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Barbie trades in tank tops for prayer dress
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by ryan | October 11, 2007 at 10:22 am
1264 views | 2 Recommendations | 6 comments
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An Indonesian Muslim woman has created a modest alternative to barbie, Salma. It's surprising that Mattel didn't come up with this idea themselves, but perhaps it required the first hand sensitivity of an observant Muslim woman to think of it. Maybe this will inspire a new trend of dolls that conform to religious mandates. I wonder if the Saudi Arabian version will be allowed to drive in one of those little Barbie jeeps.
An Indonesian has come up with a modest alternative to the popular doll which she hopes will inspire virtue in Muslim girls.Called Salma, from the Arabic word for peace, the doll comes dressed in a variety of costumes, ranging from the black "abaya" cloak to a loose-fitting white prayer dress.
All Salma's clothes are long-sleeved and down to her ankles and come with matching headscarves that cover her hair.
Salma's creator, businesswoman Sukmawati Suryaman, said she was inspired to create a modestly dressed doll last year after seeing her niece playing with Barbie.
"I remember thinking that I wish we had Muslim dolls like these as we all know that children easily imitate their toys," she told Reuters.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 11:34 on October 11th, 2007
There has been an increasing number of young girls from around the world who are dying of eating disorders. And playing with Barbie doesn't seem to help.
Translating Barbie's plastic proportions into human being terms is a favorite pastime of eating disorder activists and other anti-Barbie crusaders; estimates have put the doll's life-size bust between 38 and 40 inches, her waist at 18-24 inches, and her height between five and a half and an outlandish more than seven feet, with a weight of 110 pounds. Need some help visualizing that? Imagine Anna Nicole Smith's breasts, suspended above Kate Moss' waist (after a fast) all resting comfortably on Cheryl Miller's frame (after a mid-life growth spurt). http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/columns/1997/12/jervis.html .
The question is: Why hasn't Mattel altered the physique of unidealistic Barbie? At least Salma is a doll that young Muslim girls may easily relate to, as they can identify themselves with the modestly-clad toy. Barbie merely forces a North American girl to question her own differences against a stacked toothpick with pink heels.
at 11:17 on October 11th, 2007
ryan nadel, you've convinced me you've done the work - it's authentic. I also think that you've been fair and thorough. I didn't get the sense that you were hiding your biases, or passing off other's work as your own. Or worse -- getting paid by those you cover -- so it's transparent and independent. I also think you deserve praise for being an eyewitness, and for your investigative efforts. Good stuff.
at 12:32 on October 11th, 2007
you raise some great points about the fundamental nautre of toys and their affect on children's self perception. It would be interesting to investigate what the 'dimensions' of Salma are.
at 12:43 on October 11th, 2007
Excellent point. Barbie, if made flesh, would be quite a striking sight, and not in a good way!
Also, Barbie is far too much taller than GI Joe, who may well be intimidated by her dominant stature.
They have a lot to teach each other: Barbie can coordinate colors, Joe can bend his elbows.
at 10:04 on October 12th, 2007
And what about Mr. Ken? Do girls growing up with Barbie dolls believe that they will one day meet a man with the model looks of Ken? It seems that when one is surrounded by unidealistic images, it only leads to one's feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem. People strive for a sense of belonging, a feeling of connection on some level. But Barbie only distances girls from reality. What young girls play with also translates on to the runways in Paris. As the rosy-cheeked, pleasantly plumped girl plays with her Barbie, she is bombarded with billboards and magazines of pale, gaunt figures altered by computer imagery. Only recently, have campaigns like DOVE decided to portray women in their advertisements for who they really are: an assortment of puzzle pieces, different sizes and shapes, but all of individual importance. Yet, the media coverage chooses the former portrayal of a woman to take precedence.
at 14:30 on October 12th, 2007
Yes, weisbom, you raise a good point, but it's human nature to want things (whether it be food or images) that aren't always good for us. the demand for the images of the unrealistic perfection are rooted in our psyche and i doubt will ever change. the key, however, is educating those exposed to the media bombardment about the difference between reality and the messages they are exposed to. alternatively, we could just implement soviet style control over public messages...but then what would happen to NowPublic.