BC Barbie from Matell

madubois63 · 08-13-2006, 08:07 AM

Okay, so I've been following a thread on the new Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Barbie on the young survival board. http://www.youngsurvival.org/community/bulletin-boardMattel is donating $250,000 to Susan G. Komen from the proceeds of the doll. The doll costs about $25 each. Wal-Mart Barbie AdIt's pretty funny what everyone is saying...does she come with prosthesis, scars, black toe nails, a wig/scarves, an IV line, a toilet to puke in...??? I've been having fun reading this for the last 2 days, so I thought I'd bring it over hear for new prospective...post away!!!

Maryann

StephN · 08-13-2006, 09:06 AM

Thanks for pointing this out, MaryAnne.
I sure hope some of the others here take a look at that thread. Brings out a range of emotions.

A few quick thoughts.
If they wanted to do this for "awareness" some changes needed to be made to Barbie. If they want to call her a "Breast Cancer Barbie" they need to GIVE her breast cancer IMHO. If they want her to be a SURVIVOR and looking this way, they should say that is what this doll is.

Maybe they think that this will make the BC "words" more familiar to little girls who have a greater and greater chance of getting the disease. But by glamorizing the disease with THIS representation, I think the WRONG MESSAGE is being sent.

As for profit motive. Exactly - the maker WILL make money and so will the retailers. How many of these cookie cutter dolls are being made and sold through countless retailers?? And they only want to donate $250,000???
I am sure they have 50,000 outlets, not mention online sales. Komen MIGHT be getting ONE dollar for every doll sold.

Can someone else make sense of this for me?? Think I will get one and rip her hair out and send it to the Komen headquaters ...

Jeanette · 08-13-2006, 09:17 AM

I think mattel is donating $2.50 for each doll sold , with a minimum of $250.000

Tracy · 08-13-2006, 09:59 AM

She is not actually called "BC Barbie", it says on the box "Pink Ribbon" and I believe she is the Susan G. Komen Barbie Doll. I think she is supposed to be a supporter, not exactly sure though.

Looks like she is called "Pink Ribbon Barbie" according to the Walmart ad.

karenann · 08-13-2006, 11:02 AM

My wonderful 13 year old daughter and her dad bought this doll for me for my birthday. My daughter came up with the idea and spent her own money on it. It means the world to me and I display it proudly on my mantle.

Hugs,
Karen

StephN · 08-13-2006, 11:36 AM

Due to Karenanne's post I took a better look at the ad for the doll. I had done that quickly then read the thread on the other site.
Looks like she IS supposed to be a supporter. That is a better viewpoint, but a supporter can wear other colors so the pink ribbon stands out more. (You can enlarge the pic in the ad.)

VaMoonRise · 08-13-2006, 11:48 AM

She was definitely made to be a symbol of support and not as a depiction of a woman with BC.

I personally think it is great any time something is done to bring about more awareness.

BC gets more attention and more funding than any other type of cancer out there. I am tremendously grateful for any effort or monetary gains whether it be one cent towards finding a cure or $250,000. Companies, individuals etc., are not required to give a damn thing and those that do should be commended and appreciated not torn down just because someone thinks they could have given more or done more. I know it may not seem like it is enough until a cure is actually found but I for one refuse to bite the hand that extends forward in an attempt to save us.

Nicola

RobinP · 08-13-2006, 01:59 PM

BC Barbie, haven't seen it yet but it sounds like a good idea. Maybe this is just the ticket to raise cancer awareness, especially amoung young teens who will soon be young women.

AlaskaAngel · 08-13-2006, 09:52 PM

While I've read the posts about the positive aspects to this and acknowledge that it can raise awareness and money, the idea still seems very unpleasant to me. At the same time, I think it is very innocent that a child would buy this doll in honor of her mother, and I don't think my feelings are incongruent at all.

Maybe if Barbie was not such an impossible vision of perfection for the children who play with her to ever achieve, and the source of so much lack of confidence, and the source of so much need to buy whatever it takes to look like her, it would have more positive meaning for me.

Cancer doesn't make women feel like Barbie at all. I think Barbie only emphasizes the importance in our culture of having perfect breasts. I have to agree with Steph's first impression. If the maker of Barbie wants to donate money for breast cancer they don't have to tie it to an icon of false image to make money on the side.

AlaskaAngel

sarah · 08-14-2006, 01:23 AM

While I agree it's great that people donate anything and that awareness is good, it may just be a feel good trendy thing with lots of free publicity that in the end helps Mattel make $22.50 a doll! It would be nice if they were only taking the cost or just a tiny bit more than cost and donating the rest to cancer and with no limit. Still anything is better than nothing. After all think if 1 million companies did the same thing!
sarah

fitztwins · 08-15-2006, 06:47 AM

On my bc.org board, many of the women were really upset by the doll. The posts here are much more positive. I agree, raise money and awareness are a win-win.

Janis