Punk Barbie angers parents
Summary of story from Time, October 21, 2011
American toy producers Mattel have released a new collector’s item Barbie doll, dubbed ‘Punk Barbie’.
The new doll has chin-length pink hair, punk-style clothing and tattoos on her arms and collarbone. And despite the doll being a collector’s item, and not a childhood toy, parents are condemning the tattooed look.
The Daily Mail has reported that a comments section on a parenting website for teens was already filled with complaints.
“I think it is horrible and sends the wrong message to young people. In no way should a tattoo be honored,” read one message on the site Twixt, while others likened tattoos to behavior that is illegal for children.
“Encouraging children that tattoos are cool is wrong, wrong, wrong. Mattel why not put a cigarette and a beer bottle in her hand while you’re at it!”
A previous tattooed Barbie, 1999 Butterfly Art Barbie, received so many complaints that Mattel suspended its sales. Totally Stylin’ Tattoos Barbie in 2009 also faced some backlash, but high sales kept her from being pulled.
Because while tattoos are bad, of course her physical proportions are perfectly acceptable to strive for.