It appears that Barbie has found religion. After rebelling with Harley Davidson Barbie and bikini Barbie. There is even an S & M Barbie in all leather and fishnet stockings. Now, however, there is Burka Barbie.
Of course, this could be a surplus GI Joe in a Burka but the covered Barbie is on display with 500 other Barbies at the Salone dei Cinquecento, in Florence, Italy. To complete the image of subjugation for feminists, Burka Barbie will be auctioned off to the highest bidder as part of the fundraiser by Sotheby’s.
For many, the doll teaches girls to accept an obnoxious practice of women covering themselves — a practice common in areas where girls as young as ten are routinely married off. Then again, many Muslims would likely argue that, if Mattel markets kinky Barbie, why shouldn’t it also make Barbies for conservative Islamic families?
Would do you think?
For the picture of Burka Barbie and full story, click here.
Jill:
Actually Burkas are straight jackets for men.
Again, apparently “bad morals” are caused by women. Wouldn’t you have to count men’s reaction to women’s dressing as part of bad morals? It’s just like the amazing virgin births in teens–no boys or men in sight, just those horrible girls getting themselves pregnant!
In part the worry about how women dress is indicative of our confusion between sex and violence. A sexual response is exactly opposite a violent response.
At this rate, we could always have men forced to wear straightjackets so they won’t act out violently towards women. Straightjackets would be exactly analogous to Burkas!
Elaine:
I don’t think she is immoral, I certainly hope not anyway.
As far as sex goes I am pretty much a libertinearian.
Slavery is/was an immoral institution. I would hazard a guess that most of the presidents that owned slaves probably thought the same way. Washington freed his upon his death, Jefferson freed 6-8 on his death.
GEORGE WASHINGTON (between 250-350 slaves)
– THOMAS JEFFERSON (about 200)
– JAMES MADISON (more than 100)
– JAMES MONROE (about 75)
– ANDREW JACKSON (fewer than 200)
– Martin Van Buren (one)
– William Henry Harrison (eleven)
– JOHN TYLER (about 70)
– JAMES POLK (about 25)
– ZACHARY TAYLOR (fewer than 150)
– Andrew Johnson (probably eight)
– Ulysses S. Grant (probably five)
The ones that bug me are Jefferson and Madison, they knew better and did nothing. Although it appears both Jefferson and Madison were very conflicted about slavery.
Elaine,
That’s why Nal is here!
Second correction: The banking scandal wouldn’t have happened during Eisenhower’s presidency because of the Glass-Steagall Act, which I BELIEVE was enacted in 1933.
I’m having a bad morning typing my comments correctly.
Correction: The banking scandal wouldn’t have happened during Eisenhower’s presidency because of the Glass-Steagall Act, which I beieve WAS enacted in 1933.
Byron–
Do you think your daughter is immoral?
In Victorian times in England, women covered their bodies from neck to foot–yet there were still plenty of sexual shenanigans going on behind closed doors. Stuff like that has happened anywhere and everywhere…and at all times throughout human history. You can even read about it in the Bible.
You wrote: “I think he (Dar) is also right about lack of or diminution of morals in this country, 50 years ago the banking scandal would not have happened, it would have been considered bad form and President Eisenhower would never have received “favors” from an intern in the White House (yes I know about his affair during WWII).”
The banking scandal wouldn’t have happened during Eisenhower’s presidency because of the Glass-Steagall Act, which, I beieve that enacted in 1933.
We’ve had presidents who owned slaves. Was that moral?
I daresay that what George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did to our country was far worse than Bill’s sexual indiscretion. Starting a pre-emptive war in which thousands and thousands of innocent people have been killed rates far higher on my scale of immorality! (And I blame Congress and the MSM for the war too.)
Elaine:
I think both you and Dar have valid points. As the father of an 18 year old girl/woman I can say that I wished she dressed a bit more modestly. She is more than the sum total of her body. And was not so caught up in the current culture of Brittney Spears Pop “Tart”
I think he is also right about lack of or diminution of morals in this country, 50 years ago the banking scandal would not have happened, it would have been considered bad form and President Eisenhower would never have received “favors” from an intern in the White House (yes I know about his affair during WWII).
However the things you mention are actually barbarism. So on the whole, while we may appear surficialy immoral, we are not barbarians and do adhere to ethical standards that promote individual freedoms. Which is more than I can say for most of the world.
Surficial immorality or a negation of human rights? I know where I want to live.
Dar–
I can read just fine. You only respond selectively to my statements. You have one point to make–and don’t really care for a discussion. You’ve determined that: “The difference is that in most of the rest of the world there is a standard of morals, while in the modern West such morals are discarded and immoral behaviour proudly displayed.” You’ve come to a conclusion about many millions of people because of the way you’ve seen some women dress. You’re fixated on one thing. Most women in the West don’t go parading around in thong bikinis. Most of us dress in “modest” clothing and go off to work from Monday through Friday.
You are looking at only one aspect of morality. Just because you dress in a certain way–it doesn’t prove whether or not you’re a moral/virtuous person. I think we in the West could say that there are cultures in other parts of the world that lack morals–even though their women cover their bodies.
Is it moral to force young girls into marriages with older men? Are honor killings of women moral? Is it moral to treat women as subservient to men and allow them few freedoms?
All countries have moral people–as well as immoral people.
To Elaine M.,
You obviously don’t read very well, as I’ve already written that I don’t care what standards one society adopts, but it is its imposition on others that I dislike.
And yes, in the Islamic World, the female body is sxual, as it is in most of the worl, as it is in the West.
The difference is that in most of the rest of the world there is a standard of morals, while in the modern West such morals are discarded and immoral behaviour proudly displayed.
The difference is that most women in the Middle East have no desire to whore their bodies to public eyes, unlike Western women for whome their bodies and showing off their bodies is the be all and end all of their existence.
Again, all fine and good, but don’t claim that to be the right and proper and universla standard that all must adapt.
Dar–
Are you saying that a woman’s body is not seen as sexual in Muslim countries? If it isn’t perceived as erotic–then why the need for women to cover their entire bodies?
It appears that you’d like to impose your standard of what is proper on others. You’re also quick to judge Western women by their manner of dress. Is that your only basis for determining whether a woman is a moral individual or not?
I wore a mini-skirt when I was young–and mini-skirts were the fashion. I’m not a whore, a skank, or a sleazebag! I’ve been faithfully married to the same many for four decades.
I’d much prefer to live in a culture where women enjoy equal rights and can decide how they will dress themselves–and not have a dress code and many types of restrictions imposed upon them by others.
To Elaine M.,
“Some cultures/groups don’t see the human body as something lewd or lascivious.”
But that’s not the case in the West, where the female nody is seen as sexual. The women who dress in an exposing fashion do so precisely because the body is erotic and they wish to show off.
Are you going to tell me that women who wear thongs at beaches, or who wear mini-skirts, are doing so without being aware of their bodies?
I’ve no problem with people in the West having a certain standard of what is proper and not, but imposing this standard on others is unacceptable to me, as Mr.Turley would like.
AY–
Oh my! I really got a laugh out of that misspelling of mine. Thanks for calling my attention to it.
BTW, I wasn’t reared in the Garden of Eden–but in a state where Jesus’ image appears on the bottoms of irons. As for draping myself in greenery, I only do that in summer. In winter when there’s little foliage at the latitude where I live, I use pine cones to cover me “naughty bits.”
Elaine M.,
Humor is to the beholder and usually at anothers expense. However, I could not let this “slip” by so to speak. Were you reared in the Garden of Edin, per chance? You stated the following and I am having fun with the words and the ever so vivid imagination.
“I live in an area that has four distinct seasons. In winter, I wear long plants and jerseys”
Now would this be why they call the schools out east “Ivy League” as you are covered in Plants? Or is do you prefer another greenery such as a topiary?
Jersey is a British Isle. You would agree? If you agree and I am sure you do. Is there a particular season to obtain jersey as a covering? Do you special order it or pick it up yourself? Once you obtain jersey, do you prefer the good ole mud bath and a light rinse?
Thank you for a bright spot in the day.
Dar–
I guess I didn’t make my point as clear as I should have. Whether a certain way of dressing is immodest or not may be determined by how a particular people perceive the human body. Some cultures/groups don’t see the human body as something lewd or lascivious. I’m all for personal modesty myself–but I think having to dress in an outfit that covers one’s body from head to foot to be extreme.
I live in an area that has four distinct seasons. In winter, I wear long plants and jerseys/sweaters with long sleeves to keep me warm–however, in summer, when it’s hot, I often wear shorts and sleeveless blouses/jerseys. You may consider the way I dress in summer to be immodest. I consider it practical.
You speak of women in the west who show their bodies and dress like whores. Do you consider it immodest and whore-like to have any part of one’s body exposed?
To Elaine M.,
First off, I wrote “…for many parts of the world for millennia.”
Secdonly, yes in tropical climate people dress in fewer clothes, but there the standards and ideas of body aesthetics and sexuality are different. Not the case in the modern West.
The women who dress like whores aren’t dressing like that because of the hot weather.
Dar–
You said: “Showing the body and dressing like a whore is a relatively recent Western phenomenon.”
Are you sure about that? There have been indigenous peoples in many parts of the world who have worn relatively little clothing because of the hot/steamy climates in which they lived. They didn’t think they were dressing like whores.
“For many, the doll teaches girls to accept an obnoxious practice of women covering themselves…”
There he goes again.
Who says it’s “obnoxious”? Modesty has been a standard of female apparel for many parts of the world for millennia.
Showing the body and dressing like a whore is a relatively recent Western phenomenon.
Now it’s the norm?
FF LEO–
I’ve sometimes wondered how Dolly Parton is able to remain upright. What do you suppose she uses for ballast? Ya think she might have lead in her shoes? I don’t think there are enough letters in the alphabet to label the cup size of her industrial-strength brassieres. Good Golly, Miss Dolly!
I’ll admit I find Dolly charming myself–but you’re definitely right about all the plastic surgery she’s had done to herself. Her face sure doesn’t look the same as it did years ago.
lol
FFLEO,
I never said anything about natural. Just comfortable.