Barbie’s tattoos are exclusive to the Tokidoki Barbie doll
Barbie’s tattoos are causing a stir among parents.
The Christian Science Monitor reports that the traditionally blue-eyed blonde has gone edgy. The Tokidoki Barbie doll is decked out in pink hair, a short skirt and, yes, tattoos. The doll was designed by Italian designer Simone Legno. He even created a little friend for Barbie, a dog dressed as a cactus who goes by the name “Bastardino.”
Barbie’s tattoos and unconventional appearance are causing some parents to question the doll, saying it is inappropriate for children. Mattel maintains that the doll is for adult collectors, but that argument has fallen on deaf ears among parents.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s not for kids. It’s out there, “ says Marianne Szymanski, mother and founder of Toy Tips. “The argument that you’ll get from the toy companies is: ‘Oh, it’s for adults.’ But those companies need to know what parents’ concerns are.“
Some parents think that Barbie’s permanent tattoos will inspire their children to do the same to their own bodies, something that many don’t agree with.
As the company points out, however, the doll is being sold only on Barbiecollector.com — the section of the site catering to adult collectors of Barbie — and it is not featured on the main Barbie page on the Mattel site or in stores like Toys R Us or Target.
“Many of Barbie’s most pop-culture couture outfits have been designed for the adult doll collector,” Mattel said. “The Tokidoki Barbie is a perfect example of a limited-edition doll sold through select retail locations such as Tokidoki boutiques.”
Chris Byrne of timetoplaymag.com says, “At the end of the day, the doll does not model behavior,” he says. “If you don’t like tattoos, it’s your obligation as a parent to not allow tattoos. Children will do things in play that they aren’t going to replicate in life.”
Read more about the Tokidoki Barbie and her tattoos here.
