Mattel has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll, this time by donning her in traditional Islamic attire and auctioning her off with 500 others at the Salone dei Cinquecento in Florence, Italy, sanctioned by Sotheby’s.
The Barbie doll collection celebrates many cultures from around the world and the proceeds of the auction will
raise funds for the Save the Children charity; Rewrite the Future campaign - which helps millions of children around the world effected by conflict.
The Burka Barbie doll was designed by the Italian designer Eliana Lorena and features Barbie wearing three styles and colours: lime and vermilion - with screen covers over the eyes—and black, with a Hijab.
In 2003, NewBoy started marketing a Barbie-like doll named Fulla. She was designed to promote Muslim values and be a role model for Muslim girls. Barbie was and is targeted to American girls and Burka Barbie doesn’t fit into the picture.
There have been a lot of negative responses to this doll and some find her oppressive to women.
NOW’s Marcia Pappas has apparently released the statement, “As feminists we believe that women must be able to make their own choices and that includes choices about the clothing they wear. But the burka is more than a choice. Women are forced to wear the burka or risk being murdered. Mattel should be ashamed. Making a profit by selling a doll that is clearly wearing a symbol of violence is not acceptable and there should be a public outcry to take this doll off the market.”
(jezebel)
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