I've never been a fan of Bratz. My girls don't own them and have never been given them as gifts. They already know if they are ever given them to just politely say thank you. And not to remove it from the package, so we can take it back to the store to exchange it for something more appropriate.
Why? I object to the immodest, sexualized styles of the clothes, obviously, but also to the name itself. "Brats" may not have the connotations for today's girls that it has for me, but I don't care. I think giving a toy focused on young girls a name that connotes snotty, spoiled rotten behavior is irresponsible. Plain and simple.
Today I read something that truly clinched my determination to boycott any Bratz products for my girls. You can read it and the lame excuses the company makes
here.
I'm really not surprised. But what really saddens me is that Target is selling and also justifying the stuff. I
like liked Target. Now I'm not sure what to do. I know some chain stores have local buyers. Is Target one of them? If so, maybe I can wait to see if my local buyer starts to show such bad judgement before avoiding one of my favorite shopping spots. The fact that I am willing to completely stop shopping there, shows how strongly I feel about this. But, sometimes its a mother's job to put her foot down.
What?!
ReplyDeleteThat's just sick.
Unfortunately I can see mothers buying that type of stuff for their girls 'cause is "cute" (gag).
Thanks for letting us know Nettie. And good for you putting your foot down.
That article about the padded bras for six year olds is crazy! Kids are growing up way too quickly as it is these days. I have already determined that Bratz will not be a part of our daughter's toy collection. I agree with you - even just their name is enough of a turnoff.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking a stand, this whole issue really bothers me. THey're only little for so long.
ReplyDeleteI hated Bratz before, but this takes the cake! My little girl has always wanted them like some of her friends. I have been the mean mom and said no.
ReplyDeleteThat is truly disgusting! Who would come up with something like that? We are sticking to Strawberry Shortcake at this house.
Nasty! Yuck! Thanks for linking to that article - I've been busily forwarding it to everyone I know. What sort of parent would buy anything like that for their daughters?
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible! Luckily my kids hate Bratz, without me saying anything. Every time they see one, or an add, they comment on how much they don't like them.
ReplyDeleteI'm not down with Bratz either. I can't believe how they make them dress and look. We don't allow them as toys in our home eiter.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so if a padded bra isn't to make you look like you got something, then what is it there for? Please, we are not stupid. I'm with you in that I have never let my children have Bratz anything, even the McDonald's toy. We politely asked for something else. Besides the provocative clothing, the trampy makeup was enough to turn me off. Thanks for showing us what is going on. I, too, am disappointed in Target for carrying this product. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked those stupid Bratz. That's just another reason why. Young girls don't need any more sick body images than they already get.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for sticking to what you think is right. I can't believe the type of stuff they are promoting for our little girls. It's so sad.
ReplyDeleteMy computer shuts down when I try to access the article you mentioned...so it must be horrible! I agree with you...Bratz will never find a home at my house. I think they are awful! I hope your Target stops carrying them.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to go throw up now.
ReplyDeleteoh my. i could have written your post! i hate the darn things - they are freaky looking and live up to their name, lol. adriana has gotten 3 or 4 bratz gifts for past bday parties from good friends and i just want to ask their moms why they fork over money for such a horrible example? grrrr...
ReplyDeleteyay for standing up and voicing your opinion! it needs to be heard!
Yo go momma...
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I have some sorrowful news for you my dear Nettie....Bratz are popular and will remain popular as they pander to a large group of dim witted people who comprise the majority of this wonderful nation we live in. Soon, 12 year olds from all across the USA will be filling prescriptions for birth control and 15 year olds will be coming off a three month coke habit. The future isn't friendly and it's not that we failed; there wasn't any hope to begin with.
Since my only daughter is just turning 3, I haven't been aware of the Bratz craze. Thanks for the heads-up.
ReplyDeleteI would hope that Target spokesman was just speaking for the stores in Australia. I wouldn't have anywhere else to shop since we are already boycotting Walmart.
I am sickened by this need to push puberty on girls. It is tough enough with out glamourizing the negetive aspects of the whole thing. For crying out loud, when do they ever get to be kids??
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by my blog- sadly l haven't been able to find time to blog in a while. I am with you on the Bratz bras- what a sad excuse they had! Why can't children just be that- children?
ReplyDeleteThat is IN-sane. I can't handle that stuff. Laylee has already started to point to those dolls and say they're pretty when we pass them in Target. Blick.
ReplyDeleteMy sister gave her 4 year old daughter this Bratz doll for Christmas, and within two weeks she turned into the Devil! I'm not kidding! It was awful. My sister finally took the doll away, but she's STILL a little Devil. We finally gave it to my brother's ten-year old daughter, who is mature for her age. She said the doll was a load of crap. I would feed all the Bratz dolls in the world to my dog if he could chew hard enough!
ReplyDeleteI would even take Barbie over Bratz, at least Barbie had a husband, a house, a child or two. It promoted the American dream of becoming rich and raising a family.
ReplyDeleteSure barbie is far from perfect, but these Bratz just plain promote being a party girl all night, with fashion and social status above EVERYTHING else, and if you happen to have a child by accident to throw it down the garbage chute, which is sadly what many teens do now a days.
This problem is serious beyond even our own understanding. It needs to end here and now. Thank god for mothers like you.
Hey Moms check this out
ReplyDeleteThisis me dolls Rock
www.thisismedolls.com
!T.I.M.™ Values
We believe in innocence. That children have the right to be themselves, and not feel pressured to succumb to false images of beauty. To feel comfortable in their own skin and learn to love the person they are and will continue to become. We value self-confidence and dedicate ourselves to creating a world where a little girl or young woman can embrace her individuality.
T.I.M™ is different because she has heart. She’s fashionable and stylish, yes, but she has substance. She’s not shallow or mean spirited. She’s not perfect, but she’s not a brat. She’s her own unique individual free spirit – much like the children who will play with and love her. She has dreams and goals and the motivation to go for it. Its time for kids to get real…and T.I.M.™ answers that.
I have posted comments about Bratz/Slutz on many blogs, and I can tell you that while there are MANY parents who are against them, there are also many who think that they are nothing more than "harmless" playthings. There is such a tide of perverseness and evil in this world, and plenty of sickos to support it. Unfortunately, the rest of us pay the consequences for it. For instance, I can't find decent clothing for my daughters, because everything is designed for BRATZ/SLUTZ wannabees! We've also reaped a swelling tide of pedophilia and rape. Mommy whores are raising baby whores, and we wonder why we are in the state we are in. Don't blame God for sending what we deserve...it's long overdue people!
ReplyDeleteIt's not considered 'boycotting' if you weren't going to buy it in the first place. The Bratz dolls should scare incompetent adults trying to raise their children. But if they're doing their jobs correctly than the kids won't see the dolls in the SEXUAL way all the rest of you seem to view them, which scares the hell out of me. I guess a lot of you have way too much free time on your hands. I see kids play we these things all the time, and I haven't seen any of them doing innapropriate things you Bratz haters worry about. So it's all in your head people.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, to those of you who think Barbie is a better doll, how did you like the pregnant Barbie they made years ago? And have you seen the newer Barbie dolls they make now? They seem to be wearing the same kinds of clothes Bratz wear.
My daughters own the pregnant barbie. I don't find anything offensive about pregnancy. And since Barbie is married to Ken, she is an acceptable role model to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd the newer Barbies you speak of are the My Scene Barbies which were created in response to the loss of sales Barbies had to the Bratz dolls. They are trying to appeal to the same crowd. And no, we don't have them, either.
And I guess I don't understand how teaching my children good values doesn't include trying to give them toys that reinforce those values?