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Thursday, March 12, 2009

Photostory Friday~ What is this World coming To?


Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Does this look familiar to anyone?


new dora

Maybe you have already seen this silhouette that is quickly making it's debut all over the Internet, or maybe you haven't.  I personally wish I hadn't, because it has been ticking me off for three days now.  

The above image is Mattel and Nickelodeon's new and improved image for a beloved TV character:


dora


Yup.....They are messing with Dora the Explorer, and THIS mama doesn't like it.  

At first it looked like they were entirely replacing the young Dora with this Tween-age Fashionista, but some articles are claiming it will only be a line of dolls, and an on-line gaming system.  Either way.......Mama ain't happy.

This is my girl.....MY LITTLE ADVENTURER:

Jan1409_0083ew

and I am getting sick and tired of the media, and manufacturers trying to stereotype, and sexualize my young girl.  One of the things I have always loved about Dora is her non-stereotypical personality.  She is a girl that is a go getter.  She is outside, and having great adventures.  Yeah sure, there are episodes where she is a princess, and a mermaid, but there are also shows where she plays soccer and fights off bad guys.  She is a tough, smart, fun loving, little honey, and THAT is refreshing.  She is definitely a role model I don't mind Sugar Bear observing.   Cause we all know....they are little sponges.....and they are watching.....and learning....


Jan1409_0073ew
As a kid, I played with barbie, but at the time....she was unique.  These days, we have fashion dolls coming out our ears......don't get me started on the BRATZ dolls.  They are certainly banned from our household.  I simply can not stomach those little hoochie dolls.  In fact, Sugar only has one "barbie like" doll, and that is a Cinderella doll.   I am trying not to give her preconceived notions of what "typical" woman should look like.  

Jan1409_0080ew
Here are two articles explaining the supposed purpose of this "new dora":



The thing that is bothering me most about this new image, is the fact that it isn't really true to the Dora character, and to me, it sends a message to young girls that as they grow they should be finding interest in makeup, shopping, jewelry, and the other things that are typically jammed down the throats of young girls.  

Now I'm not saying that those things are BAD, but I am saying that I'm tired of that being the ONLY message.  This new look is supposedly a TWEEN, that attends MIDDLE SCHOOL, but it is being marketed towards girls 5-8 years of age.  Ummmmmm that isn't middle school age, now is it?  Why are the manufacturers and media always trying to grow our children up before their time?  The shows....the toys......the clothes.  It is all sending our children the wrong message, and they are looking, and listening with ears and eyes WIDE open.  

Jan1409_0082ew

And this is just not what I want her to be seeing ALL the time.  I don't want to see my Sugar Bear pigeon holed.  I want her to know that girls can be outdoorsy, and adventuresome, and still worthy of attention.  I don't want her to think that she HAS to be tiny, with long flowing locks, and short skirts. She doesn't have to like shopping (don't get me started on the cycle of consumerism we have going), makeup and such at the young age of 5-8.  

Jan1409_0085ew
I want for her to be free from stereotypes, and I certainly am not interested in sexualizing my daughter.  She has no business playing with toys that portray sexy images, and I'm tired of such toys being shoved down our throats.  

Leave Dora alone.....growing her up to match what the media is portraying as the typical tween-age lifestyle is only perpetuating what is already wrong in the world today:  Young girls being led to believe that they NEED to be older than they are.  Let's just let them be little girls for awhile, Please.....


27 Live It or Love It:

Janet said...

I couldn't agree with you more! Our little ones are being "grown up" too quickly and I think it's very sad!
Keep your Sugar Bear just that for as long as you can! :-)

kayerj said...

I'm on the soap box with you. Hope you don't mind if I borrow your links. Thanks for the story and keep fighting for your little explorer.

Wayne said...

great post. you have my backing on this one

I love the photos

Anonymous said...

Totally agree! I just have to think it's all about money---Nick sees these toddlers growing up and abandoning Dora. Now they can keep their hooks in the kids for a few more years with a "grown up" Dora. And it's disgusting for all the reasons you articulately outlined!

Great post!

Anonymous said...

I had not heard of this until I read this post! I could not agree with you more... leave Dora alone!

Killlashandra said...

I hadn't not heart that Dora is getting a makeover yet. That's terrible. Even my 3 year old knows how Dora and Diego are and loves watching them. I really don't need her to look like a Bratz doll which I think are plain awful and terrible stereotypes for girls. Sometimes I think revolves too much around marketing.

Autumn said...

Amen sister! I am in complete agreement with you on this one. I was pretty PO'd about it and I have a boy who doesn't watch Dora anymore. Maybe if we put up such a stink about it then they will relent. I feel there is no need to make her older. However if they really wanted to do it, why couldn't they keep it real to her character?? Maker her an aspiring photographer, adventurer with a cousin who is in the city. Show that girls are diverse and can be whatever they want to be!! Better yet just leave it alone!! Sorry I just got all fired up thinking about it.... I'll hop off the soap box and stop preaching to the choir now.

Cheffie-Mom said...

Your header is awesome and I love your photos. Have a great weekend!

Missy said...

Wow I hadn't heard about that. I totally agree with you. Leave Dora alone. Let little ones stay little as long as possible.

Beautiful shots too.

Christina said...

WHAT?! This is the first I've heard of the Dora makeover, and I'm incensed! And she's being marketed to 5 YEAR OLDS?! Not only does it upset me to see yet another oversly sexaulized character on the market, but remaking an established children's icon promotes the idea that she wasn't "good enough" beore...that she had to be updated to stay cool. And what will that make little girls think? That they too have to make themselves sexy. At 5 years old, when they should be making mud pies and rocking baby dolls that look like babies.

Our girls are bombarded with overly-sexualized media everywhere, and it sickens me. Hannah Montana and Bratz and others aren't allowed in our house - and yet Nadia still talks about them, and I don't even know where she gets it. I worry about her, since she's alreay inclined towards fashion and makeup and all that girly stuff. Which is fine in moderation, but I don't want her getting the idea that it's the ONLY option out there.

Obviously I'm up on this soapbox with you. GREAT post, Corey.

kayerj said...

here is an email contact for nickelodean

nfo@burbankfilm.org

Karen said...

Preach it, sista'!!!! I am in total and complete agreement with you. We have a Barbie-and-Bratz-free home, here, as well. That is disgusting and inappropriate, on so many different levels. And it's not harmful only for girls. The media is teaching our sons that this absurd, over-sexualized cartoon-ish look is what they ought to expect from a real girl. Outrageous! I don't generally do character-driven merchandise, anyway, but this will definitely be banned in our house, as well...

Kristen said...

You know, I JUST heard about this yesterday. I hadn't seen the image though. I think this is absolutely crazy!!!!

Lindy said...

Although I'm not a fan of Dora the Explorer ( I have an entire rant written down about how I think the program dumbs down the learning process) I can not believe what they are planning on doing to the character- I mean really what's wrong w/ the current version. They're explanation that they want to appeal to target audience as they grow is a hollow one. What are there no new children being born in world to continue to love Dora as she is now? Tis the way of children/tweens and always has been. More will born Mattel, no need to fear that the world will run out of children just now learning to crawl who will one day love Dora (well maybe now the new shopaholic trampy Dora).

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

Although I really know NOTHING of Dora, I certainly can echo that sentiment - UGGGH!

Unknown said...

I think the Dora marketers are going to find quite a bit of resistence to this new Dora from many parents like us.

I enjoyed your post and the pics to go along with it. Way to say it Sister! ; )

Tabitha Blue said...

OMG!!! I haven't seen this... and I'm mad too!!! Wow, sweet little Dora. I can't believe they're doing this... well I can... just don't like it. It was nice that there was a popular character that didn't portray what so many others are already! Goodness.

Megan@SortaCrunchy said...

I can't think of anything great to add - but I am SO with you on this soapbox. Boo.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness. I hadn't heard of that! That is absolutely despicable, Dora was such a good girl and now they want to portray her as a little vixen?

Anonymous said...

I have twin 7 y/o boys and one of them still loves Dora. I'm upset. Dora isn't the first to fall though...http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/business/media/11cartoons.html?_r=1 Strawberry Shortcake got a remake too! If you want to complain to Viacom, owners of Nick, go here: http://www.viacom.com/contact/Pages/default.aspx

Susie said...

Here-Here! Very well said! This is the first I've heard of the Dora make-over, but holy cats batman, this is terrible. I agree with the Bratz ban--Sophie knows not even to look when we go to Target.
This is a big part of why I haven't sent Soph to school yet. She just deserves time to be a little girl--after all it only lasts for a blink of an eye.
You have my vote for leader of this protest and I will back you 100% Leave Dora alone--that little spunky margarita is simply pure as little girls go-they shouldn't change her at all!

Anonymous said...

Well said!!!!!

Unknown said...

Very well said. My kids are all grown and I don't think about these things much anymore but my grandkids are growing and I'm sure mama will have worries like these too. Beautiful photos of your explorer!

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Amen Sista!
I agree wholeheartedly!
Beautiful pix of your Sugar Bear.

tommie said...

I saw this...I just want my baby to be a little girl. The most we do is paint nails...no makeup...no slutty clothes, none of the stuff I will have to face in ten years! It will happen soon enough.

Heart of Rachel said...

I had no idea that there's an older version of Dora. I love Dora the way she is.

Chris said...

I COMPLETELY agree. I have two daughters, one of whom is almost six, and has grown up with Dora. She loves the Disney Princesses too, and they both serve a purpose. I want Emma to understand that she can do both - she can be "girly" and adventurous.

Do not homogenize my children. If there comes a day that Emma has to leave Dora behind and move on to more "grown up" characters, then so be it. But leave Dora alone.

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