ctnow.com: BUSINESS..... "I was just in Toys `R' Us in Manchester," the distressed woman said. "And they have a pregnant Barbie doll! Barbie's pregnant!"
For a flash, I saw it all: the tabloid headlines, the uncomfortable press conference with Ken, the tell-all book from Skipper detailing her big sister's promiscuous ways.
But rest a little easier: Things are not quite as scandalous as they seem for one of the reigning babes in Toyland. A more careful inspection reveals that it is actually Barbie's best friend, Midge, who is preggers this holiday season, courtesy of a magnetically attached belly that pops off to deliver the plastic baby girl scrunched inside. But the packaging is Barbie pink and includes the familiar Barbie logo. And freckle-faced Midge, with her spaghetti-thin ankles and freakishly long neck, is easily - and frequently - mistaken for her more famous pal.
..... The pregnant version of Midge, which pops out a curled-up baby when her belly is opened -- has been pulled from Wal-Mart shelves across the country following complaints from customers, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. "It was just that customers had a concern about having a pregnant doll," Wal-Mart Stores spokeswoman Cynthia Illick said. She said the entire "Happy Family" set, which included pregnant Midge, husband Alan and 3-year-old son Ryan, was pulled from shelves of the world's largest retailer earlier this month.
Part of the problem, it seems, is that the Happy Family, for all that Mattel calls it a "set" is sold separately. Thus, despite that wedding ring on her finger (yes, she does have one), Midge appears to be unmarried and pregnant. Another, larger, part of the problem is that Barbie, for all her many and varied careers, is supposed to be 18-20, and Midge is meant to be younger, and looks it. Thus, Mattel appears to be promoting teenage pregnancy as some sort of commercial ideal and, needless to say, parents are a tad perturbed over that concept. You do wonder that Mattel seems to have missed that potential downside altogether in their marketing research; given their consciousness of Barbie's image and frantic lawsuits to stop its use in unapproved manners, you'd think they'd be aware that perhaps they should be more careful with Barbie's family as well.
A very odd part of the reaction, however, seems to be some parents' desire to protect their children from "realism". In fact, some have even said, "Barbie can be a doctor - she just can't be pregnant," said Worley, who likes the Barbie collectible dolls best. "It's just getting too real. The next thing you know, they're going to have a Barbie divorce lawyer. There are so many other things Barbie can do." Leaving aside the issue that it's Midge and not Barbie ... most kids will see a pregnant woman in their young lifetimes. In fact, given that we are, after all, the most robustly reproductive Western nation, it's quite likely that their own mother will be pregnant with a sibling while they're still young. So what's the beef? It's not as if they'd given Midge a little vagina, and to deliver the baby you had to push on the belly and watch the baby come out. Now THAT might have been just a shade too much realism.
(For what it's worth, I still think that Barbie is a Doll of the Evening, and all those outfits are just costumes for ... but I digress.)
Posted by iain at December 27, 2002 12:23 AMComments
Loved this! I visited FAO schwarts in Troy, witch is of course the place to go if you can't find a Barbie somewhere else. I found they had "lingerie" barbie, I prefer to refer to her as you say ladie of the evening barbie, garters and all, but no pregnant midge insight. If you ask me, the message that could be sending is a little more risque! LoL. Its all a big joke really. I say if you have a problem use your constitutional right, and DON'T BUY IT"
sigh..
Posted by Shalom Kibby at January 1, 2003 11:37 AMBarbie (Midge) has been everything she has explored the word and all her options and now she wants to be a wife and a Mom ,I think it is great... I have the happy family pregnant Midge doll and my five yr old and I play dolls together and I dont think there is anythng wrong with it , she knows what being pregnant is and having a baby is (no she doesnt know how they are made ) maybe when she hits the teens we will go over that . but she has watched out family dog give birth to pups several times, THAT IS SOMETHING I WANTED HER TO SEE -IT IS A MIRICLE FROM GOD, and something that should be looked at as being BEAUTIFUL. IF YOU DONT LIKE THE DOLL OR THE IDEA OF IT THAN DONT BUY IT.
Posted by at January 1, 2003 04:32 PMI think this is terrible. Some people complained and they pulled a perfectly good toy from the shelves. It is a great doll for family health discussion. It is not going to make little girls want to go out and get pregnant. They might even think twice when they discover how much work it is. Mom and dad can talk about this. I can think of lots of item's Walmart should pull, but this is NOT one of them! Give me a break, it is 2003, and we still can't talk about women in the "family way?" Give me a break!
Posted by Audrey at January 1, 2003 08:07 PM I'm sorry, but I have to say I think this whole thing is rdiculous! I have been searching everywhere today trying to get one of these dolls and now I'm searching online and I can't find one anywhere. All I'm finding is the bad press promted by Wal-Mart and how this doll promotes teenage pregnancy. OH PLEASE! Britney Spears promotes Teenage pregnancy! Midge has been married for three years. SO SHE'S HAVING A BABY! My only problem is that that stomach the baby "pops" out of doesn't develope stretch marks! I haven't played with Barbie Dolls for at least 11 years. Back when I did, they had babies. I had kelly dolls and skippers and even the little barbie baby that came with diapers, recieving blankets and bottles. Your know what? My Barbies were Pregnant! First I used fabric to make them look pregnant and then I swiped the uterus and baby combo from my sisters Visable Woman modle and taped that to Babrie's Belly. Come on folks. Barbie already had the babies 12 years ago, she just didn't have the belly to prove it.
I think it is also worthy to note that if Barbie or Midge were real, they wouldn't be able to have babies because they would be to thin to menstruate, and if they did concieve they would likely lose the baby due to lack of proper nutrition. If there is a reason not to buy Barbie for your child, I would think that she doesn't provide a physically heatly role model would be a bigger issue then the fact that she is happily married and pregnant.
If you think something in this whole Fiasco is Awful, how about the fact that Wal-Mart is again trying to sensor what we as a society purchase.
I think Walmart & the complaining customers over-reacted! I mean come-on! We can sell Lingerie Barbie who is wearing a bra & pantys ~ but not a Barbie who is pregnant??? I had a 4 year old daughter & 2 neices ages 6 & 8 ~ and I would definetly buy this doll for them! I think it is a great way to explain the concept! There are many things Wal-mart should get rid of, but this isn't one of them!!
Posted by Jackye at January 3, 2003 12:51 AMI'm 18, and my two best friends bought me Pregnant Midge for Christmas this year. And I think she's so funny!! I think the people who complain about it are overreacting, and it's a great toy to have (even if just to make fun of. :)
Posted by Jen at January 5, 2003 03:00 PMThey're really over reacting. They're pushing their kids away from reality. So Barbie can have a million jobs, be a pretty blonde, be famous, rich, and have the body of super model, but she can't have kids? Come on! I think it's better that Midge is pregnant It will show kids that not every thing can be "perfect" like Barbie. It can't rush kids either. Little girls (and boys) have seen pregnant women before and know about babys. They just don't know how babys are born. Does this tell them? No. And eventually they'll find out on their own, but that doesn't rush them. The parents that complained need a reality tip: They'll know sooner or later.
Posted by Shae at January 6, 2003 05:01 PMI think that the people are over reacting about her because they can sell barbie dolls that have babies and no husband and they dont even have a wedding ring on their finger. well i think if they think that it is showing her beening pregnant and not married then they should put her in the box with the husband and the son.
Posted by riley at January 6, 2003 09:57 PMI think that the people are over reacting about her because they can sell barbie dolls that have babies and no husband and they dont even have a wedding ring on their finger. well i think if they think that it is showing her beening pregnant and not married then they should put her in the box with the husband and the son.look at brittany spears and christina agiulara at how they dress and dance. Little kids try to dance and dress like them. so if people want to kick up about something why not them.
If anyone is still looking for them, they get auctioned everyday on ebay. or just write me & I will sell you one!
Posted by vinnimac at January 7, 2003 05:59 PMI think this is sooo crazy. That doll has nothing wrong with it. I have no children but I would have no problem giving it to my daughter. I would have also loved to have one when I was little becuase I made my Barbies look pregnant by stuffing their shirts anyway. There are alot of other big problems in the world besides this Barbie. I think it should be put back into stores. People need to relax and pay attention to the bigger problems of the world. If you think its not right for your child then DON'T BUY IT!!!
Posted by sue at January 7, 2003 08:46 PMyo im a young teen i dont play with barbies anymore but i thingk they should leave it alone hey for all you parents out there your kids are making ken and barbie do it already with cant she be pregnet i think it was pretty funny so leave them out there untill i can get one or just leave them alone comeing form a young kid at 11 i have a child so yeah leave the babrie alone
shaina
Okay, Wal-Mart can sell Half-Naked Christinas and Britneys, but when a pregnant MARRIED FOR THREE YEARS friend of Barbie has a baby, its considered "disgusting". I have a cousin who is turning four May second, and I purchased a pregnant Midge doll for her because she has a new baby sister. Its not disgusting. Babies are a heavenly blessing. If you are SO against a married-for-three-years pregnant Midge who ALREADY has a little boy, THEN DON'T BUY THE DOLL!!!!!!!! Agh!
Posted by Samantha at April 27, 2003 08:23 PM
