. I have a friend who has a beautiful sleeve...and he is also a very successful lawyer.

I work in an extremely conservative office and have multiple very visible tattoos (ie: on my arms) that don't bother anyone here. I'm the graphic designer though, so the company owner wasn't shocked or anything by them. It has never been an issue anywhere I have worked.

msteph82 · October 2011

I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a girl crush on the new Barbie.

amor_eterno · October 2011

I think she's cute, but I don't know that she's the Barbie that I'd want my DD to get. I'm not against tattoos and DH actually has a few but I think these are too exposed. I don't understand why parents freak out and start protesting things though. Isn't easier to teach your child your specific values while letting them know that others have their own?

SheenaNash1 · October 2011

guppysown@yahoo.com:
Barbie can do what she wants, but I'm not buying her. I think tattoos can be a tasteful form of expression, I think if you cover yourself in them you are shutting doors to the professional world in the US. I'll encourage my kiddo to make choices that support their future and I don't see a large amount of very visible tattoos doing that.

I guess I feel like you are missing the point (and opportunity) here, IMHO. I think instead of looking at it like "well I wouldn't want my DD to look like that, so I will not buy that toy" why not take the opportunity to flip and say "while I may not want that specific look for my DD, I am happy to purchase toys that show diversity in all ways. That way my DD will have a broader, more well-rounded sense of what beauty can be and may be less judgemental to those who look different from her." Toys can be powerful teaching tools, if you let them.

And FWIW, I have several visible tats on my wrists, the back of my neck and behind my ear and a tounge ring. I've been a successful professional teacher for five years and had no trouble getting hired at all.

Mattel · October 2011

Love this Barbie!!!! DH and I both have tattoos. If an LO of ours decides they would like one, they will have to wait until they are old enough to get one. And I will encourage they think long and hard about what they get so they aren't embarassed of or regret it later on. I have a patient at work that has "Where's the Beef?" inked on his a$$ cheek, covering the ENTIRE thing, he HATES it.

amor_eterno · October 2011

salt78:
guppysown@yahoo.com:
Barbie can do what she wants, but I'm not buying her. I think tattoos can be a tasteful form of expression, I think if you cover yourself in them you are shutting doors to the professional world in the US. I'll encourage my kiddo to make choices that support their future and I don't see a large amount of very visible tattoos doing that.
I don't think this is nearly as true as it once was. I have a friend who has a beautiful sleeve...and he is also a very successful lawyer.
I work in an extremely conservative office and have multiple very visible tattoos (ie: on my arms) that don't bother anyone here. I'm the graphic designer though, so the company owner wasn't shocked or anything by them. It has never been an issue anywhere I have worked.

I agree with you, salt, but I also think it has a lot to do with the different career fields. You can easily cover a sleeve with a long-sleeved shirt, but once you start going to your neck/face/and hands it gets a little harder.

salt78 · October 2011

Mattel:
Love this Barbie!!!! DH and I both have tattoos. If an LO of ours decides they would like one, they will have to wait until they are old enough to get one. And I will encourage they think long and hard about what they get so they aren't embarassed of or regret it later on. I have a patient at work that has "Where's the Beef?" inked on his a$$ cheek, covering the ENTIRE thing, he HATES it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

lulling · October 2011

Ohhhhh! I like her!

KCD053109 · October 2011

I like her. A lot. I may have to put her on my Christmas wish list.

If my DD wanted her for Christmas, I would consider it and make my judgement based on the price of the doll. She's more into Monster High than Barbie currently though.

And based off of people's fears; should I be worried that she wants to dye her hair and get body alterations to look like a vampire when she grows up because she (wants to) plays with Monster High dolls? I hardly think so.

kasslynne · October 2011

Heck yes I will: ) My nieces and nephews see tat's all the time on family members and know it is for when you are older.

We buy temporary tattoo's all the time for them. It is a part of being a kid. You can not shelter a child about littles things like this for life.

kiarstin · October 2011

Its awesome! i would be a total hypocrite if I was worried about the message tattoos would send my kid considering my husband and I are covered in them

kiarstin · October 2011

amor_eterno:
salt78:
guppysown@yahoo.com:
Barbie can do what she wants, but I'm not buying her. I think tattoos can be a tasteful form of expression, I think if you cover yourself in them you are shutting doors to the professional world in the US. I'll encourage my kiddo to make choices that support their future and I don't see a large amount of very visible tattoos doing that.
I don't think this is nearly as true as it once was. I have a friend who has a beautiful sleeve...and he is also a very successful lawyer.
I work in an extremely conservative office and have multiple very visible tattoos (ie: on my arms) that don't bother anyone here. I'm the graphic designer though, so the company owner wasn't shocked or anything by them. It has never been an issue anywhere I have worked.
I agree with you, salt, but I also think it has a lot to do with the different career fields. You can easily cover a sleeve with a long-sleeved shirt, but once you start going to your neck/face/and hands it gets a little harder.

I love tattoos, but I urged my husband to not get hands neck/face until he has a secure career choice b/c those tattoos can hinder employment. I love tattoos and the regulations on them are bending and by the time bean is 18 they will most likely be gone. However my roommate has his whole neck and head, and work can be very hard especially since throat tattoos make you look well more dangerous and he is already a big a$$ fool. Its been an issue with employment. So I think it goes both ways and when choosing tattoos you must choose appropriately. Mind you my husband now has a neck tattoo planned b/c his work doesn't care one bit!

beachbunni307 · October 2011

Irisheyes1247:

Well, I will be the lame mom. I'm not saying DD couldn't play with this Barbie if she wanted to (and she does look pretty cool), but DH and I are both pretty anti-tattoo. Neither of us have them. If DD (and next LO) decide they want tattoos, they can wait until they are old enough to get them on their own. And personally I probably wouldn't be happy with that decision.

I have my nose pierced and DH asked, "What if DD wants that?" Then she can wait until she is old enough to get one. "And what if she says, but you have one?" Then I will tell her how I didn't get it until I was 21 and she can wait that long if she would like. I am not aiming to be the cool mom here, obviously.

I don't think it's unreasonble or "lame" to make your child wait until he/she is of legal age to get a tattoo, or even to make them save up their money to pay for it themselves, since they can get pretty expensive. I don't have any, but my husband does. He 100% supports tattoos and I will probably get one after this little one is born, something with his name or something...so it means something, but I will definately make them wait until they are 18 to do it....I will only have a problem if they cover themselves, get sleeves, or anything on their face. To me that stuff is just tacky.

That being said, i think this barbie is super cute and like it alot.

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