Joan Jett Barbie!

My daughter (3) wants Barbies for christmas.  Krap.  What am I to do.  Before I had kids, the decision was easy: "My kids will never have Barbies!"  "No Barbies in my house!"
Now, it is not so easy.

It's not so much "Barbie" I detest, but what Barbie represents.  Unrealistic body image, subservient women, focus on fashion, not function, etc.  A toy industry that as part of a greater capitalist society markets toys to kids with the sole purpose of selling as many as possible, and making as much money as possible, with little or no interest in constructive childhood development.

Barbie is just one part of the larger picture, though.  Through mass media, advertising, and a society as a whole that functions on the division of people and labour in order to keep afloat.

The other night my partner Jill and I were lying in bed discussing Sidney's Christmas wish of Barbies--princess Barbies no less; where did this girl come from???

At first I was arguing against Barbie, and rather surprised with Jill that we were even having this discussion, as she used to detest Barbie more than me...But a case was made:  Sidney plays with (donated) Barbies and other dolls at daycare.  To her, they are just dolls to play with.  It is our (her parents) job to help her develop a positive self-image, and to be an advocate for women's right to self-determination, as she will be bombarded with negative messages all multiple medium throughout her life.

One more point really struck home:  my son Rowan plays with the barbies at daycare, but in the storage room, as he is embarrassed to play with them in the play room.  He is only 5 and has already started to develop a sense of  stereotypical gender roles. He is starting to think that it is "wrong" to play with dolls, and is afraid some of the other kids will make fun of him, but he really enjoys playing make believe & dress-up.

My only rebuttal:  Dolls yes, Barbies no....
I would sleep on it....

The next day I get a text from Jill at work: JOAN JETT BARBIE!
Jill was at a toy store and found it.
My reply: "BUY IT!!!"

I love Joan Jett.  She is a major influential personality in the beginnings of music I love--Punk Rock.
Now some may argue that she "sold out."  Krap, 5 years ago I would have curses her name as a "sell-out".
But now, I can't wait to play with my daughter and her Joan Jett Barbie in black leather, with her guitar hanging over her shoulder.  To play some Runaways on the stereo and do some air guitar, to create a doll punk band.  To pull out my own guitar to play along, and teach my kids some of the music.

So, I caved, I sold out, whatever, my daughter will receive Barbies for Christmas.  [celebrating christmas--there is a whole other topic of conflict for another time]

But maybe in a few years, her barbies will have purple mohawks, safety-pin piercings, anarchy tattoos, and Sidney will be having a make-believe women's rights protest in our living room, demanding abortion on demand, equal pay for equal work, subsidized daycare, and repreentative unions!

Happy Holidays,
Devo