Dear Mattel,...

[aimeekitty]

Poor Lingerie Barbie #6


Dear Mattel,

Lately I've seen on a few talk shows and the news "cracks" about Lingerie Barbie, and I could not for the life of me think what they were talking about. They were talking about this Barbie, as if it was a new thing, a recent, slutty version of Barbie. I thought to myself, this doesn't sound like the elegant Lingerie Barbies I have sitting in my glass case in my living room! It turns out that WAS what they were talking about! Imagine my surprise! Barbie has been dressing in lingerie much like this almost since her creation! (as I'm sure you know!) How do those making these cracks not know that Barbie has always had underwear...?

Today I heard about the quarantine holding many of the Barbie Lingerie #6s. Is this true? How is it possible that the media is deciding whether Barbie should come dressed in lingerie? Would they prefer that she wears a trenchcoat over her cute underwear?

Is this the same media who has absolutely no problem with Frederick's of Hollywood being in malls RIGHT next to toy stores? In case you haven't been in a Frederick's, while they have quite a good deal of classy lingerie, they also have a good deal of what would be considered by some to be quite trashy!

There are also those Playboy Model dolls that are sitting out plain as day next to the Pokemon cards and comics for little kids at my local comic book store.

I sincerely hope that something can be done about this, even if it's just to release the dolls with some kind of disclaimer "for adult collectors". However, despite the fact that I'm considered to be a conservative, if I currently had children, I would have absolutely no problem with buying them or allowing them to buy a Lingerie Barbie. I think they are lovely, classy, and not in the slightest bit slutty or trashy. Just about everyone who I have explained the situation to is aghast, not to mention the outrage among doll collectors who, like me, can't believe their ears!
I hope that Mattel will listen to their customers, and not to members of the media, who obviously are ill-informed about your product.

Sincerely,

Aimee Steinberger
(a really big fan of Barbie since I was a little girl
oh, and my mom didn't have a problem with Barbie's underwear, either!)

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If you would like to know more about this controversy go here:
http://www.xynadra.com/bbs/dolls/messages/200442.html

OR write Mattel:
alice.sato@mattel.com

and tell them that you aren't afraid of dolls with underwear. As it currently is, the MEDIA of all things, is causing Mattel NOT to release it's Lingerie Barbies.

The thing that really makes me laugh is that this Lingerie Barbie #6 that has caused so much controversy, she's wearing MORE CLOTHING than the first couple of the line (which were wearing garter belts, etc.) (Click to see an earlier Lingerie Barbie)

I'm just totally appalled.

Comments

[ncsujen.livejournal.com]

You know, I heard about this on Conan or Leno or one of those shows, and I just assumed that she was dressed in some really trashy, lacy-see-through type Priscilla's getup. (more like the first picture) I didn't bother to look up a picture but.. now that I see one, I think it's stupid labeling this Barbie obscene. She's wearing more underwear than I do! Besides, there are plenty of dolls out there with "clothes" on that are more revealing than her little nightie.. heck, a bathing suit would be more revealing.. come to think of it, didn't the original Barbie come in a bathing suit? or have one painted on?

[kayjkay.livejournal.com]

*begin sarcasm* well it's OBVIOUS that she's a slutty Barbie because she's giving you that sultry look.....and those half lidded doe eyes are a RED FLAG that this Barbie's a ho.... *end sarcasm*

Seriously, it looks kinda neat. Seems like she's almost wearing a corset. Now there's something I'd love to see..... 18th Century Corset Barbie, complete with boning and rubber waist that you can synch tight ;)

I think the American public thinks they have a huge right to tell folks what is and what isn't right. Obviously, some young impressionable girl is going to see this Barbie and say "Mommy can I dress like that too?!" Gimme a break..... stupid stupid dumbass public -_-

[jenova-silver.livejournal.com]

Good grief... That is just completely stupid. Gack! 'Normal' Barbies don't come with underwear, right? So underwear can't fashionable? What's next? banning Swimsuit Barbies? (doesn't collect Barbies, but Loves to see the ones in elegant gowns.)

*cough*

[twotone]

Actually, Mattel has been selling "permanently clothed" swimsuit Barbies for a few years. Basically, they come with their swimsuit painted on, so even when you strip the doll of all clothes, she's still "dressed". They've also had Barbies with groin regions painted white, to represent non-removable underwear.

(Yes, I am a geek. Sorry.)

haha

[mudu.livejournal.com]

yeah i work at a toy store part time. they also recalled all the PREGNANT barbies. because it shows a quote unquote defeated woman. they say "barbie isn't married", YET they have a bride barbie. what gives?

[sassyelf.livejournal.com]

Could the US possibly become any more puritainistic in its views on sex? Jeeze how much time do these people have on thier hands? They're probably the same bunch of people who want Harry Potter banned for being "satanic".

[mersades.livejournal.com]

If the media wants to take THAT off the market, they need to try and take Britney and Christina off tv as well. That's just bizarre.

[questionstar.livejournal.com]

No kidding. >:| If the argument is that impressionable young girls are going to dress slutty because dolls (that are made for ADULTS) are being sold in their undies, they really ought to go after the pop stars who wear seethrough skintight outfits and pose naked on the cover of rolling stone *COUGH*, because I know for a fact, that young girls actually listen to them, and are much more likely to emulate slutty real people than slutty dolls. :P And the barbies have heaploads more modesty than any popstar on tv. Bejesus.

[twotone]

Thank you for an eloquent and heart-felt response to the latest Barbie backlash.

I'm not a huge Barbie fan, but I do find it bizarre that this doll would be considered inappropriate when it's an adult's collector item.

Mind, I also find it bizarre that Happy Family Midge is being ranted against. I mean, she's an explicitly married woman in an apparently equal relationship (given that hubby comes with the other kid)... what more do they want?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

well, don't you know, Midge has been subjegated by the evil man and is bearing his child, and the stigma of his name!

LOL

[gothiclibrarian.livejournal.com]

How utterly retarded...Mattel are such pussies, honestly. The desire to specifically pander to the requests and demands of the "religious right" makes absolutely no sense to me.

Course, I just got chewed out by a library patron the other day who thought that Nick Hornby was "obscene" and that I shouldn't ever recommend him

What ever happened with "to each his own?"

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

That's the thing though, it's the media who's making the major push for this, not the "religious right" which makes it all the more laughable!

[gothiclibrarian.livejournal.com]

OK...so the media is mad then at the advertising Mattel chose?

I'm with the comment about Britney-a-likes...kids today see so much bootie, I don't see how a doll can cause them to slip into the moral gutter.

ooooh yeah...

[nitedragon.livejournal.com]

I remember getting a magazine in the mail that contained the lingerie barbies, complete with a james bond ken...which I thought was hilarious. i had never seen any barbies like that before! heh.