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

If they’re being marketed at tweens and teens why are the ads on during milkshake which is definitely a young age group?

Grooming. In plain sight.
Brainwash your daughters to be compliant little sex dolls for the patriarchy.
Is that really what you want them to identify with/aspire to?

The dolls can not be aimed at teens or even pre teens that do not play with dolls anymore! And haven't done so in years.

These dolls are aimed at the 5+ age bracket, which makes it even more disgusting in my view. Don't buy them and ask your children to choose something else, it is as simple as that. Better still explain to your child why you can't buy it, and why it is inappropriate.

There is an element of grooming. Grooming the mind, style, taste into a tacky nasty version of female and femininity. Silent indictors of what is expected.

I saw this video last year showing what happens if you put the small LOL dolls in water as it reveals hidden underwear in some. Like stockings etc

@Manzana

yanbu, I wouldn't have bought these types of dolls for my children. Have a look at Tree Change Dolls on Facebook, that's how dollies should look, like a friend.

Just looked these up. What a fab idea and how much nicer they are!

Get rid of all the fuckin ho dolls!! Girl children deserve so much better than that.

@choli

Surely it’s sending all sorts of bad messages to kids What messages do you think these dolls send that is any worse than Barbie?

Barbie tried lots of different careers in her time, but I don’t think she ever went down the sex worker route.

Plus I don't remember her having lips that look like she's had Botox.

@Itsbeen84yearss

If they’re being marketed at tweens and teens why are the ads on during milkshake which is definitely a young age group?

Exactly. I don't think teenage girls are buying these. My DD is 5, has no clue what a celebrity is, has never seen a music video etc. and yet she would see these in an advert and like them for simpler reasons. For e.g. She asked for a Rainbow High Doll called Poppy Rowan simply because it has orange hair and thats her favourite colour. Its nothing to do with celebrities and who they idolise. They're bright, shiny and colourful. So they don't need to look like they are going clubbing, normal everyday clothes would be fine.

I don't think that they are for teens/tweens either but I have noticed that the girls playing with them in the ads/on the box are always much older than the girls I see playing with them in real life.

I've seen people online customizing dolls with different hair, make up etc or people collecting them but these are limited edition collectables

@Magenta82

That one in red looks like she is on her way to a fetish club

I would love to know which fetish clubs you've been to where people are wearing high-necked stripey t shirts under PVC streetwear. I've been to a variety of what dowdy types and tabloids call "fetish clubs" and you'd never be let in wearing something this demure (also, you'd overheat pretty fast).

If you think this is "fetish", it honestly says more about you than about the dolls.

clare WTF??!!

The LOL doll had suspenders and black knickers.

This has to be some sick and twisted joke..

The doll in red looks like a sex worker, full stop.

I love that so many MN users suddenly reckon they're experts on sex workers and fetish clubs! Most of you wouldn't know one if you saw one. Absolutely fascinating.

Seriously? We’re shaming women now for not knowing enough about fetish clubs?

[quote Clarefromwork]I saw this video last year showing what happens if you put the small LOL dolls in water as it reveals hidden underwear in some. Like stockings etc

[/quote] That’s terrible. And L.O.L. aren’t even investigating ehy this happened, just saying it won’t happen again.

They remind me of bratz dolls, but I wouldn’t let my DC play with them. They just don’t seem fun to me

Why are these sexualised dolls never aimed at boys.

There does seem to be a revival of the fishnets/leather trousers/chains thing going on at clubs at the moment… I live in a uni town and there’s a lot of freshers wearing some pretty risqué stuff to student nights.

A bit of me thinks these are no worse than Bratz, I’m sure my little sister had one with lace pants an knee high boots, and they looked like they’d completely redesigned their faces… but I didn’t think Bratz should have done it either; I don’t think the existence of another doll range like this makes it right.

It’s just a bit cringe, and the underlying messages are repulsive.

So maybe Ken wearing fetish wear for a change.

Why are these sexualised dolls never aimed at boys

Good question.

@Ylvamoon

Ahh they remind me if a well known cartoon character!

Did you have a doll of her as a child?

Terrible but then I had this opinion of Barbie as a child too and used to cut the hair and pull the heads off.

Horrible

My 4 year old really wanted an lol and come home from Asda with the one on the right.. I was a horrified if I'm honest but just like all her babies/Barbie's it end up naked.. and she definitely doesn't want to dress/look like the lol doll, not ideal but no harm done.

I try buy the blume dolls if I'm honest.. but lol is everywhere.