Scheme to give Barbie dolls to primary school children

[ArabeIIaScott]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/21/scheme-to-give-barbie-dolls-to-150000-children-is-alarming/

'Primary school scheme is ‘gender stereotyping’ and ‘stealth marketing’ by Mattel, experts say'

'Mattell's "Barbie School of Friendship" programme, in which free dolls are given for children to carry out role play exercises, has been rolled out to 700 schools across the UK, "with the potential to reach more than 150,000 pupils", according to the company.'

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230720/Mattel-accused-of-stealth-marketing-after-giving-away-free-Barbie-dolls-to-schools.aspx

'experts have criticized the programme, raising questions about potential negative effects of Barbie dolls in terms of gender stereotyping, questioning the use of research to justify the programme, and asking whether companies should be able to freely market their products through schools."The project makes me suspicious that it may be exploitative", said Philippa Perry'

Teenage GS went to see it with a crowd of friends. The thing that surprised me was he said he thought it was good but the girls didn't like it. I'd thought from reading about it that the girls would like it. Maybe I need to see it.

Open end resources leave all the space for kids’ imaginations to roam and develop. We all know that small children love an empty cardboard box more than whatever shiny new object came in it. The box can be whatever they want it to be.

It depends what age they are really, yes young children like playing with random objects, but as imaginations and creativity develops so does play. The cardboard box doesn't have to go anywhere but it supplements other play- it becomes a shop (along with play food or whatever), a puppet show (along with soft toys or dolls) etc. Honestly as this thread is about primary schools, do you think a 10 year old would be thrilled to recieve a cardboard box as a present to play with?

Do 10 year old girls play with dolls?

Have to say my 8 year old granddaughter does still like soft toys - but those from from Kenji - as she is really into gaming/pokemon etc When with her friends they like to dress up, put on shows, and they also play roblox.

You're being rather disingenuous there. Your first post on this thread was -

Yes let's replace all of the toys in schools with wooden spoons, sounds like a great idea!

which was in reply to this post -

'Dolls may well be beneficial, although iirc children do best playing with something low tech like, say a wooden spoon, which they can make into and project into a far broader range of ideas and ideals.'

That poster wasn't suggesting that all resources be replaced with wooden spoons etc.

Additionally, role play in Primary School classrooms tends to be along the lines of an imagination area like a home corner, or a shop, or a castle etc.I don't think I've ever seen dolls (Barbie or otherwise) in classrooms. And that's not to say that I don't think they could be added if it's found to be beneficial but that it doesn't necessarily need to be Barbies. Which is part of what is being discussed.

@Jigslaw No, obviously not. I was thinking of much younger children. But I don’t think Barbies will be given to ten year olds so I don’t understand your point.

I don't think they play with them no just as generally they don't have play areas and toys out at that age, but DS did a project in year 6 with dolls (they had to design a house) so depends really. Yes children age out of playing solely with cardboard boxes, sticks and pinecones though. I don't think the school would or should actively spend money on them, but I can see uses and value if they're free. Schools already have toys anyway, so not sure on the toys vs pine cones it's just whether they have new and more diverse toys or just the tatty, outdated and not very diverse ones they've had for years and can't afford to replace.

Barbie is what she was in the 80s, which I think for many of us who grew up then is hard to remember.

Isn’t what she was.

Grr

They're a great toy. The You Can Be Anything tagine has been around for ages, there's loads of emphasis on the dolls taking on different occupations and acting out everyday life.

We used to play with the dolls but also make their surroundings by setting up whatever we had (a few pinecones for the woods, making a room out of a box, cutting felt squares for blankets or whatever) and you come up with games by interacting on character as the doll. Loads of room for imagination.

I've been a KS1 teacher for many moons (too many), I'd welcome some free dolls to be honest as they're more diverse now- schools already have toys like this albeit usually very dated and well loved (diplomatic way of saying on their last legs) but we can't afford to replace them. I did teach a little one in a wheelchair who brought her barbie in a wheelchair to show and tell most weeks, representation is important and lacking in toys really so kudos to Mattel for that. Especially in reception both boys and girls love playing with them and it's fascinating hearing their games and play (this isn't restricted to barbies but I think dolls that aren't just babies are good for encouraging play). Yes we have plenty of pine cones, boxes and other things too!

I'm much more dubious about the 'research' which says Mattel is more beneficial for aspects of children's development than screens- which fails to acknowledge the benefits are from toys in general and not just theirs. I'd want to know more about the "Barbie School of Friendship" accompanying lessons and schemes which seemingly schools are supposed to deliver in exchange for the dolls and the content of, but to me that's likely a bigger issue. At best it's just a way to justify giving their products to school so it doesn't seem like outright advertising, but I'm a bit dubious of the intent following the past few years.

Good post. And I agree about the research - it may be sound but it's vested.

It definitely is, I mean the findings aren't inaccurate but the whole project is skewed. Its like saying asda blueberries have more vitamins than a chocolate bar, when the reality is this is true for blueberries in general and should be the basis for people to feel compelled to specifically buy asda ones. Not exactly the same I know but same vibes.

Shouldn't be*

Iwasafool · Today 10:12

Oh, that's interesting! My wife has been on the phone to our nice (25) who went with a gang of friends and they all enjoyed it. She's now asked me if I'll go with her, as she wants to see it, but won't go alone.

I've said yes, partly because of a couple me and our daughter met today, feeding the waterfowl. They were mid 20s and they were saying it was rather good and the bloke told me not to be embarrassed!

I think age 8 to 10 is about prime Barbie age for playing. The kids are still interested in role play, but not doing it directly in many cases, and they will play multiple roles at once with the dolls.. It drops off after that but how quickly depends on the group of kids. Some 11 and 12 year olds are much more kid like, while others launch at high speed into teen mode.

As far as the advertising element, I think it's something to be aware of, but not to be ruled out entirely. I have never heard of a school saying they wouldn't take free Lego, which is just as much a corporate player in the toy world as Mattel.

DD and me went without DH. There were lots of blokes in the cinema. Some gay, some dragged there, some part of a group of friends with girls, couple of dads, couple of whatever the Barbie equivalent of Bronies is. Wear a pink shirt, laugh at the patriarchy and cry ugly tears at the idea of children growing up and how fucking shit the world can be for women.

For me, it reinforced my belief that my feminism is for all women.

It is genuinely a film I am incredibly grateful to have seen with DD. It's all very well waiting until our girls can read Dworkin and Greer but in the meantime, Barbie film conversations are actually good.

what's wrong with being a housewife?

or househusband for that matter. Ken could look after the kids

House-person looses independence.
Barbie has freedom, to do what Barbie does, rides horses, skis, dances, drives multiple cars. has parties in the hottub!
She ain't spending life doing dishes, and hoovering

What’s wrong with setting our girls’ aspirations to be all about service to, and reliance on, a man in a setting that provides no mechanism for future independence if the foundation (the relationship with the man) goes wrong?

Hmm….

Thank you, you've used all the proper words there that I couldn't remember! 😂

I completely agree with all that you say here.

And fwiw yes 10 yos play with boxes, in my experience. No they won't appreciate a cardboard box for a birthday present, but they still represent infinite possibility and a world of imaginative play.

Even for adults, tbh. I mean, we all have a few Really Good boxes we just can't bring ourselves to throw out, right?

Right?!