by Elise (Dec 1, 2003)

Now women are fighting for the respect of their rights and trying to change minds about women by making people understand that they are more than an object, more than a body and a pretty face. Even so, we can see that a new kind of doll is launched and these dolls are very far away from the image of modern women that we are trying to put in the minds.
These dolls have a perfect figure, big eyes, fleshy lips , they wear short skirts, they use make up, and their most important concern is being the most beautiful girl and going shopping! They are bimbos !

Everybody knows that dolls for dressing up are the models of every girl who plays with them. So, early, little girls will want to use make up, wear short skirts …to be like their model. But the worst is that these dolls incite girls to be concerned with their look, to be superficial.

How can we defend women’s rights when the new generation is only concerned with their look? Who will take women into consideration if they are superficial bimbos? We can’t do anything against that because it’s the society that wants this. 

We are living in a consumer society and their purpose in launching these dolls is simple : girls will want to be fashionable because their models are fashionable. So they will have to buy a lot of products. By doing that, this society is breaking down women because they aren’t all superficial, and also girls’ childhood because they have to be women when they are only children !

So we can try to change minds anyway, but if stereotypes about women become true, it will be very difficult.

If you wish to react to this article, write to the editor.

I agree with you ! Nowadays, a little girl doesn't want to play with her doll because for her, it's for babies...  She prefers to play with make-up and clothes. That's why many people think women must be top-models to be beautiful ! But not all women are marketing products !

Lili (LAT, Blois)

Do you really think taking care of her appearance makes the girl stupid? I have another way of thinking. I think it's good to see that modern girls can show their body without being called a bitch. But of course stereotypes are bad. You must not be mistaken.

Noémie and Baptiste

I'm scandalized by the reaction of Noémie and Baptiste. OK, girls nowadays can wear any clothes they want, but the problem of the girls who want be the sexier is that finally they are prisoners of their appearance. What  are sexy clothes for if it's not to pick boys up ??? and why are the girls astonished to be called  a "bitch" ???

Flore (LAT, Blois)

Why do we make these dolls? Every woman isn't a bimbo. This is a caricature of women, not real women. Making these dolls is stupid because there are a lot of dolls already on the market : Barbie, Cindie, etc... These dools are sexy and it is children who play with them. Is it good for our children? No! Because our children are too young to have an approach to sexuality. We should be more careful when we choose their toys.

I read your article about the Bimbo doll, and I want to say that I agree with you. Dolls are for little girls who are at the age to be influenced and dolls are the first thing they want to look like.

Nowadays dolls wear sexy clothes I think it's scandalous because in a while we'll probably see girls who are about 5 years old with short skirts, g-strings, sexy tee shirts .

And what will boys think about it when they see them in the street ... ? Young girls can't understand how the boys feel when they are wearing these clothes.

And there is another thing. A while ago on TV I saw a doll wearing a big cross like a necklace. It's a religious sign , an influence... Certainly a lot of girls don't know what they are doing when they wear this. Do they know that a cross means that we believe in God?

(LAT, Blois)

In my opinion, small girls’ dolls are too sexy, too pulpy, too "perfect", so TOO MUCH in fact! Barbies, Bratz... have measurements that all the small girls (and girls) would like to have but that they will certainly not have the chance to have. And perhaps this is the beginning of bulimia or anorexia. The image of the natural and simple woman is devaluated with profit by a creature, by dreams. And that is a great pity...

I agree that children are becoming increasingly pressured to grow up quickly and it is disturbing that dolls encourage little girls to spend money and wear little make-up and lots of clothing in an attempt to be mature. However, although you complain about stereotypes against the roles of women, you also make a stereotype of your own. Not all women who like to shop, or wear make-up, etc. are bimbos. Please try to remember that spending money or trying to look better has no effect on the intelligence or morality of a person.

I want to say that I totally agree with you about what a negative thing these dolls represent. Girls should be encouraged to be themselves and not emulate what the dolls represent. Body image is a very serious issue around the world and I've had many friends afflicted with anorexia and bulimia.

I disagree with you about the fact that society wants dolls like this, though. I believe that the media and advertising companies make us believe that we want them. If there were other, more positive products available, then consumers would buy those instead.

Great insight and keep trying to help women around the world!

I thought that this article was very relevant for almost all dolls made for children are made so perfectly. Girls who play with these dolls look at them and play with them often. They look up to them. These dolls are a kind of role model for younger kids. I don't think it is healthy to make these standards for your appearance at such a young age.

I love the way you have put this new craze into the perspective of most teenagers. Today's dolls are becoming skankier and say to young girls " if you do not look like this you will not have friends or you will not be cool". And this is untrue. Because of these new generation dolls we get girls in elementry school trying hard to act like adults and look like them instead of enjoying their childhood. This article is well respected.

I agree that young girls are adversly influenced by the clothing and makeup of "bimbo" dolls, but I disagree with the assumption that these dolls will promote eating disorders or self image issues. Like someone earlier said, these dolls are caricatures of women, and children will know the the enormous heads and tiny waists look unrealistic and. In a sense, these dolls are better for children to play with than the traditional barbie dolls.

I agree with your article. How can girls grow up with these dolls and then be expected to look at themselves as more than a pretty face ? Bratz especially take this to a new level. At least Barbie was more reserved. Bratz and even the newer dolls like Flavas! Have you seen them ? They are so horrible and are making girls think they should act like them. I am glad you called this to the attention of the public. It is refered to many times, but it is never talked about too much! Great Job!

I think that it is perfectly normal for a young girl to be exposed to Barbie's and makeup. It is a part of childhood in which girls fullfill their fantasies to be older. However, the Bimbo dolls displayed on this website, referred to as Bratz in the U.S., are hideous. I cannot find anything that one could deem attractive in these dolls. Since when is a huge head, "Spice Girls'" shoes, and a mask of makeup aesthetically pleasing? Barbies are, by far, more suitable because they are actually pretty dolls that children can aspire to become.

We totally agree with you. We think the marketing around children's games conditions them to have a certain way of life. Morever it's horrible for young girls. Indeed, girls must be made up to please men. They're no longer women, they are objects that people can model as they want them to be. Wives are living dolls, young girls too. Indeed, parents could buy cars for girls or warriors dolls like power rangers, and for boys they could buy barbie dolls.

Your article is very interesting, it's a real problem in our society but we don't see it because it is still like that. We must react against this problem and fast. Women are not objects!!!!

First I want to thank all those who have answered my article. It makes me feel happy to see that people care about these things!

I want to tell you that I think these dolls are a real society problem, and it isn't the only one. Society is trying to create a look for everybody to follow by making these dolls and by spreading fashion. If the look that society wants you to have is yours too, there isn't any problem. But it's not the case for everybody!

Like one of you said, it creates anorexy and boulimia problems and also psychological problems, because if you’re not like everybody, if you don't wear the same clothes as everybody, you can feel rejected and bad in your skin. It's not the case for everybody of course!

Personnally I don't follow fashion a lot. I' m unconsciously influenced of course but maybe less than others, and I don't feel rejected! I don't think that this fashion coresponds to me, so I don' t follow it! It' s my right and I' m proud to be different from bimbos!!

To answer some of you, I didn’t say that if you wear sexy clothes you are stupid! You are making a prejudice on your own! and this is the danger!

As a conclusion I would say: If you don' t like the current fashion, don't follow it !The essential is to feel good in your body and your style! Don't give a damn to the others!!

a cartoon by Arthur (LAT, Blois)

We agree with you, we are living in a consumer society which tries hard to incite young people to buy anything. Nowadays, young people prefer to look like Bimbos, like Britney Spears and wear sexy clothes. We believe that the media don't persuade us or young people to be ourselves. In adverts, women are very thin and don't wear lots of clothes. Young people think that they have to be like them because they are models for them.

Liza & Tiff (LAT, Blois)

Women have rights and they know that. They want their rights to be respected and they make bimbos. I think these dolls represent young women of today. I think little girls want to wear the same clothes, want to make up like the bimbos, they don't have their style, they copy all on the dolls.

I am currently taking a Sociology class for college and am fascinated by the content of your article. We are currently studying society’s role in developing our young girls/teens. And the fact is society does put ampo stress on our young girls/teens about how they look. But look at what else they put emphasis... Baby Dolls. Little girls are put into pre-motherhood by being exposed to baby dolls. This is just as damaging to young girls/teens as the bimbo dolls because it reiterates the idea that women belong in the home with the children. Why can't there be a Career Women Doll who is dressed appropriately and comes complete with an MBA from prestigeous East Coast school? And why is there only two options for women in our world 1. Mommy or 2. bimbo ?! Both to me seem to cause problems for our young girls/teens.

Courtney (USA) Oct 6, 2004

Jan 9, 2005

Look you should love "us" women. You should respect us, for our beliefs and our minds. We are God's art, not yours. You love girls who are a sex object. That is the form of art you like us to be. What kind of beauty is that? You can be sexy without looking trashy. Well I can tell you one thing the form of art of my body (temple) is mine and mine alone. I can do what I please with it, get that, not what would please you. Today we make 'sex' look so trashy and vulgar. When 'sex' is the art of love, for two married couples in twine of each other's natural and beautiful naked bodies. Women who respect themselves, till married; they will be the ones to rock your socks off \m/

Alyssa (Texas, USA)