Pregnant Barbie

[PrincessFiona]

Barbie has come out with a new product called the "Happy Family". It includes a wife who is pregnant. The tummy attaches magnetically and holds a new born. It can be removed easily and viola...there is baby. In addition, there is a dad with baby buggy and son and a female pediatrician and her office.

Wal-mart has removed these from it's shelves because many parents have complained that it is offensive.

What do you think?

[PrincessFiona]

my .02

I'll reveal my vote...I bought my daughter one and she loves it. She loves to play with baby dolls and barbies...her dream is to become a mother some day and she is fascinated by her doll. I think it is fine....after all, women DO become pregnant. This isn't a 13 year old prenant skipper doll after all

Kris

[houseelf]

Maybe I'm going to come off as ignorant here, but what is wrong with pregnant Barbie? Isn't pregnancy a natural state? It isn't like Mattel is giving the specifics on how Barbie got pregnant, right?

Let me get this straight- a visibly pregnant wife is so offensive that Walmart has to remove it from their shelves when, at the same time, Walmart also probably sells half-naked, oversexualized teen icon dolls, graphically violent movies, cartoons, and video games, and other questionable materials specifically marketed at youth. We can sell sex and violence, but we can't talk about the natural consequence of adult affection and physical relations? Is there a logic disconnect here or am I off my rocker? Pardon me for sounding like an old codger.

Kelly

It's a little different but I don't see how it is offensive. I probably wouldn't jump out and buy it but wouldn't have a problem with it if someone gave it to my daughter as a gift.

I wonder what part of it is so offensive that it has to be pulled off the shelves. I mean, if there is a daddy involved, I can't see the conservatives getting ticked off. Or is it more of the liberals taking offense? There's all the career Barbies out there so why not have a Pregnant Barbie. Again, missing the offensive aspect of this.

What I'd like to see is post-partum Barbie with the sags and wrinkles on her belly, engorged breasts with blue veins popping out, and bags under her eyes. And she only comes in a robe and slippers since she doesn't fit in her other pre-pregnancy Barbie clothes.

[PrincessFiona]

post-partum barbie

HA...that is so funny! When her lilttle tummy pops off, she has a pefectly smooth tummy underneath....I thought the same thing..."Where are the stretch marks?"

I did actually put some thought into it before buying it....and took some time...but at the end of the day, I decided that it would be ok.

I think that people are freaked out because it suggests perhaps that barbie has had sex? I don't know????

My daughter and I watch Maternity Wards and A Baby Story all of the time together....she thinks giving birth is this wonderful thing.....and really hasn't expressed much interest in ...conception...thank goodness.

Kris

[houseelf]

Ha! That is hysterical...I want to see post partum barbie too!

Kelly

I used to watch Maternity Ward all the time too! It was the realness of it (not everything went perfect) that I enjoyed but then after awhile the realness of it was too sad for me. Seeing crack mothers and teenage moms, and babies born with all kinds of defects was too sad. But I do think it's a good show.

[PrincessFiona]

Maternity Ward

I hear you there, Thu Van...it is kind of depressing. I like A Baby Story because the situations are more....controlled....but I usually end up feeling like a labor loser after watching these women give birth in their bathtubs, etc

Kris

[mommax3]

I would have loved to play with pregnant Barbie when I was little. I don't think my boys will be interested in it, though! As for post-partum Barbie, I think that is hysterical!

I did a google search to see if I could find out what the objection was, but it wasn't clear in any of the articles I found. Whatever.

As for Maternity Ward and A Baby Story, we watch them (particularly Maternity Ward) quite a bit -- me because it is the closest I will probably get to knowing what it is like for my husband at work, and him because he is interested in how different doctors do things. I used to watch A Baby Story all the time, but not so much now -- it just doesn't fit into my schedule and I think Maternity Ward is much more realistic. When I used to watch it, though, my oldest son watched right along with me, and I think that is probably a good thing. (As long as he doesn't start talking about it at school.....)

Sally

[Meenah]

I think pregnant Barbie is a hoot, I would buy it. As for Walmart, do any of you remember my anti Walmart comments from the past? Stick to Target. Walmart also won't sell certain music because they have decided to be the country's censors!!! They also move into small poor communities, open up and put the locals out of business, then close and leave town if they don't make enough money, after they have ruined many people. Ok, I'll stop now. I also want to see the PMS Barbie.
Luanne

[PrincessFiona]

OMG

PMS BARBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am shrieking with laughter here....yes...let's make her a size 16 with stretch marks, no make-up, hair with split ends up in a pony tail in SWEAT PANTS clutching a box of prozac!!!!


8)

Kris

[mommax3]

Zits on her face, chocolate in the hand that isn't holding the prozac......

[PrincessFiona]

[Meenah]

That is soooo funny, how did you do that. I still can't figure out how to post a photograph.
Luanne

[SueC]

Cute photograph Kris!
I see no problem with pregnant Barbie. I think my daughter would love something like this. The objection some may have reminds me of how back when "I Love Lucy" was on, nobody could say the word "pregnant" on the show. I would love to hear the arguement behind the people who are opposed to it!