Are these dolls totally inappropriate?

[Itsbeen84yearss]

Just seen the ad for these on channel 5 (in between peppa episodes). Marketed as ‘opposites’? I might be being bad minded but these look highly sexualised to me. I bought my dd an lol doll once but I think it had a school uniform on. Didn’t look like these at all. Why are they like this now?? Surely it’s sending all sorts of bad messages to kids

@5128gap

The doll in white looks to me like she's been rolled around a 4 year olds dress up box. She is the archetype of what a young child would think of as 'pretty'. Just because this innocent style of dress has been misappropriated by sleezy men as sexual doesn't mean it actually is, or we have to tell our DDs they are not allowed to like it. If men started fetishizing Boden dresses, would decide they were inappropriate? Same with the red leather really. Who decides that certain fabrics, colours and styles, even when not slightly revealing, are sexual, and that women and girls' liking of them must be policed?

Does your 4 year old wear super-high platform heeled boots, lip gloss and white eyeshadow?

Many many 4 years old (boys and girls) are very attracted by high heels, lip gloss and eyeshadows if anywhere available. This seems to reflect on a much wider attraction for climbing onto high places and painting, glittery stuff is also preferred by many

Here are the LOL boy dolls: www.colorlandtoys.com/lol-surprise-boys-arcade-heroes-action-figure-doll-with-15-surprises.html
These are progressive in comparison as they all look non-binary and one is wearing a skirt. This seems to be going for the boys wearing makeup aesthetic that's also popular on social media.

To correct a PP on the use of "lolita style". The name unfortunately originates from the russian novel and has very negative connotations. However "gothic lolita" style is a hugely popular subculture that originated in Japan in the late 90s. Similar to a cute version of punk, it was originally a way of rebelling against social norms and reverting to traditional values and the clothing is heavily inspired by historical dress. Young people who follow gothic lolita values (it's seen as a lifestyle, not just fashion) are classical, traditional and absolutely denounce any association with sexualisation.

@User5490453456

Here are the LOL boy dolls: www.colorlandtoys.com/lol-surprise-boys-arcade-heroes-action-figure-doll-with-15-surprises.html These are progressive in comparison as they all look non-binary and one is wearing a skirt. This seems to be going for the boys wearing makeup aesthetic that's also popular on social media.

To correct a PP on the use of "lolita style". The name unfortunately originates from the russian novel and has very negative connotations. However "gothic lolita" style is a hugely popular subculture that originated in Japan in the late 90s. Similar to a cute version of punk, it was originally a way of rebelling against social norms and reverting to traditional values and the clothing is heavily inspired by historical dress. Young people who follow gothic lolita values (it's seen as a lifestyle, not just fashion) are classical, traditional and absolutely denounce any association with sexualisation.

Did not know abut the 'gothic lolita' but as I said, the style reminds me much more to any teeanger in Camdem and some of my childrens' friends than any representation of Lolita (no matter how distorted compared to the Lolita of the book). And there is absolutely nothing screaming sex on that style.

@Itsbeen84yearss

I don’t like the thing about them being marketed as ‘opposites’ either. One is ‘spicy babe’ and one is ‘sweet babe’. How do you explain to a child the connotations of the word ‘spicy’ without actually misleading them?

Easy, spicy like spicy food.

User5490453456 From reading the product information I think the one in the skirt is a girl. Although the product information was very unsettling, the top product feature is Boy dolls are anatomically correct.

Little Mix dress like this.

Not reading the thread. The doll on the right is the older sister of lol doll Spice. Spice is my 5 year old's favourite lol character and she's asked for this big sister for her birthday. She doesn't request to wear leather or fishnets. She looks at these and says they're wearing tights or leggings. Conversely I see supposedly middle class teens out and about or on SM with the bottom of their arses hanging out of their tiny shorts, and crop tops and faces full of makeup. But if anyone sexualises them they're called a creep, and rightly so.

These dolls aren't sexual. If you're offended don't buy it. In the mean time my DD will play with them, and I'm confident she won't develop a fetish from them!

@myheartskippedabeat

These are revolting My daughter is 5 Safe to say santa won't be delivering one of those hear I can tell you that now!!!!!

Good for you. You can look down on the likes of me whose 5 year old loves these dolls.

Good for you. You can look down on the likes of me whose 5 year old loves these dolls.
God, get over yourself.

Little hookers? Shaming sex workers? And here I thought MN was against misogyny. By the way, I think you'd be surprised how 'hookers' look irl. They could be walking amongst you and you'd never know, God forbid

And a little lol education. They're sweet babe and spicy babe. Labeled as opposites. Not because of sex. Because their little sisters are called sugar and spice. Honestly people look to make a mountain out of a molehill about anything on here, as long as it allows them to feel they're better than others. I'm leaving this thread now

Some men would like a women dressed like the doll on the right to order them to get dressed up like the doll.on the left.

@AICM

Some men would like a women dressed like the doll on the right to order them to get dressed up like the doll.on the left.

Some men like women to dress in school uniform.

Although the product information was very unsettling, the top product feature is Boy dolls are anatomically correct. confused
Why do you find that disturbing? I think all dolls should be anatomically correct.

I think all dolls should be anatomically correct.
Why? And these dolls are only anatomically correct in the genital area, their dirty great fecking heads aren't!

@choli

Although the product information was very unsettling, the top product feature is Boy dolls are anatomically correct. confused Why do you find that disturbing? I think all dolls should be anatomically correct.

I have no issue with the doll being anatomically correct. I just find it unsettling that they thought it important to list it as the top product feature above everything else.

They're also polarising by taking different races and labelling them as opposites.

Why? And these dolls are only anatomically correct in the genital area, their dirty great fecking heads aren't!
Kids can tell the head is out of proportion, but I'd rather they not think boy's crotches are like Ken's.

I'd rather they understood that these are (bloody weird) dolls, and not representative of real actual bodies.
But I'm sure they do, so I'm not too worried.

Conversely I see supposedly middle class teens out and about or on SM with the bottom of their arses hanging out of their tiny shorts, and crop tops and faces full of makeup. But if anyone sexualises them they're called a creep, and rightly so.

And you just don’t make the connection do you between dolls and pop stars in fetish gear, tiny shorts and makeup - and teens copying the looks they grew up with?

How can you say that a doll in a dressed partially in fetish gear isn’t sexual?

What does ‘supposedly middle class’ mean - is there some kind of class distinction we should know about? Are working class teens just expected to have their arse hanging out?

The tone of your post is dripping with judgment of girls who dress like thus, without apparently having any awareness of where the impetus comes from. (Popular culture)

@Clarefromwork - not sure what that lady is so aghast at. It tells you on the packaging to put them in cold water. Hardly a conspiracy theory!

I like them. I'd buy them if they wanted them.
I had a Barbie when I was a kid, it didn't make me grow up wanting torpedo tits and candyfloss blonde hair. ( Wouldn't have minded the legs though )

I don’t like them and six year old DD isn’t allowed them or the merchandise. They are too sexualised. Lots of mums I know agree with me when I point it out but lack the moral courage to reject these toys.

@Siameasy

I don’t like them and six year old DD isn’t allowed them or the merchandise. They are too sexualised. Lots of mums I know agree with me when I point it out but lack the moral courage to reject these toys.

I don't know what's worse. Those awful dolls or the way so many woman seem to hate other women.