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A debate came up on a parenting message board that I frequent about Bratz dolls. It wasn’t a heated debate or anything, but we were discussing whether we liked the Bratz dolls, whether we allowed our daughters to play with them, and why we liked or didn’t like them.
My daughter has never owned a Bratz doll. Fortunately she thinks they’re a little creepy looking, so we never had a huge battle about it in our house. But even if she liked them, I still wouldn’t buy Bratz for her.
I don’t like the name “Bratz” at all. I don’t want my daughter to think that being bratty is a good thing. The name “Bratz” in and of itself has connotations of rebellion against authority. Not something I want to encourage in my daughter. Sure, I want her to question authority if the authority goes against her beliefs. Even if she has questions about what the pastor is preaching about on a given Sunday, I want her to be able to look in the Bible herself. But when she questions authority, I want her to be respectful. I don’t want her to be, well, bratty.
I also have a problem with the faces on the Bratz dolls. Most of them are wearing far too much makeup. And when you add the pouty, diva-like expression on the faces of the Bratz, it’s just too much. I think there’s something to be said for role-playing teenage and adult years with dolls, but I’d like for that role-playing to be wholesome. Why are we encouraging our girls to act bratty, to wear too much eye makeup, to be a diva?
And finally there are the clothes. I understand that there are some Bratz dolls out there with acceptable clothing, but there are an awful lot with skimpy skirts. I’ve already posted my feelings about the over-s*xualization of girls these days. I want my girl to stay young as long as she can. There will be plenty of days ahead where she’ll have to face the pressure of boyfriends, s*x, and all that goes along with it. For now, I want her to focus on being a girl, not on being a woman.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Bratz dolls, I highly recommend the Only Hearts Club dolls, which can be found at
Target. These dolls look like girls. They act like girls. There are even short stories that go along with this set, so girls can read about girls. The Only Hearts Club girls ride horses, take ballet, and go hiking. They don’t wear too much makeup. And for the most part (there are a few exceptions), they wear modest clothing.So what do you think? Do you like Bratz dolls? Do you let your daughter play with them? Why? Why not?
This post was written for the Mothers and Daughters Blog Carnival. There’s still time to participate! Submit your blog post here.
Bratz doll photo by bjortklingd.
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Rachel B. says:
I am mom to a 2 year old girl so bratz isn’t in our realm yet…but even so, I have made up my mind. And it was even more concrete when I read this:
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/2701
You seem to be in line with this as well and it is nice to know there are parents taking a stand….although as Christians…how could we not?
November 6th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Rebecca says:
Thank the good Lord for alternatives! There is no way in H E double hockey sticks that my daughter will ever own a bratz doll! I am sickened every time I walk by them in the store - what are parents thinking? And yes, I say parents - if parent didn’t buy them, companies wouldn’t make them…ugh…ugh….ugh!
November 6th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Paula Bellman says:
Not an issue for me since I have boys, BUT, if I had/have girls they won’t get these dolls. They just look sl*tty. Why would I want that type of role model for my young children?
For the record, my boys think they are gross and look weird.
November 7th, 2007 at 7:17 am
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says:
We don’t do Bratz here either. One of my daughters got a Bratz doll as a birthday gift one year and I took it back and had her pick something else out. I completely agree with you that they are too ‘made up’ and I hate the ‘bratty’ attitude that so many girls seem to have nowadays. Not to mention the clothes… I can’t imagine why parents would let their kids own these dolls - and by how large the displays are at the stores, you know that they’re being bought by someone. It’s crazy!
November 7th, 2007 at 7:39 am
Kerry says:
I hadn’t heard about the girl dolls at Target. I’m always buying Barbies for my nieces’ birthdays and Christmas. I’ll have to remember these for in the future.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
momhuebert says:
My girl was already too old for Bratz when they came out, but I would definitely never have bought any, for the same reasons you have. I love the look of the Only Hearts Club dolls. I wish my daughter was young enough for dolls. I’m sure we’d invest in a few of them.
November 7th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
fiveberries says:
I’m so grateful to hear that I’m not the only one! Are they not the most horrible role models? What a thing to look up to as a little girl! Fortunately, my daughter has just accepted it as a slice of life that she can’t have them!
When I was a little girl, my sisters and I weren’t allowed to have Barbies. My mom always said it was promising us something we’d never have. I’m not sure if she meant the dream house, Ken or just the giant set of knockers!
November 9th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Milehimama says:
I HATE the Bratz dolls. My girls are well trained - they will tell me “We don’t DO Bratz” if we pass them at the store LOL.
Yesterday at W*lmart I passed that section, and they are selling Bratz dress up clothes. Yes! You too can buy a STRAPLESS gold sequined tube dress for your young girl, for $19.99!
Lord help us.
November 10th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Sarah @ Real Life says:
Don’t even get me started! I think these dolls are not only inappropriate for my kids, but they are a detriment to our society. Is it any wonder we have so much child abuse these days and have to give b*rth Control to 11 year-olds.
Anyway, my middle daughter calls them “rats” and she says, “We don’t like RATS!” (really loud) whenever we see them.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Lynnae says:
Rats! I love it!
November 12th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Ginny says:
I had bought the only hearts dolls a few years ago on ebay right before Target started selling them. I found them because of the ballerina & thought they were cute & bought the entire set for both girls, each got a few dolls. They never even opened them, lol. I still have them all in the box.
November 14th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Ginny says:
I had bought the only hearts dolls a few years ago on ebay right before Target started selling them. I found them because of the ballerina & thought they were cute & bought the entire set for both girls, each got a few dolls. They never even opened them, lol. I still have them all in the box. I should add, I think they are just cutest thing & nicely made. I wish my girls liked them
November 14th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Julie says:
We wont be doing Bratz at our house either. They look like plastic surgery cases gone wrong to us, but the message they send goes against everything we teach at our house.
Thanks for letting us know about an alternative!
November 16th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Are Bratz Dolls Bad For Girls? | All Diva Media Blog says:
[…] One mother blogged: “I also have a problem with the faces on the Bratz dolls. Most of them are wearing far too much makeup. And when you add the pouty, diva-like expression on the faces of the Bratz, it’s just too much. I think there’s something to be said for role-playing teenage and adult years with dolls, but I’d like for that role-playing to be wholesome. Why are we encouraging our girls to act bratty, to wear too much eye makeup, to be a diva?” [Source] […]
December 13th, 2007 at 11:14 am
G. Thomas says:
These Only Hearts Club dolls are super cute aren’t they? The only problem I have and I think I will contact the company about it, is that they seem to be limiting themselves to strictly caucasians. Little girls of other races need nice dolls that look like them to play with too!
January 24th, 2008 at 11:02 am