New Tattooed Barbie Sparks Outrage with Parents

It makes people more aware of the alternative community, and that you can be happy looking different, instead of focusing on becoming bimbos.

Sure, the alternative community of tatooed bimboes. Let's face it. Barbie is not an iconic symbol of intelligence and Tatoos doen't make somone smart either. Barbie with a tatoo is still Barbie, just now having a permanent mark on their body as a statement made when they didn't have the best judgement. I don't think this is an improvement for kids, just a demographic adjustment for Mattel to get younger mothers in a more "hip" crowd to identify with the brand more closely.

Bottom line, this is an Adult Collectors Barbie doll. They do not market this doll towards kids! I receive a catalog every month as I am a collector and have purchased Barbies in the past. These dolls are not advertised in circulars of Toys R Us, Walmart or any other store that sells Barbie and again...DOES NOT TARGET CHILDREN. And before anyone says anything...I have a 3yr old daughter, so I am a mother too.

i agree the dinosaurs of our parents and their parents are slowly fading away .ill decide what i think is ok for my daughter .like it or not GENERATION X is now taking power ..time for the old morale of my parents and there parents generation to die off as such as the dinos...

A lot of parents need to remove the pickles they have shoved up their butts..
kids are going to do what they are going to do.
The longer you keep your kids from making any decisions of their own, the more they will do in spite of you when they get the chance.

If you want to be a good parent, talk to your kids about the idea of having tattoos.. remind them that they are perminent and IF they decide to get one it should be of something that means something to them..

AGREED! I read your comment after I posted my own and I couldnt agree more, letting them know whats up is way better than letting them find out from some back-alley 20dollar tattooist as a rebellion

All I can say is that Barbie Doll will never die, it will be forever in our heart especially for us girls. I have created lot of good essays about this doll when I am in high school. And now that I have two kids already I still enjoy playing with my barbie dolls.

I was never one to play with Barbies when I was young, but I'm sure there are many papers that could be written about the Barbie culture.

So this "outraged parent" equates having tattoos to being a "drug addict" and/or an "alcoholic"? Nice. I'm sure she has no problem at all with the message that plain old original Barbie sends though... that if you are emaciated, bleach blonde, and have huge knockers, you'll be a big success and everyone will love you. Nice. Glad I'm not her kid.

This is so true. Alot of people have tattoes and they are no different than people who don't. This is rediculous, asked they be pulled from the market.

Thank you very much, I can't agree more. Personally I have 26 tattoos and multiple piercings as well. I also have 2 kids that are very aware of being open minded and not quick to judge people on appearance. They also know the importance of education and hard work. I have a MBA and own a successful accounting firm.

I don't think anyone should expect Barbie or any toy/companies raise their kids!! It is a parents job to instill the morals and values in their kids!

People. Grow up. Kids play with temporary tattoos, and always have. fifty years ago they came with bubble gum. Are you saying that temporary tattoos lead to the "hard stuff"? Tattoos have been around for thousands of years. Just because YOU don't have them,,, does not mean there anything other than what they are....an innocent form of expression.

I didn't get any tattoos until I was 36 because I was worried what other people would think. Then I grew up realized that I can be me and not really care what others think. I hate when everybody else tries to dictate how everybody else should be. Just ridiculous.

amen brother!

Call off your old, tired ethics. I happen to be a college graduate. Mother of 5 and grandmother of 9 and covered with tattoos. Where is the "dumbing down" that this Barbie may bring? I had Barbies as a youngster and thought then that the Barbie culture was trying to put little girls into places they didn't want to be. Like always doing what the boys wanted. I HATED it. *I* think the Tattoo Barbie will bring things into the real world.

What's wrong with tattoos? If you don't like tattoo barbie, then don't buy one. Otherwise, mind your own * business, and quit trying to ruin stuff for everyone else.

Oh Please. Does Barbie still have a vet, townhouse, all the clothes in the world.etc etc etc.... My daughter doesn't want any of those. Our dr, dentist, chiropractor, even her teacher hads out temporary tattoos. Doesn't make her want a real one anymore than barbie will.

They made something like this before. I remember having it as a kid.

Ah yes, Amy Winehouse. The paragon of virtue and good judgement, and alcoholics, and general substance abuse. Brilliant PR spin, whoever is handling this PR and marketing for Mattle is a semi-epsilon and is only distancing a large group from this brand.

Amy Winehouse was an addict, yes, maybe not a good role model in her private life, but also a talented musician. Do you like Janis Joplin? Jimmy Hendrix? Jim Morrison? Bradley Nowell? All died of drug overdoses. These people influenced us as well as the entire music industry and there are plenty of fans and impact without the drug aspect dont be so narrow minded. Tattoos are there whether you ignore them or not. If you shelter your kids to these things they are even more likely to say yes to that free tattoo in their friends basement just to rebel.. whereas if you enlighten them on what it is, what it can be, what can go wrong, they can as a adult make their own decision and then hopefully if they did get one it would be an award winning studio and a beautiful piece of art rather than a tramp stamp as beforementioned, in a basement full of hepatitis. I am a tattoo artist and I talk 18 year olds OUT of getting tattooed when I think its immoral or a bad idea, I.E getting their hands/neck/face tattooed.. i remind them they might want a job someday.. getting their boyfriends/girlfriends name.. i remind them that a year isnt really a long time to be together.. I strongly feel that if you just parent your children, the kids that are knowledgeable do the least harm in their lives because with the knowledge comes learning the consequences of a poor choice. and no, because I am a tattoo artist I dont think everyone needs to be tattooed, i do agree its not for everyone. But seriously. Tattooed barbie. Come on. Who gives a care, most of the people who's shows you watch are covered in tattoos. comedians, reality series, ecta. and if you feel your child isnt old enough for a tattoo barbie, DONT buy it. so what, be the bad guy, you have a kid you must know what it feels like to say NO to them, they want EVERYTHING. pshaw.

If I don't like a show on TV, I turn the channel. If I don't like a song on the radio, I change the station. If I don't like a product, I don't buy it. Sure does make everything easier than outrage and protests. If you don't like the tattoo Barbie, don't buy it. End of story.

The problem with that Jeff, is we are talking about your children. Just because you don't watch it, read it, or buy it, doesn't mean your children won't get constant exposure to it. The mere fact that it is out there means that it is going to be advertised. Do you honestly think they are going to advertise this during the 10:00 news or during the SuperBowl or your favorite episode of NCIS? No, they are going to advertise it during Spongebob, Dora the Explorer, and iCarly. It will be advertised to your kids, for your kids, and it will very loudly impress upon them that THIS is what you have to look like to be cool. That's the reason REAL parents are outraged. You can't censor everything your kids see or do everyday, that's why it is a parents responsibility to do what they can to protect their children from this garbage.
But obviously, this in no way affects you, so you just go ahead and allow the demorilization of our children to continue. After all, there are still not enough kids in prison, or out on the streets, or doing drugs, alcohol, cussing like it was a second language, and generally disrespecting the world today. We really need your kids in the loop as well.

Dear "Fed Up"
You already sound angry, so, I'm not sure how much of 'anything' I have to say will sink in. First of all, you are not 'powerless'. You have a lot to say in how your child is
raised, and what your child thinks. Secondly, you do not have to worry about Barbie
'demoralizing' your child. The word 'demoralized' means to 'take away control, to inflict powerlessness upon, to cause to feel helpless.' So I feel like 'you' have been demoralized, at least from the common usage of that word. Pull yourself together. Your child 'may' learn your attitude from 'you'. If what you are talking about is 'losing' one's
sense of morals, to become 'immoral' you really don't need to worry about that either.
When I talk to people who have had Barbie dolls as children (I didn't buy one for myself or ask for one until I was twenty-two, because I felt the doll was racist, as that was what I was told) one thing stands out. Every conversation starts with the same thing: "My mother told me."
"My mother told me that Barbie was (fill in the blank)." "My mother told me Barbie bounces on her toes when she walks." "My mother told me that Barbie was a * "
"My Barbie had the same job as my Mom."
In short, the important thing that everyone who has owned a Barbie doll always remembers is what 'their mother' told them. It is the interaction between parent and
child which is important. Every little girl remembers when 'their mother' sat down with
them and played 'with' them. No matter what you think about Barbie, the moment you
sit down and play 'with' your child, that is when you 'give' them the morals that will mold them as adults. If you just plop your kid in front of the t.v., and walk away, you get what you pay for. Miley Cyrus, the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, get to shape what your
child believes. When you watch 'with' your child, you can say "Isn't that silly?" Or,
"That girl's going to get into trouble", or "Wasn't that smart, maybe we can do that?"
The more time 'you' spend with your child, the less you'll have to worry about what
'other people' are saying or doing.

Hmmm, so let me get this straight: having a tattoo will dumbify girls (people) because only * girls (people) have tattoos... Well, I didn't get either of my two tattoos until after I completed my Master's so does that mean I will NOW become * due to my post-higher ed choice? Could I not argue that my advanced degree prompted me to get the tattoos? Does the fact that my PhD husband also has a tattoo make him (or me) any less successful, valuable, professional or meritorious at our institution? Does the fact that we both have at least one tattoo mark us as demoralized, and therefore our grown children and grandchild are therefore exposed to a demoralized environment whenever in our presence? Our families, and us for that matter are now doomed to a life of prison, drugs, alcohol, and cussing because we chose to have religiously significant symbols artistically applied to inconspicuous locations on our bodies??? Really, Really, REALLY???

DON'T BUY IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT....... DUR!

Hey Fed Up
You shoud control teh TV your children watch (if you are concerned) ...my youger kids are banned form watching certain stations that market junk food, violent toys etc... to you ng kids. Once they are mature enought o undersand what marketing is and how they are being tragetedm then they are allowed to watch...once again, parents need to control the situation...I not a fan of "Tramp Stamps" on real people and on Barbie, howebver talking to your kids about the stuff they see on TV and the real world and providing guidence is what it is all about...

Tatoos DO NOT equate to drugs , alcohol, crime, promiscuity,or stupidity. BUT lack of good parenting,predjudice,and ignorance might. be careful about jumping to conclusions and be a good ,attentive and open minded parent or role model and your kids will be as ok as anyone in modern society can be. try tolerence in is much better than biggotry and ignorance

yes, what you say will ABSOLUTELY be the result if you expect the television and toy companies to do your job of parenting your children!!... if you take the time to sit down with your children and talk with them ( a bizarre, revolutionary, counter culture idea!) and actually DO YOUR OWN PARENTING, you might actually allow them to see different ideas from your own. if that idea makes you uncomfortable, you can always tell them why you are right and everyone else is stupid and wrong, but don't expect positive results from that approach. raise the child with values, and teach them to question EVERYTHING, and you might have half a chance of raising happy, well adjusted ( and moral too ! ) children... or you can continue the way you are now, and raise bitter, opinionated children with no ability to think for themselves... THE CHOICE IS YOURS

sorry MM, that comment was intended for the person above....

are you serious, parents are outraged because of this! why? this means nothing. big deal it is a tattoo, you really need to make an issue out of this! there is so much other stuff going on out in the world that will affect are children more than this. parents need to grow up! get your priorities straight..

Wow.. what happened to just not buying it if you don't like it. Funny thing is, these people that feel it's necessary to have everything their way, have only served to give free advertising for this doll. It's so tiresome to hear people always trying to take away others rights to something just because they happen to not agree with it.

Mattel, what is wrong with you. Barbie has "status" among younger girls and this is an insult to those children and parents. Shame on you! ! You've taken a step backwards with relating to children.

The word is "bimbos". Maybe Barbie can be a master's degree woman of the century instead of a stupid biker bimbo.

It is not the toy job to teach the children a toy is just what it is a toy children play with toys, you don't have to buy the toy if you think it is too grown for your little one that's why they have toys for each age group. It is our job as parents to teach our children right from wrong. It is not hard to tell your children wait until you are old enough to make your own decisions.

First of all tattoos aren't bad sometimes they tell stories of our lives its art. and just because you get one doesn't make you a bad person. And as far as taking away the pregnant Barbie what was wrong with that it showed how beautiful having children is. And we don't want our kids to grow up doing drugs and becoming alcoholics but really to shield them from the real world is that what you want to do?

so you want a more hip barbie ??? a more now with the times barbie ? right ! OK what about a GAY BARBIE--- CRACK BARBIE---- SINGLE MOM BARBIE---PORN BARBIE--- GOLD DIGGER BARBIE--- A PREGNANT WITH 2 KIDS BARBIE ----THE LIST GOES ON, LETS SHOW LITTLE GIRLS WHAT IS OUT THERE IN THE REAL WORLD FOR THEM

I would like to know who in their right minds would “approve” the tattoo Barbie doll.

Do you people not have children and/or grandchildren?

This is so in appropriate for young girls.

The doll has to be naked to see the trashy tattoo above the buttocks and the full body one around the breasts.
Can you say Child pornography?



Signed outraged,

Lisa Lewis
Mother of a 4 year old girl

Dear commenter #21 AKA Lisa,

Way to pay attention, this doll is marked as an ADULT COLLECTORS ITEM not a childrens toy. Thank you for jumping the gun and not paying a lick of attention to the reality of the situation. BTW if you are so offended by it, do not buy it! Thank you and good night.

~Parent of two

well I don't agree but I think that barbie should move with the times we as parents try to protect our children too much when we know that @age 16 they are gonna move in it to work or college and we should start as soon as possible preparing them for it.

Holy smokes! The doll also has to be naked for you to change her outfit. Do you not have to take your kids clothes off to put them in the tub? Does this make you a pervert?

How dare these "moms" compare tattoos to drug addicts or alcoholics. Who are they? I am sleeved with tattoos on my knuckles and face. My 8 year old daughter is a great kid WHO DOESN'T WANT TATTOOS. If your kid gets a tattoo when they are 18 because of a barbie they had when they were 6... I think your kid probably had issues growing up in your household. NO WONDER lol

Oh my gosh! I am a professional working woman and I have tatoos. So does my daughter. Some Real women have tatoos. Get over it!

REALLY, PEOPLE TATTOOS ON BARBIE. WHAT WHERE YOU THINKING? IN TODAYS WORLD THE YOUNG GIRLS ARE ALREADY CONFUSE ON THINGS IN THEIR LIFE NOW THIS. I'M SURE THE PERSON WHO MADE BARBIE WOULDN'VE DONE THIS.

when will 'gangsta * barbie' be available?

I say the more you keep things from your kids the more that they will want to have that item. Regardless if it’s a Barbie or a cd...

Its about time the companys started to focus on my generations likes and what i think is ok for my children.Its time for the dinosaurs to die off as we move forward and take our place in life. I am 43 and am covered in tattoos .I am a tax payer own my home i have held a management position for many years and 25 percent of my tattoos are exposed.I am a proud father who is divorced .I have 3 children ages 14,13 and 10.For those out there who frown upon this what the hell is wrong with you?There are so many things wrong with life and your gonna get bent over a doll with tattoos?Get over your moral outrage and focus it where it should be ....with the lawmakers and corput politacins and greedy ceos who have torn apart the very fabric of financial stablity in our country .

My thing is they make all kind of things in this world that are wrong in someones eyes...JUST DON'T BUY IT!!! I bet you buy something that other people think is crazy or wrong. The problem with americans is...they won't stop buying things because it might make their lives more complicated, but if we would stop buying and paying these prices then they would not be able to sell their gas or dolls...JUST SAYING!

Barbie should be pulled from all shelves no matter what. Not just Tattoo Barbie all Barbies.

How bout the pregnant Barbie???? I mean please, are they saying its cool to be pregnant??? I think parents need to get a grip!! Get over it. If you don't like it, don't buy it!

And since when was Barbie ever a good role model for girls? The measurements of her body are so disproportionate they don't even exist in real life. Barbie's stick thin and is blonde with a huge chest. She comes with thousands of accesories and several different careers. What message is that sending? "Hi, I'm beautiful, everyone likes me and therefore I am successful."

OH, PLEASE.
Does anyone really think little girls are buying into that? As a little girl my dolls didn't influence me, what I saw on TV and in magazines did.

BARBIE IS A TOY. Girls just want a doll to play with. Tattoos or no tattoos, big chest or no big chest, it doesn't matter. Kids aren't reading into it that much. The parents are.

For christ sake, kids can get temporary tattoo's out of a machine for 25 cents. Packs of gum, candy, and cereal boxes give temporary tattoos as surprises. Does that mean the kids who get them are going to become some stereotyped "tattooed hard- * on drugs" later?
Um, no.

The shoulder tattoo is okay, however I would NOT want my little girl thinking a tramp stamp is cool. No way, no how.

its a shame that in 2011 we still have people that judge others for what we where,say ,believe in or evan what we put on our own skin.i feel sorry for the kids that are taught this way of thinking.tattoos are as common now than ever.get a grip people.just becouse someone has tats doesnt make them a bad person.

I think the reaction is typically an 'over reaction' by many parents today. I am so so glad I am not growing up with these straight laced, judgemental, SAD people raising children these days.....If a child, boy or girl, gets a total message from a Barbie Doll... then parents, you aren't doing your jobs! It's up to the parent to help children learn .... and to show them the wonderful diversity that exists on this planet... lighten up people please!!

I can understand why a parent would be worried that their child is impressionable, because kids are. Also in the same breath I must say I don't see the issue with barbie having/getting a tattoo. As many say below my comment, this is a current culture that is actually growing and gaining popularity over the years, as well as becoming a legitimate career choice and a commonplace in our every day lives. If you don't want you kid to get a tattoo, they probably will. It's all a catch. I am a female tattoo artist, I played with non-tattooed barbie and Im covered, will it really matter? Kids turn into people and people do what and as they like. Just focus on getting your child to understand enough to know that if they DO want to get a tattoo when they are old enough to truly think it though and get things that are positive or never-changing in their lives.. to go to a respectable establishment, ecta. Otherwise they will be doing it behind your back in a basement getting crappy work and potentially a disease. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. Stop censoring the little things and be a parent, that will be your best bet.

I have over 500 barbies. I have been collecting since i was 13. I love this barbie and can't wait tell she is in my collection. I am 2 a parent of a little girl that loves to play with barbies. The only thing I have to say 2 the ones that don't like this one is "don't buy it for your kids!"

I think that Barbie can't stay the same forever, they need to try something new. The world has changed since the first doll came out.

I am not exactly a Barbie fan to start with, but I am really shocked by the tattoo Barbie. Permenant marks on the body are not the decisions to be made by children and then regretted later and so many do. I know that I did not make wise decisions as a child and don't think today's children should be expected to. This should include many choices that would include tattoos.

What is the difference between Barbie having tattoo's and the childs parents haveing them. Or hey what about the ones kids get out of the gum ball machines? All the same to me. Get over it the kids will get tattoo's when the get older if they want to.

OMG Barbie has a tramp stamp!!!!!!!!!!

So, who is in charge in these parents houses? The parents or Barbie. I had Barbie dolls all my life-I never gave one thought to plastic surgery so I would look like one. I now collect Barbies (yup-gotta get this one!) and not all Barbies are for children. No one is making you buy the Barbie. These same parents who worry about a doll with tatoos think nothing of buying killer/murder (Grand Theft Auto) videos for their children. Living in the Pacific Northwest and having no tatoos makes me part of the alternate lifestyle. Here in the PNW, everyone has at least one tatoo and or multiple piercings. After a while no one notices-it is so common place to see tatoos.

i know some mensa folks that are heavily tattooed. what is this dumbing down you speak of? This article has no validity whatsoever. find something real to worry about.

We find out that police are private, and can be sued in their private capacity...and we're worried about tattoos? Lookup AIB radio with Rod-Class and team to get the real scoop!

Barbie is nothing but a doll. If your concerned about the tattoos than maybe we should look at all the things she is telling your daughter she should look like. She is a size zero with not an ounce of fat on her, so are we promoting anorexia to young girls? She has extremely large breast for her size so are we promoting a breast enhancement for young girls? I have not seen a Barbie doll that has ever worn clothes from second hand store, flat chested, or have a little meat on her bones which most girls represent in our society. These are stickers and the doll doesn't have a tattoo that permanetly drawn on her. If you don't want your daughter to have this doll than don't buy it!

Oh, this is totally stupid, especially when we have been selling temporary tattoos in machines next to the gum ball machines for how many years ?

I am a mother of 2 with no tatoos. I am 10 yrs clean and sober. Barbie did not have anything to do with the choices I made in my life. I played with barbie as a young girl and never once thought "oh my goodness I need to be skinnier, My breasts are too small." All i thought was yay I got a new toy. When I was done playing with them I gave them to other kids, With everything that is happening in the world today, is a doll with fake tattoos really that important?

Barbie has never really been the ideal role model anyway. She's superficial and vain. But you know what, she's a doll!!!!! My kids wear temporary tattoos that wash off and play with all kinds of dolls and toys that aren't really ideal role models. My son plays with all kinds of "bad guy" action figures, so what? If your child is learning their principles and morals from a doll then I think its time you look in the mirror as a parent and start taking some responsibility for parenting your child instead of trying to blame everything from dolls to movies for how your child turns out.

In a way, I think Barbie and tats go together. Although I think they are best on people who need to distract from their looks, they also typically signify you ain't the sharpest tool in the shed. Certainly that fits Barbie.

If people dont like it either dont look at it or buy it. Plain as that!! Bigger things in this world to worry about.