Bratz Dolls: Too Sexy and Sweatshop Labor
Thankfully, my daughter has not entered the world of Bratz (with the exception of a toothbrush). Recently, Mothering.com asked readers to take action on this over sexy product. According to Mothering.com, “The Bratz—whose wardrobes include miniskirts, fishnet stockings, and bikinis—were recently singled out the by American Psychological Association for contributing to the sexualization of young girls.” Bratz is marketed in schools through Scholastic via their book fairs and book clubs. If you feel this is inappropriate, please click here to tell Richard Robinson, President and CEO of Scholastic Inc., that commercially- driven, sexualized stereotypes do not belong in our schools.
Furthermore, Bratz dolls are produced in a sweatshop in China. Women are forced to work seven days a week, 94.5 hours a week for $4.13 a day. Furthermore, according to the National Labor Committee, “The factory wants to fire all the workers and then bring them back as temporary workers with contracts of just one to eight months, which would strip them of any legal rights they might have. As it is, the workers are denied sick days as well as work injury and health insurance.” These workers are paid about 17 cents per doll they assemble, bringing the total cost of production to $3.01 per doll. In this country, the dolls are marked up 428 percent for retail sale. More bad news about Bratz from the National Labor Committee:
* Workers denied work injury and health insurance, in direct violation of China’s law.
* Taking a sick day results in loss of three days’ wages.
* Workers failing to meet their production goals must remain working—unpaid—until the target is met.
* Ten workers share a small dorm room, sleeping on metal bunk beds. There is no shower or TV.
* If a worker breaks a doll, she is docked five hours’ wages.
[...] parents everywhere are left to cry, “why?”. We certainly don’t need any more Bratz dolls on the market and personally, I will not be allowing my older children to play with or watch [...]
okay well personally I have to agree with Lauren because a doll will not influence who you grow up to be only you can determin who you are or what you are going to be
Why does the media focus on sweatshops only when they want to…Most everything we wear, play with, and furnish our homes with have some part at some time in a sweatshop in some part of the world…and if they really want to get technical and dirty about it there are plenty right here too! Just like in politics when they’re ready to discredit something or someone they put all the secrets out here for us to see and continue showing the good in other products or people…thats probably the only reason I’m supporting the ugly dolls lol I’m tired of our gov’t/media stepping in to influence our thoughts on everything when it’s supposed to be such a democracy out here, let the people think for themselves, we’re smart too
This is why there is so many problems with self-esteem. We are totally responsible. Please stop criticizing if you don’t like it fine move on. Buy your perfect barbies. Live it alone and instead of signing petitions for what not to sell on dolls go find something to do like helping so many people that need the help, feeding hungry children. Stop this so not important.
Oh this is just silly. With this i think there is no wrong and right answer, if some parents think Bratz dolls are okay for their kids that’s fine. If some parents think that they’re a bit too mature for their children that’s their own thoughts. I do find some of their wardrobe a bit too sexy (The Tiny Skirts, Anything Fishnet, ect.) but in my opinion i think “Hey, as long as you dont wanna turn tricks on Hollywood Blvd. i dont care what you do with these dolls, Mmkay kid?”. I may be wrong, I may be right, we wont know. Some people just think diffrently. *Everyone just thinks diffrently.
I honestly dont see the big deal. Its a doll, not a real person. Its stupid, and I have had about 14 of these dolls since I was 3. I turned out good, I mean I dont dress like a hoar and I certainly dont act like one.