11:28 pm - 08/20/2012
The Vatican's official daily newspaper has appealed to the makers of the Barbie doll to put a bald version of the doll on toy shop shelves for children who have lost their hair through chemotherapy or illness.
Mattel has already launched a bald Barbie shorn of her cascading blonde locks, but plans to donate it directly to hospitals, instead of putting it on sale.
The new version of the doll was developed following a Facebook campaign launched by the mother of a girl who underwent chemotherapy in the US, which drew 150,000 supporters this year.
Over the weekend, L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy See's daily, urged Mattel to go one step further. "Why not sell the bald Barbie?" it said.
While praising the new model, the author of the article, the historian Giulia Galeotti, took the US toy-maker to task on its track record, calling Barbie "one of the most criticised and stigmatised [dolls], and rightly so".
With her "perfect and unreal" figure, Barbie remains a symbol of "plastic beauty and vacuous blondeness", the article argued, adding that "plastic surgery was part of her DNA, before plastic surgery became routine."
Galeotti gives credit to Mattel for introducing diverse Barbies over the years, not to mention Becky, Barbie's friend who uses a wheelchair. This is even though the original version of Becky could not fit through the front door of Barbie's Dream House and had hair so long it would get caught in the wheels of her wheelchair.
The new, bald Barbie – officially a "friend" of Barbie's – who will come with wigs, hats and head scarves, was further proof that the all-American blonde was evolving, the Vatican paper stated.
"But a doubt remains," it stated. "How many of us have ever really found these Barbies on shop shelves? Why is there no trace in the real world of this lineup of politically and educationally correct dolls?"
SOURCE
I think this is a cute idea and it gives girls a sense of hope, you know? It doesn't matter if you are bald or not, you're still beautiful.
Vatican newspaper makes bald Barbie appeal
The Vatican's official daily newspaper has appealed to the makers of the Barbie doll to put a bald version of the doll on toy shop shelves for children who have lost their hair through chemotherapy or illness.
Mattel has already launched a bald Barbie shorn of her cascading blonde locks, but plans to donate it directly to hospitals, instead of putting it on sale.
The new version of the doll was developed following a Facebook campaign launched by the mother of a girl who underwent chemotherapy in the US, which drew 150,000 supporters this year.
Over the weekend, L'Osservatore Romano, the Holy See's daily, urged Mattel to go one step further. "Why not sell the bald Barbie?" it said.
While praising the new model, the author of the article, the historian Giulia Galeotti, took the US toy-maker to task on its track record, calling Barbie "one of the most criticised and stigmatised [dolls], and rightly so".
With her "perfect and unreal" figure, Barbie remains a symbol of "plastic beauty and vacuous blondeness", the article argued, adding that "plastic surgery was part of her DNA, before plastic surgery became routine."
Galeotti gives credit to Mattel for introducing diverse Barbies over the years, not to mention Becky, Barbie's friend who uses a wheelchair. This is even though the original version of Becky could not fit through the front door of Barbie's Dream House and had hair so long it would get caught in the wheels of her wheelchair.
The new, bald Barbie – officially a "friend" of Barbie's – who will come with wigs, hats and head scarves, was further proof that the all-American blonde was evolving, the Vatican paper stated.
"But a doubt remains," it stated. "How many of us have ever really found these Barbies on shop shelves? Why is there no trace in the real world of this lineup of politically and educationally correct dolls?"
SOURCE
I think this is a cute idea and it gives girls a sense of hope, you know? It doesn't matter if you are bald or not, you're still beautiful.
plus, if for example youre a family member, a friend, etc. who isnt there or in the hospital but want to get one, its better business wise to make it widely available.
Especially the way it can hide, completely, and then just...be there the next week. It takes a hell of a disease to be able to do the kind of shit cancer does.
are you in school now? taking time off? are you in the us? (i feel like that should have been my lead off question because i know absolutely nothing about the system in any other country).
ah. i feel excited. almost in the sad way joey was when he found his hand twin.
by the way, your comment about the gift you got him is amazing. tbh, you seem pretty amazing.
I'm about ten years behind in school. I went and had kids instead, and my youngest will be five this fall and back to school I go for my pre-med And yes, Im in the US lol. NY specifically.
Thanks to my little cousin, I recognize that episode. She's an addict of that show. O.o
And thank you! It was an ~episode~ getting him that damned thing. Went to the mall, bought it, got to the hospital and...it doesn't work. I sent my boyfriend back to the mall to exchange it and when he got back to the hospital Aiden was all "puppy not being silly now Unka Ra?" and Ira was all "Yes, puppy is not being silly now!" It was freaking ADORABLE. He hasn't let the thing out of his sight yet haha.
i'm actually applying to medical school this cycle. i have the MCAT in a few weeks (17 days now i think) and am freaking out about that. i graduated from college in 2010 and got my masters, but i still feel super under prepared. we'll see how it goes. im ok with the fact that im putting off a large part of my personal life to do it, but honestly, its worth it to me. i'll be in my mid 30s when im officially a "pediatric oncologist" since it will be internal medicine residency, fellowship, then another fellowship in peds, but its important to me to do this, you know?
if youre interested in cancer, you might like the book the emperor of all maladies. i absolutely loved it. i didnt find it dry (i was expecting to). its an interesting look at the history of cancer and the evolution of its treatment. splattered in are patient anecdotes. its definitely a good read. highly recommend it.
Good luck!!! If you remember, come back and tell me how you did!!
I didn't plan to put everything off, but got pregnant right out of high school, turned down my scholorship for Pre-Med at Hartwick Univ. in NY, and then got married and was an Army Wife and blah blah blah blah blah. I'm VERY excited to get back to school this fall though.
And I will pick it up, thank you.
GOOD LUCK IN SCHOOL! im sure you'll be great.
And thank you.