Barbie dolls are making headlines again for being trying to be paragons of strong, independent female role models - and then failing miserably.
The latest misstep involves a series of Barbie "I Can be" books published by Random House. In the book "Barbie: I Can Be a Computer Engineer," which is written by Susan Marenco and accompanies the Computer Engineer Barbie Doll (sold separately, of course), Barbie isn't actually a computer engineer at all.
Here's a passage from the book:
At breakfast one morning, Barbie is already hard at work on her laptop.
“What are you doing, Barbie?” asks Skipper.
“I’m designing a game that shows kids how computers work,” explains Barbie. “You
can make a robot puppy do cute tricks by matching up colored blocks!”
“Your robot puppy is so sweet,” says Skipper. “Can I play your game?”
“I’m only creating the design ideas,” Barbie says, laughing. “I’ll need Steven and Brian’s help to turn it into a real game!”
Giggle, giggle! Of course Barbie can't actually program the video game. She'll need some men to do that for her.
The quality of the story and the message is not lost on Amazon reviewers either who say things like, "I found the sexist drivel that this book portrays to be especially inflammatory," "It's incomprehensible how misogynistic it is," and "My only recommendation for this book would be to set it on fire."
This epic lapse in good judgement is getting lots of press as the story has been picked up by The Daily Dot, Business Insider, The Guardian and more.
But this could be good timing for the release of a new Lammily doll, billed as "Normal Barbie" in a Huffington Post article. The Huffington Post reports that the doll is designed to have the proportions of an average 19-year-old girl, is less made up and comes with a casual wardrobe.
Meet Lammily: A Solution to the Barbie "Problem"
You'll also be able to buy removable, peel on marks for your Lammily doll like acne scars, stretch marks and tattoos. Too far? Possibly.
But isn't it refreshing for a doll to err on the side of being healthy and normal rather than ditzy and idealized for once?
Image Source: Random House
MummyBuzz is being written by Rebecca Cuneo Keenan this week. Rebecca is a Toronto-based writer, blogger, and #YMCCommunity member. She blogs at Playground Confidential where you can read in order to feel better about your own life. Or just follow her on Facebook or Twitter. It's shorter.
They're baaack.
Remember the Holderness family of last December's hit "Christmas Jammies" video? They then followed that up with "Kin and Moose" at Halloween. And now the family you'd love to hate has done it again.
Oh, come on! You know what I'm talking about. Those are some perfect looking people who live in a giant house on an idyllic suburban street and I'm pretty sure they drive a Prius. Add one dose of "hit Internet sensation" and you have the perfect recipe for people you really, really don't wanna like.
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But then they came out with this, just in time for American Thanksgiving: "All About That Baste."
I don't know if it's because Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" is already my latest earworm or if it's because this really is that clever. Either way, my resistance is wearing thin. I mean, I still want to hate them, but I … think I might love them instead!
A few of my favourite lyrics: "I'm all about that baste, 'bout that baste. More butter." "We put all the wrong forks in all the wrong places." "Well, your mama, she told me don't worry about the pies." "Oh, I'm bring butter back. Don't try to wear those skinny britches now." "I'm all about that baste, 'bout that baste. More butter."
What do you think? Love them? Hate them? I'm so torn. I need guidance on this one.
Image Source: YouTube
MummyBuzz is being written by Rebecca Cuneo Keenan this week. Rebecca is a Toronto-based writer, blogger, and #YMCCommunity member. She blogs at Playground Confidential where you can read in order to feel better about your own life. Or just follow her on Facebook or Twitter. It's shorter
Yesterday afternoon, while we were all drowning in laundry and Sunday afternoon lunch-box anxiety, Solange Knowles (you know, Beyoncé's sister) married her long-time boyfriend, music video director Alan Ferguson, in a très chic New Orleans ceremony.
It was fabulous because anything less is just not the Knowles way.
Here's what we learned from the wedding:
1. Limos are out. So are Rolls Royces, horse-drawn carriages, and even taxi cabs. Instead, Solange and Alan rode white-painted bicycles to their wedding and still managed to arrive looking flawless. Now I know what formal pantsuits are for.
2. Capes are no longer just for vampires and super heroes. You can also throw one over your pantsuit when cycling around town. Or add more than a touch of drama to your run-of-the-mill bridal gown with a floor-length cape. In fact, why stop there? I'm thinking a cape is the perfect cover for sweeping extra goodies into my big purse this holiday season.
Grannies read lyrics to Beyonce's "Drunk in Love"
3. When Solange asks all her guests to wear white, the overall effect is stunning. But everyone else should still err on the side of not making your wedding ceremony look like a cult initiation. How did Solange accomplish this feat? I can't get three people in this house to all show up at the dinner table wearing pants.
4. Now this is how a wedding picture should be done. (Apologies to the photographer who insisted all the groomsmen pick me up off the ground for a "fun" shot.)
Finally, looking at Beyoncé, I have to concede that the awkward mid-calf dress length really is back in - and just when I finally rounded out my maxi dress collection, too.
Alas.
Image Source: Instagram
MummyBuzz is being written by Rebecca Cuneo Keenan this week. Rebecca is a Toronto-based writer, blogger, and #YMCCommunity member. She blogs at Playground Confidential where you can read in order to feel better about your own life. Or just follow her on Facebook or Twitter. It's shorter.
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