With Barbie celebrating the big 5-0 this year, some might say she's experiencing a mid-life crisis by going out and getting herself inked up.
"Totally Stylin' Tattoos" Barbie--which comes with small tattoo stickers for Barbie and a "tattoo gun" for kids to stamp temporary tats on themselves--and has just hit shelves and some parents are finding this latest incarnation of the doll a bit too much.
Jenn Alcayaga, a parent from Sacramento, California, is against the message the new Barbie could send to young girls. "It's attracting kids too young to want to expose parts of their body to show off tattoos," she said.
Puh-leeze! Children have been exposed to temporary tattoos for years in Cracker Jack boxes and grocery store vending machines. Go into any toy store in America and you'll find temporary tattoo packs marketed to boys and girls alike.
And even if "Tattoo" Barbie did cause young girls to grow up interested in getting a tat of their own, hey, what's the big deal? Tattoos have become so mainstream that everyone from doctors to Christian pastors are rockin' them.
I think this new Barbie has the potential to be a great creative outlet for many young girls--just like every Barbie ever created has been. When I was a kid, I didn't care too much for the specialty Barbies like "Enchanted Evening" Barbie or "Navy" Barbie (though I'll admit I really did like "Barbie and the Rockers" Barbie and I know I would have absolutely loved "Tattoo" Barbie if it was around back then)--I was fine with any old Barbie because chances were, as soon as I opened the box I was going to strip off her costume and put her in a different outfit anyway.
One of my favorite childhood memories was sitting with friends on my bedroom floor, sewing Barbie new clothes with strips of fabric. And, as I grew older--still loving and playing with my Barbie dolls--my friends and I would get more creative with our fashion, sometimes using my dad's electrical tape to make Barbie some skin-tight, leather-looking miniskirts and tube tops, fit for a dominatrix or prostitute. (Did I mention I grew up in pre-Giuliani New York City?)
Interestingly enough, while looking through some old boxes, my mother recently came across my Barbie RV along with some of my Barbie dolls and outfits and asked if she should throw them away. I told her "no way" and have promised to come and collect them all soon, hopefully to pass along to my own kids one day. I just wonder if I'll find some electrical tape in the box....
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Well how cute is this! We can no longer hide the fact tattoos are a form of self expression. Something that is needed for every heart and soul.
It is not the only form but definitely one that has gotten a lot of attention over the last 10 years. A small fragment of time when knowing the history of tattoos.
Also an opportunity to learn about judgment every time you see a tattooed person. Most inked ones have emotion connected to their tattoo so if you cannot smile at it just look away.
Yes kids should respect the guidelines of parents and respect them.
I got my first tattoo at age 30, now 20 years later still a fan.
They express different times of my life and each one holds meaning close to my heart. That is the secret to never regretting a tattoo.
Know your reason for getting it. Do it for positive inspiration or for healing and never get one knowing you can always get it removed... cause it hurts (so i am told)!
So you go Barbie! Express your self cause your spirit is alive and still inspiring lots of future women, inked or not!!
ps.. happy 50th birthday barbie..hmmm inspiration for another tattoo!
Bravo Mattel for not backing down, and VIVA LA BARBIE for breaking into the twenty first century with the rest of us. I find it extremely amusing the way parents today are throwing tantrums over such stupid things, anything that requires them to actually have to be a parent. I was just reading an article where parents were throwing a tantrum about a tween style Dora the Explorer. Well, if the Rugrats can grow up, why can't Dora? I think parents, no, MOTHERS, because I'm pretty sure most fathers don't really care about this issue, need to lighten up. It's a toy, no one raises cain about toy guns promoting violence in children, why would a Barbie with tattoos promote young girls into dressing like tramps? Wait, here's another suggestion. Be mothers, and DON'T BUY CLOTHES THAT YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO WEAR.
while i dont object to barbie having a tatoo i do mobject to the "KEN" tatoo i think 90% of people w/ tatoos would agree getting the name of a boy/girlfriend partner or even spouse is unwise and i dont think little girls should believe that that is acceptable
tattoo. sorry
So now barbie also has tattoo? great!
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