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A Senior Seminar Editorial by Danya Kiernan, MHS 2010
There has been much controversy over Barbie’s new “Islamic look”. This new look is composed of a Burka, the traditional Islamic dress with a mesh eye hole and a head-covering Muslim veil known as the Hijab. While some people think this is a great idea, others feel is insulting. Barbara Kay, a critic from Canada, called the new Barbie “a symbol of oppression and a mockery of dis-empowered women who have been stripped of human dignity”. To settle this controversy and to balance out the Burka Barbie one commentator on a blog thought it would be a good idea to create a pro-freedom Barbie.
Since the Middle East requires their women to be conservative, a blonde haired Barbie wearing skimpy dresses is not a suitable toy for young girls to play with. They also have a big competitor in the Middle East which is part of the reason why the company created this Barbie; however they also feel that it is important for young girls everywhere have some sort of doll that they can relate themselves to.
Although the Islamic depiction of women is that they are lower rank, there should be no controversy over the Islamic Barbie. If people find it offending in countries other than the ones in the Middle East, the company should make the doll available for purchase on their website. Since Barbie has a doll for most other races, an Islamic Barbie makes sense for them to have. The young girls in the Middle East should be able to have some sort of doll that they are allowed to play with and that they have something in common with. The people who are getting so upset about the creation of this doll need to think of the young girls in the Middle East and how they have limited toys that they are allowed to play with. The doll may be degrading to women but it is also a reality for some. People need to realize that and be accepting of it. Even though part of the reason they made the doll is because of their competition, they realized the importance of it. “Barbie” knows how limited the toys are in this region and wants to have a popular toy for children there. The doll should remain on the market because it brings joy to young children and that’s all that should matter.