Barbie Gets Tattoos, Maintains Biologically Unlikely Proportions

Email    Print    Share

Posted on Oct 19, 2011

tokidoki.it

Here’s a look at Mattel’s Tokidoki Barbie and her odd little pet.

If you think that what happens in popular culture might have broader societal implications, maybe something more to it than fluff and distraction, we invite you to consider the conversation around Mattel’s new Harajuku theme Barbie. If not, well, carry on then.

She’s got a pink bob, an edgy outfit designed by Tokidoki, and here’s the clincher—this Barbie has tattoos. This is a source of consternation for some moms, as Salon’s Mary Elizabeth Williams points out, but Barbie’s corporate sponsor was ready with a comeback, claiming she’s not necessarily targeted to the newly post-pacifier demographic.

However radical her inky incarnation may appear, though, we’re still looking at the basic Barbie prototype, who not only comes with precious accessories but also the usual baggage—she’s still emblematic of some problematic beauty norms that don’t seem to change much, no matter how often her outfits might.  —KA

Salon:

But Barbie’s never just been the darling of the pre-teen set. From the day she moved into her first dream house, she’s been irresistible to just about everybody. In a statement, Mattel acknowledged that the $50 tootsie “is a perfect example of a limited-edition doll sold through select retail locations” for “for the adult doll collector.”  And as a parent on Babble noted, “I think the pink hair and tattoos are fine. The objectionable things about Barbie are the tiny feet and gigantic fake boobs.”

Read more

 

More Below the Ad

Advertisement

TAGS: barbie doll girl culture harajaku mattel tattoo tokidoki toy

Related Entries

• 

  30 Companies Paid Lobbyists More Than the IRS

• 

  Computer Nerd Barbie

• 

  ‘Colbert Report’: This Is How We Do It

• 

  ‘Mad Men’ Gets the Barbie Treatment

Email to a friend

Get truth delivered to
your inbox every week.

Previous item: Sarandon vs. the Vatican

Next item: Team Obama’s Creative Crowd-Sourcing Fail

New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.