Pregnant 'Barbie' pulled from Wal-Mart after customers complain

USA Today / AP ^ | 12/24/2002 | AP Staff

[ex-Texan]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — She is Barbie's oldest friend, happily married and visibly pregnant with her second child — and some parents think she is a little too real for their children.

The pregnant version of Midge, which pops out a curled-up baby when her belly is opened — has been pulled from Wal-Mart shelves across the country following complaints from customers, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday.

[ex-Texan]

Eh, er, is she married to Ken or Ken's best friend 'Freaky Deaky'?

Was this doll made in China?

[Timesink]

Does her water break? Does the baby come out covered in goop?

[Timesink]

Was this doll made in China?

If it were made in China, it would only be able to "give birth" once.

[MadelineZapeezda]

Look for these to be a collectors item.

[MadelineZapeezda]

If it were made in China, it would only be able to "give birth" once.

LMAO!

[Cicero]

Maybe they should replace her with a stork.

[AppyPappy]

It was pulled because she was carrying Jesse Jackson's baby.

[hunter112]

So, who was complaining? The doll had a "husband", so it couldn't have been a Murphy Brown type of thing. My guess as to who was complaining--anti-life types, who didn't want young girls seeing the "baby" inside as a real human being. If it was the right wing who was complaining, they missed the obvious educational benefit of showing girls that its a real human being inside there.

[B4Ranch]

LOL!

[RepoGirl]

My guess as to who was complaining--anti-life types, who didn't want young girls seeing the "baby" inside as a real human being. If it was the right wing who was complaining, they missed the obvious educational benefit of showing girls that its a real human being inside there.

I would bet that you're right. Since Midge is being sold as part of a family, and has a husband (Alan is much more dreamy than Ken...), the right wing certainly wouldn't (or shouldn't) have a problem with it. I'd never even thought about the whole "pro-abortion" angle.

[Long Cut]

I don't see any angle at all, political or otherwise. What I DO see are far too many overly-paranoid and woefully ignorant parents (who, truth be told, probably run the gamut of political leanings).

"Promotes teen pregnancy"? How, for Pete's sake? The doll is MARRIED!

What you are seeing is a dumbed-down society at work. Scary, isn't it?

[Sockdologer]

Right on. The doll had a husband and the complaint here
is that they're glamorizing pregnancy. Well pregnancy is
a beautiful thing when you're married.

I didn't see them pulling the dolls for having certain body parts or for wearing skimpy clothing.

[pabianice]

I suppose this means I have to abandon my plans for the Cain chest-buster doll from "Alien"? ("recommended for children 5 and older")

[RepoGirl]

I think it's very scary.

I've been thinking about this story--and remembered that when I was about 10 years old (back in the late 70s) I had a doll called "Grow Up Skipper."

The premise of the doll was simple: Skipper could either be a pre-teen, or a teen ager. There was a mechanism in her chest that moved when you turned her right arm and would push up these weird little "boob" things. So, Skipper went from ten to thirteen in one easy step. Two dolls for the price of one, as it were.

No outrage at all, just mild amusement. Eventually, though, the doll was shelved due to poor sales (the thing was butt ugly). But no one complained to Mattel. How times have changed.

[Long Cut]

I recently sold my ORIGINAL, 1978-vintage "ALIEN" action figure (which cost $13.00 back in the day) for $200.00. If it was new-in-the-box, unopened, it would be worth $1500.00!

Those 13-inch tall creatures were removed from shelves because they were "too scary looking", and didn't sell well.

[Long Cut]

Most of the quotes they printed seem to come from more conservative-thinking folk. Just being conservative is not, I've found, a guarantee of intelligence.

It seems to be reaching to link this to the abortion debate. I don't see it in this case.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

But back, pre-Barbie, dolls were baby dolls. Little girls played at being mother. Did that encourage teen girls to get pregnant, so that they could have a real child?

[ex-Texan]

They have a new *'Bimbo Barbie'* according to Drudge.

She comes dressed in skimpy shorty night gowns, see through dresses and everything and may even have tiny little sex toys ..... LOL, LOL, LOL !

[Odile]

I remember back in the thirties when some Super Prude group had a WALT DISNEY CARTOON banned because it depicted a cow with UDDERS!

I have NEVER agreed with anyone who would treat the basic facts of life as something "dirty." Life -- and PARTICULARLY reproduction -- functions should be REVERED -- not treated as nasty taboos and dirty little secrets.

By that token a pregnant Midge ought to be all right, BUT I believe such products are put in the shelves NOT to teach understanding of and reverence for human reproduction but rather as an introduction to the abuse -- and ultimate destruction -- of our traditional moral codes.

If we allow Pregnant Midge Gives Birth, can SWINGING BARBIE and PORN STAR BARBIE, performing with a bevy of "anatomically correct" male figures be far behind?

Generally, I don't believe in censorship of any kind -- because it lends greater power to Evil --, but where are CHILDREN are concerned, censorship -- NOT by the State, but by decent, responsible PARENTS -- is the ONLY way to go. PARENTS must be given the last word on what "cultural influences" their children will -- or will not -- be allowed to enjoy.

[FITZ]

If we allow Pregnant Midge Gives Birth, can SWINGING BARBIE and PORN STAR BARBIE, performing with a bevy of "anatomically correct" male figures be far behind?

There's an awful lot of difference between giving birth and porn.

[ToKillaMockingbird]

My kids have always pretended their Barbies were pregnant and have husbands anyway. I don't think it should be a problem. I like that they are promoting "normal" families for a change instead of Brittany and Christina look alikes.

[Nea Wood]

"It's a bad idea. It promotes teenage pregnancy.

When I was a kid, Barbie was promoted as a "teenage fashion model doll." But if she's a doctor now, she's obviously not a teenager anymore, and so neither is her friend Midge. If Midge is married and not a teenager, then what's the problem with her being pregnant? When they come out with a set of dolls called "Midge and her live-in lover and their new baby and her toddler from a previous relationship," then people will have something to complain about. LOL Or how about "Lesbian Barbie and Midge and their male friend who contributed sperm to get Midge pregnant"? (I'm laughing, but that's probably next!!)

[Slyfox]

My guess as to who was complaining--anti-life types, who didn't want
young girls seeing the "baby" inside as a real human being.

That's what I thought as I was reading it.

[freebilly]

Next year's "partial birth abortion Barbie" promises to be a hit with those offended by "pregnant Barbie".

Instead of promoting teen pregnancy, "partial birth abortion Barbie" shows teens that there's an easy solution to all life's little problems....

[jobloss_recovery]

"One-child Midge comes complete with two shadowy government agent dolls to intimidate her into foregoing future pregnancies."

[Thinkin' Gal]

Midge was introduced in 1963

Well there's the problem right there. Instead of giving birth, this doll should have been repackaged as Menopause Midge.

[freebilly]

If we allow Pregnant Midge Gives Birth, can SWINGING BARBIE and PORN STAR BARBIE, performing with a bevy of "anatomically correct" male figures be far behind?

Actually, someone is actually producing an "S/M Barbie" (someone posted a link on another thread).

To each their own. If someone is sick enough to produce "pornstar Barbies", and people are sick enough to buy the same, who cares? Just keep it away from my kids (or anyone else's for that matter), or there'll be hell to pay.

[StriperSniper]

Skipper

[exmoor]

Eh, er, is she married to Ken or Ken's best friend 'Freaky Deaky'?.............it must be Freaky Deaky because KEN got life for murder...

[grania]

In 1993, there was a "talking Barbie" who said "Math Class is Tough". Well, the nuts at NOW and NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) went nuts. The doll should be banned, banned!!!. How dare they say Barbie thought her Math class was tough?

Well, duhh. This was a good thing. "Ken" has been taking a tough math class since the beginning of time; and any guy would be expected to do his best and learn the Math. What's Barbie supposed to do? Stay home and manicure her nails while Ken learns Math?

These groups still haven't improved. They should get a grip. This doll is a toy. What are girls learning if all their dolls do is get pretty, go out on dates, and grow huge boobs? It's another perfect example of how these complaining groups put their agenda first, so what if it has anything to do with the group they supposedly represent.

[Alouette]

The doll is MARRIED!

And here is the husband.

[ALS]

[logic101.net]

I don't see any problem with this doll, the complaints are silly. For one thing the "doll" is "married", not a welfare mommie. Nor is this doll a teen. Unlike Murphy Brown, this is a good roll model! These people need to get a life! I can see an objection to "Bimbo Barbie", even though that is kind of silly to as that is really for the collector crowd; a large share of the Barbie market.

Although I have to wonder. Was this protest only at Wall Marts? I didn't see any reference to objections at other stores. Is it possible this is an attempt by the anti-Wall Mart (ie. protesters hired by the AFL/CIO to cause problems for Wall Mart) crowd?

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[Lancey Howard]

"There's enough teenagers getting pregnant as it is. I think they're glamorizing it, and it's horrible," said Jackie Ellis, 43, of Philadelphia. "I work in maternity and I see 10-, 11-, 12-year-olds coming in pregnant — and they're crying because they don't even know what's going on."

And their litters are future Democrats, mostly.
Stupid is as stupid does.

[Lancey Howard]

My guess as to who was complaining--anti-life types, who didn't want young girls seeing the "baby" inside as a real human being.

That is an excellent point.

[PatrioticAmerican]

I waiting for those idiots to start giving Barbie a tan and a crack pipe.

[RepoGirl]

That's my Skipper doll! Only... during my punk days in the mid-80s, I got a hold of some model car paint and augmented Skipper's makeup a little.

In November 2001, I teamed my punk Skipper with my Doyle Von Frankenstein (from the Misfits) action figure and used them as the very unique cake topper at my wedding (to fellow Freeper, Big Guy and Rusty 99).

[2sheep]

>"There's enough teenagers getting pregnant as it is. I think they're glamorizing it, and it's horrible," said Jackie Ellis, 43, of Philadelphia. "I work in maternity and I see 10-, 11-, 12-year-olds coming in pregnant — and they're crying because they don't even know what's going on."

It would teach 5 to 8 year olds that its fun, its easy and having a baby is like this magnetic detachable toy...pain free.  Is the wedding ring detachable too?

[2sheep]

Mattel is getting pretty multicultural. I wonder if they have a Barbie in a Burka?

[Texas Eagle]

"It's a bad idea. It promotes teenage pregnancy."

Ahhhh, now I see the problem. Barbie is encroaching on the government's job.

[Alouette]

I wonder if they have a Barbie in a Burka?

[2sheep]

They could have an advertising slogan, "Burkas cover Bruises!"

[Alouette]

I waiting for those idiots to start giving Barbie a tan and a crack pipe.

"Gangsta Barbie"

"Cross Dressin' Ken"

[Thinkin' Gal]

[Cvengr]

Only when the Midge doll is sold with the Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic,..oops,.I mean family counseling center dollhouse, is there an overt message implied.

[Dasaji]

I have to admit, that when I entered the Barbie Kingdom of Hell at Toys R Us the other night (aiding the creation of such in my 7 year old's room), I was a bit taken aback when I saw Pregnant Barbie in a Box. My first reaction was that this was promoting single motherhood in a trailer park trash kind of way. Barbie is packaged *singularly* (so I didn't quite get it at first this is some lame effort by Mattel to create a new niche), while the box next to her had a male doll pushing a stroller. My reaction to that was that Mattel is trying to further feminize men with this doll pushing a stroller with a burp towel thrown across his shoulder, laden with overflowing diaper bag, while the Barbie on the *other* side of him was wearing a severe bun, power suit, carrying a briefcase as Litigation Lawyer Barbie.

It was all quite surreal. Barbie Kingdom of Hell will do that to you.

[RepoGirl]

Oooooh! I want the counselling center dreamhouse with the optional mobile clinic Funtime Van!

New, NOW Barbie--complete with bullhorn, lifepartner, piercing kit and make-your-own-flyer set!!!

[jlogajan]

My guess as to who was complaining--anti-life types, who didn't want young girls seeing the "baby" inside as a real human being.

Dream on. It is cultural conservatives who'd have us all wearing burkas if they had the power.

[ChemistCat]

If you were REALLY smart, you'd go back, buy the lot, and put them away NIB. In about ten years, there you have a full ride through college for somebody. Glorious Ebay!

I have NO PROBLEM with this doll, if she has a wedding ring. (Of course they market the daddy separately--they make more money.) For once, they're marketing a Barbie that has SOMETHING to do with real life.

I wonder if she has dark circles under her eyes, from the baby keeping her up at night (before and after delivery)?

I do LOVE the "Real Life Ken" pictured above, aka "Couch Potato." That one was a keeper.

(BTW, Barbie is not allowed in our home...but only because of the made-in-china, millions-of-plastic-pieces problem. I don't like toys that are destined to plug up the vacuum cleaner.)