by Samantha Phillips

Created on: December 21, 2008

When looking at the two toys, Bratz Dolls and Bratz Kidz, it is easy to see that there isn't much of a difference between the two when it comes to whether or not they are appropriate for young girls, or most any girl to play with, for that matter. While my younger sister and I were walking down the toy aisle this past week, she quickly ran forward and grabbed a Bratz Kidz doll and brought to me, shoving it towards me with begging eyes. I took it from her and I looked at it. This particular one, like its "older" kin was dressed in a manner that even i wouldn't allow myself to go out into public in, (and I'm not exactly the most conservative person out there.)

I quickly leaned down and handed it back to my sister, muttering something about indecency, then I asked her to go and put the toy back where she got it from. This got me to thinking and brooding over how the market had changed, while my sister and I walked hand-in-hand towards the children's book section. I had never agreed with the Bratz Dolls as it was, with theit too-short skirts that barely covered the necessary parts, and lips that look like that have had one injection too many, but the Bratz Kids, to answer the topic bluntly, are in no way better. In fact, they are worse, beacuse they look like the younger audience that they are meant to attract.

SOme might argue that these toys are more modern, and more "hip", and that they are geared towards the younger wudience in a more positive way. However, while the bodies might have changed between the two Bratz models, the clothes and some of the dolls' features have remained the same, and they essentially promote the same concepts in children. What happened to when we looked to teach young girls ideas and practical skills that they could use in the future? What happened to trying to enforce the concept of modesty?

When I was younger, the toys that I can remember having were along the lines of life-like baby dolls, cooking sets, stuffed animals and puzzles. Most of the toys that I, and many others played with growing up taught us something in one way or another. A lot of the toys that we were advertised mimicked, in one sense or another, things that our mothers did, caring for us, cooking, cleaning, even some professions, like nursing and teaching. These made a huge impact on who we are and what we do today.

While these new lines of toys may be more "modern and hip", what will they teach the minds of tommorow?

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