The 2008 TOADY (Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children) Award has been given to... Mattel's Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Barbie!The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood ran the competition, and Barbie received nearly twice as many votes as the runner-up— the Power Wheels Cadillac Escalade.
Barbie’s past crimes have included gender stereotyping (“Let’s go shopping!”), but the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Doll combined a preposterously skimpy outfit with a strangely elongated body.
In short: She's a freak!
All the TOADY nominess fell afoul one way or another of marketing sex and/or violence to young children, promoting brands and screen time at the expense of creative play, and encouraging excessive and conspicuous consumption.
While Barbie disgraced herself spectacularly, she may still be a runner-up to the Playmobil Security Check Point. Manufactured from 2003-2007, it featured security officers (with guns!), and airport screening machines. Silly? Maybe! But even so, Playmobil may be onto a way to stop further oppression at the cold plastic hands of Barbie dolls. According to this article, there is a Playmobil Police Checkpoint that is “a roadblock scene with armed officers, pylons and warning lights.”
If that can't stop Barbie, nothing will!
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