Barbie's World

Check out the “Barbie Girls” website flagged in the 7/23/07 New York Times piece about integrating MP3 players into toys.  I’d love to hear critiques from a CST perspective.  Beyond the obvious concerns about unabashed consumerism (my favorite feature is shopping for accessories for your pet), I was fascinated by the cultural implications of some of the mechanics as revealed in “tips for girls” and the message to parents. 

“When you register, you create a screen name to use on the site. Because anybody in the Barbie GirlsTM world can see your screen name, you don’t wanna include your real name . . . Instead, make up something new and creative!”  What are the cultural implications of play through screen names? Although there are obvious safety benefits, in this world of “fun, friends and fashion,” you are never yourself.

“If a girl feels that a friend or best friend is misbehaving, she can click “block” to keep that person from sending her messages. And she can instantly remove anyone from her room by clicking “ask to leave.”  Here too, there are important safety concerns, but at the same time, how do instant “block” and “ask to leave” buttons change how they perceive relationships and friendships? 

“We want you to make new friends, but we also want you to be extra careful about who you add as a friend, especially if you have never played with her before, in the real world, or online.”  While there are tight limitations on random chat in the mall, “best friends” can chat more freely because they have actually met in real life.  The definition of a “best friend?”: “To make one of your best friends in real life a best friend online, you both need to own a Barbie GirlTM. Connect your friend’s Barbie GirlTM to your computer and follow the on-screen instructions.”  What does this say about what it means to make and be a “best friend”?

The moral dimensions of the “tips for girls” are fascinating.  On one hand, there’s a constructive “golden rule” kind of message.  “Always be nice to others!  BarbieGirls.comSM is for everyone to enjoy, and that means treating others the way you wanna be treated.”  “Don’t say anything mean, rude, violent, or untrue about anything or anyone. Also, don’t encourage your friends to say any bad stuff.”

But I’m not sure about the tendency to rely on 7-year olds to intuit when something is wrong, and act on that intuition:  “It is always your responsibility to stop chatting or playing with anyone that makes you feel uncomfortable or that is misbehaving.”  “We sometimes review chatting to make sure people are being friendly and safe and are following the rules. But because we don’t constantly monitor the site, you should “report” users to us who are misbehaving.”  “You should also make sure that the other girls you play with or chat with follow the rules too.”  What does this say about authority – and perceptions of autonomy – in kids who are still pretty little?

Would love to hear your thoughts – especially those of you who as parents struggle with the implications of these kind of media.  I’m going to use the site as a springboard for a conversation next week with Focolare teenagers, who are part of their summer program are exploring how Catholic spirituality can sustain them in their everyday engagement with popular culture – I’ll keep you posted on their reactions and insights. 

Amy