Once upon a time, there lived a little girl who loved to play with her dolls. She learned how to dress them as she learned to dress herself. She punished them when they were naughty, she rocked them to sleep when it was bedtime. She took them to the doctor when they were sick. She, like all young mammals, was learning through play.

Today's little girl is still learning with dolls. She dresses her Bratz in revealing outfits, the kind she's been told are pretty, the kind she wants to wear. Suddenly her princess dolls pale by comparison. Those floor length gowns just aren't sexy enough for a 6 year old anymore. Bratz still have to wear a layer of dark eye shadow and carry a designer purse to go to the doctor when they're sick; will the little girl become one of those women so ashamed to be seen "not looking their best" that they refuse to leave the house for a jog without caking on super heavy makeup? Today's little adult-in-training may still try to discipline her dolls when they are naughty, but what's considered naughty when you're already a Brat?

Bratz dolls were made to show girls how to shop, flirt with boys and be... well, Brats. By supporting this new version of play time, some parents have unknowingly set themselves up for some pretty difficult adolescent years. We are creatures that learn by doing, and the best form of flattery has long been recognized as imitation. What are your girls learning about womanhood from Bratz? Furthermore, what are the boys in your house (and in your daughter's schools) learning about girls from Bratz? Are they learning that women demand self respect and are intelligent equals that they may one day collaborate with to cure disease or change the government? No. They are learning, along with their female peers, that girls need to look hot, buy lots of cool stuff and act like obnoxious brats. Honestly, I don't see women's wages being equivalent with men's in a world that holds this belief.

An acquaintance told me a story about his 7 year old Bratz-fanatic daughter; his voice resonated with pride, his shoulders were held high and he was simply beaming. The story was about a family trip to the mall with his wife, daughter and three young sons. His daughter (who like most little girls loves dress-up) disappeared into her room to put on an outfit for the mall. She came out after several minutes "...swaying her hips, you know? It was so cute!" in a tight jean miniskirt and belly baring top.

"Don't I look sexy, Daddy?"

"You sure do sweetheart," he said (I cringed) "those boys at school better watch out or I'll have to clobber them!"

His daughter had joined us and was standing there swinging her arms and smiling as he related the last part of this story. He then proceeded to tell me with a chuckle how protective he was going to have to be of his darling baby when she hit her teens. To this she replied "Yup! 'Cuz then I'm gonna have boobies! Booooobiiiieees!" she giggled and grabbed her chest.

Here's an idea: instead of raising your young daughter to strive for "sexy" and rewarding "sexiness" with a trip to the mall to buy more belly tops, teach her some self respect and maybe you won't have to worry so much about those boys.

Learn more about this author, Alison Scott.
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