Many young girls like to mutilate and “torture” Barbie dolls, including popping off their heads and microwaving them, a British study suggests.
Researchers at the University of Bath have been analyzing the effects of product branding and marketing on more than 100 children aged seven to 11.
They found that, of all the products tested, Barbie provoked the most violent emotions.
“The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a ‘cool’ activity in contrast to other forms of play with the doll…”
No comment.
“Mattel, which manufactures Barbie, dismissed the study as a very small sampling. Its annual sales of 94 million Barbies are proof that the doll is widely loved by children, it said.”
Maybe most the 94 million in sales are for replacement dolls for the girls who “accidentally” microwaved, burned, or decapitated their old Barbies.
I leaked my idea for selling little Barbie caskets and now this.
They can’t blame the CIA, President Bush or the government for this.
The whole country seems to be going bonkers. Too much nag marketing aimed at the 7-11 year olds by the PR industry. The Barbie ipod must be next. Hear Barbie scream and cry as little Jenny dishes out the pain. Bring on the noise. Barbie without an ipod is soo uncool.
Good girl!! Good girl!
What’s shocking is that the ages go down to seven! Isn’t that second grade? If second graders aren’t into barbies, than Mattel is REALLY in trouble.
I also find it strange that these girls have no emotional attachment to their toys. I guess I can’t speak for all guys, but guys love their toys. But I think that’s true of things in general. Guys still listen to music they grew up with. They still love the movies they loved in the 70s. They still have feelings for their “first” love. With women, once they are done with something, they are done.
Girls see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity and see the torture as a cool thing to do. The boys are busy killing everything on the video game screen, which is also legitimate play and cool. The parents who can’t find Xboxs this year will surely be getting tortured by the brats as the happy holidays come and go. We have people camping out in the freezing weather this year to get an Xbox. They looked like some sort of new shopping center based homeless problem. Try freezing your Barbie before you pop it into the microwave. They hate the extremes. Merry Xboxmas.
Yes! Proof that it’s not always the little brother!
-A
When I saw the story elsewhere, I thought it was obvious. I didn’t realize it was girls. I assumed the torture was by boys, presumed those forced to play with Barbies by feminist kindergarten teachers.
The kids should put leashes on the Barbie dolls and get them standing atop cardboard boxes with wires attached to the dolls’ fingers.
Come on – we guys used to blow up GI Joe all the time. He even came with weapons and body armor to protect him.
Have these people been abused at the hands of buxom, blond babysitters? Why only Barbie?
And, what about her boy-toy, Ken?
My little sister kicked all of her dolls, bears and anything that represented a sentient being around the floor, and decapitated them.
Of course, we didn’t have microwaves and Barbies then.