Tween Dora | Introducing sexuality too early?
Not long ago, Bratz dolls got their legal just desserts from Mattel for infringement. Now the dubious, sexualized little girl dolls are trying to poison a beloved idol of little girls everywhere.
Julie Tilsner of Walletpop reports that the beloved Dora the Explorer brand is going through some “natural” changes. Nickelodeon and Mattel, thinking it necessary to appeal to older girls (eight-plus), have created tween Dora. If they come out with payday loans Dora, I just hope they’ll advocate responsible use…
A little child becomes a little lady soon enough… slow down
No longer an asexual little girl, the new Dora has “longer, more feminine hair, jewelry, and wears a tunic over leggings. She’s not exactly a Bratz doll, with bedroom eyes and (inappropriate) outfits, but her more grown up incarnation incurred the wrath of moms everywhere,” writes Tilsner. And the executives are wondering why they’ve gotten such a mommy backlash?
Mattel Marketing VP Gina Sirard had this to say:
I think there was just a misconception in terms of where we were going with this. Pretty much the moms who are petitioning aging Dora up certainly don’t understand. … I think they’re going to be pleasantly happy once this is available in October, and once they understand this certainly isn’t what they are conjuring up.
Ms. Sirard, as Tilsner suggests, probably doesn’t have children.
Dora is for preschool children
Children of that age tend to thrive on a certain amount of routine. It helps them feel secure and learn the necessary amount of discipline. Changing a known idol like Dora would be confusing. Furthermore, while the tween Dora may not go “overboard” (completely into Bratz or even reality television territory), it certainly will cause children to become more aware of sex traits before it is necessary. I’ll let child psychologists argue over the harm that can come from that… in the meantime, I’ll simply avoid giving my five-year-old daughter hormone-laced milk. Her mammaries should develop when they’re supposed to, not sooner.
When it comes to the mothers and fathers, I understand because I have two children of my own. Sexuality has no place in children’s cartoons. It is my belief that they will learn about these things soon enough. There’s no rush. Barbie, Britney, Hannah Montana and all the rest, you will not raise my children. I will do the honors.
Apparently, the cartoon version of Dora won’t change. But if tween Dora is successful enough, a new cartoon will inevitably follow. It’s entirely profit-driven, and whether little girls should enjoy their young childhood without worrying about being “pretty enough” or “feminine enough” isn’t even factored into the corporate equation. Those choices should come to our children in their time.
Related Videos:
If that’s the case, I think Barbie should be a granny now. XD
Are we so bored as a culture that we have to imagine what a cartoon child is going to look like when she enters preadolescence? I also don’t think it’s the greatest idea to give adult traits to a character that isn’t even close to an adult. They want to see adult traits in teen entertainment? Ok, how about Hannah Montana going out and getting a job? She won’t be singing too many happy tunes when she’s cooped up in a McDonald’s drive thru. Instead of a doll based on a really lame premise, bout “tween” parents get their kids a book, or a chemistry set or something to get them interested in things worth thinking about?
I am not happy with the fact that you are growing up Dora….it is a preschool/child thing. Kids grow up fast enought without you encouraging them with this trash. Thank you.
How is the new dora bad? It’s not bad at all! You guys are reading waaayyyy too much into this. How is wearing a tunic and leggings sexual? I think you are sexual ones! Making something “sexual” out of NOTHING.