After debuting in 1959, our beloved Barbie has seen it all, done it all, had it all and most definitely, worn it all.
She’s been everything from Chione, a Limited Edition doll from Cairo, Egypt, a black girl named Trichelle, a mermaid, an ‘80s rock star, a veterinarian and a babysitter, all while keeping her makeup at a maximum, showing as much immovable leg as possible and keeping that 100-watt smile flashing. But for her 50th birthday, Barbie may have found an outfit that blows her mostly pink wardrobe, various convertibles and boats out the water. Meet Burka Barbie.
If you’ve never heard of a burka, chances are, you’ve seen it. They’ve been spread across the television through reports about Middle Eastern culture and life—something that’s reported on constantly thanks to the war in Iraq. So what exactly is a burka?
Burka Business
The burka is a form of covering worn by many Middle Eastern women of Muslim faith. It resembles a sheet, but covers the entire body, leaving only the eyes to be seen by the public; while these are prevalent, there are burkas that cover the eyes as well. It has been said that the burka is worn to prevent women from being ogled or seen in general by men. The burka should not be confused with the hijab, another form of covering worn in Muslim culture, but one that only covers the head of Muslim women (not the face or the body). Both forms of covering are said to be a way for Muslim women to dress in modesty, as the Qur’an, the book of Muslim people of faith, requires men and women to dress and behave modestly.
Burkas Under Attack
Since the attacks of 9/11, the Muslim culture has been put under a microscope. The practices, clothing and appearances of many Muslim people have become something for many people to question or ridicule. In Europe, veils and hijabs worn by women have been connected with a form of extremism and terrorism. In France particularly, schools and local swimming pools have banned the burka. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that burkas are “not welcome” in France:
“In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity.”
In the Court of Public Opinion
Many Muslim individuals are torn on their views of the garb. But now that the cultural icon, Barbie, has been clothed in a burka (500 Limited Edition Barbies to be exact, only being auctioned off for the Save the Children Foundation), there is a chance that the controversial get-up could be on display for non-Muslim adults and children alike. Some people are pro-burka as they see the Burka Barbie as an attempt to expose people to a positive part of Muslim culture, while others are flat-out against it, saying the burka shouldn’t be considered as a part of Muslim culture at all.
“I hate that damn doll, I can’t believe the doll company put this out and thought this was a good thing,” says Manale Naiyah, a graduate student at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., and of Muslim faith. Naiyah believes that people who wear the burkas are causing the public to think that it should be part of the everyday attire of Muslim women everywhere; an idea she strongly opposes. And after viewing the doll online, Naiyah was ready to rip its head off, rather than play with it.
“You’re just supposed to be modestly dressed and wear the headscarf, not ‘we’re going to dress you in a drape and you’re shunned from society.’ That’s misconstruing culture with religion.”
She further goes on to say, “Maybe this was a stab at trying to be satirical, but it could have been more tastefully done rather than putting Barbie in a burka. It’s like honestly, is that what you think of when you think of Muslim culture?”
While Naiyah, of Palestinian and Syrian background, found the Barbie and its clothing to be offensive, Valparaiso University senior and fellow Muslim of Palestinian background, Hana Chaaban, isn’t opposed to buying the doll if asked by her children one day. She is hopeful that the doll was created to appreciate the differences in people, not mock them.
“It could be a number of reasons, but I hope it would be to open people’s eyes to the fact that people are different and that’s okay,” Chaaban says. Although she doesn’t wear a burka, when asked if she thought that a Burka Barbie is a contradiction of the liberation and freedom many think Barbies symbolize that women should have, Chaaban shut down the notion that a burka was oppressive, but rather, that it is a form of the modesty the Qur’an intends.
“…a burka is not oppressive,” Chaaban says. “It’s actually liberating because people will get the women for who they are. It shows their freedom of choice in the fact that they choose to wear it.”
While Naiyah and Chaaban disagreed on what the burka means to them, they could agree on a few different things: the fact that as children, the Barbie doll had no deep meaning in their lives, but was merely a toy with cool accessories, and that for the mainstream public and traditional Muslims, a Barbie in a burka would be seen as more of a joke than a hit on the stands of any Wal-Mart or Toys ‘R’ Us.
“…the society we live in is all based on looks: how pretty you are, how skinny you are, what you’re wearing,” says Chaaban. “If people see Barbie in a burka, they’re going to say, ‘what’s up with that?’”
When asked if she thought it would be accepted, Naiyah said, “I don’t think so, only because when I look at it, it’s almost comical. Because of my background I know it’s wrong, so I’m quick to think no. But if I were a regular person, I would think it was funny.”
Despite what either of these women think, there is a Burka Barbie sitting in displays, covered in burkas that range from shades of tangerine orange and kiwi green to cobalt blue. If you’re lucky, you can see the doll’s eyes, while others remain hidden. Despite the fact that only 500 have been displayed, all created by Italian designer Eliana Lorena for Mattel, the idea that a toy of this magnitude is being considered as a child’s plaything has caused an uproar. An uproar on behalf of the people that oppose the idea of Middle-Eastern women wearing burkas, and an uproar for the people that find the burkas just a simple part of their culture that shouldn’t be ridiculed or magnified by others. Whatever the original motives were of Mattel for creating Burka Barbie, people like Manale Naiyah only hope that it will foster more education into the topic of what truly is Muslim culture and religion, so that the two won’t get lost in the gray images displayed through the television:
“I’d hope that we can get to Barbie’s in hijabs, not burkas. I think the idea is cool that they’re [Mattel is] trying to branch out, but before they do that, they need to educate themselves on what they’re putting out and not just put out a stereotype.”
So is Burka Barbie a harsh stereotype of Muslim culture, or is it merely a doll meant to positively depict a culture many don’t understand? I guess it all depends on what you think of the burka and the women who wear it in the first place. You should also ask yourself, if they made a Ken doll of this kind, would he be covered up “modestly” to the same degree as Barbie? Whatever Burka Barbie is supposed to do or be, it’s sure not your ordinary Barbie; but it is one hell of a way to celebrate the big 5-0.
The Notorious BarB.I.E. – America’s Most Divisive Doll
If you thought the idea of a Barbie in a burka was bad, take a look at these five other misfires in the 50 years Barbies been in a box.
Teen Talk Barbie: 1992
Isn’t she lovely with her sparkling blue eyes and bountiful curls? Well, cuteness couldn’t save Teen Talk Barbie from the wrath of American parents and women’s groups everywhere after it was found that out of all the things for Barbie to talk about with her young fans, shopping was all that the plastic princess had on her mind.
It’s safe to say that “Math class is hard” caused this Barbie to go right back in her box. See “The Simpsons” for a parody of Teen Talk Barbie: the infamous Malibu Stacy.
Happy Family Midge & Baby Doll Set: 2002
Who needs a pony when Barbie’s cutest accessory can be a baby?
When Barbie’s friend Midge hit the scene in 2002 sporting a magnetic belly
with a fully-clothed three-year-old on the inside, people were up in arms about the doll and her bundle of joy. Do children really need to be exposed to the realities of motherhood during playtime? The fact that Midge came with husband Alan couldn’t keep her from being shunned by parents. Her odd form of childbirth didn’t help the situation either.
Totally Stylin’ Tattoo Barbie!: 2009
What happened to the days when Barbie’s relationship with Ken was assumed, rather than being exposed through a “tramp stamp” on her lower midriff for all the rest of the world to see? Times have definitely changed. While “Totally Stylin’ Tattoo Barbie,” the most recent scandalous Barbie, was made to help kids “express themselves and be creative,” many parents felt the doll was influencing young girls to wear revealing clothes and want gaudy tattoos. But scandal breeds sales of course. Miss “Totally Stylin’” was a total success at toy stores this past year.
Oreo Barbie: 1997
While Oreo Barbie was marketed as someone young girls could share their favorite Nabisco snack with, she instead caused a stir due the fact that “Oreo” in the African-American community means someone’s that’s black on the outside, but white on the inside, or acts white. After failing to sell and having zero street credibility, Mattel recalled the doll. Blame for her poor sales could also be placed on her embarrassing attire, including that ridiculous Oreo messenger bag she’s rocking. Is that how we really dressed in the ‘90s?
Sources:
Manale Naiyah, Muslim student
Hana Chaaban, Muslim student
Breitbart.com
The Daily Mail
The Sun
Al Arabiya News Channel
The Guardian