Tinkertease
On Christmas eve I was putting gifts that Matt's dad dropped off last month under the tree. There was an obscene amount, something they do every year, and it kind of bugs me because we get the kids a couple of gifts but try not to go overboard. There are four sets of grandparents and three sets have been briefed on what kind of gifts and the amount that we like, but Matt and his dad have an awkward relationship and only recently reconnected after not talking for 18 years, so Matt feels that he doesn't want to step on his dad's grandparently toes.
I noticed one box felt suspiciously like a Barbie, and since Matt and I have told the other g/p sets that we're not ready for Barbies, I opened the top to peek in and seeing that it was a "Princess Tinkerbell" I put it aside. Matt and I debated about it and I decided to not give it to Clio, but the after thinking about it during the night, I put it under the tree. I wasn't sure if there would be Tinkerbell accessories or whether the grandparents would ask Clio about it. I felt crummy about it, but I just wasn't sure what to do.
On Christmas morning Clio opened a different suspiciously shaped box and it was a Tinkerbell doll with a huge head and splayed legs. I figured the other box must be outfits or something but it was ALSO a Tinkerbell doll. A ballerina, princessey Tinkerbell...both from the same set of grandparents. WHY TWO?
Dario got some annoying Cars stuff, but what bothers me most about Tinkerbell is not just plastic or the character identification (I bought Dario a Muppets lunchbox), but how sexualized and unrealistic the princess/fairy dolls have become. I guess they always were. The princess crap is so much more prevalent than I was a kid, and I do think it sends a damaging message.
Clio LOVES the dolls. She gave the big headed one to Dario and he loves it. Am I too uptight about this?
I don't know if it comes through, but look at how splayed the bigheaded Tink's legs are!
I noticed one box felt suspiciously like a Barbie, and since Matt and I have told the other g/p sets that we're not ready for Barbies, I opened the top to peek in and seeing that it was a "Princess Tinkerbell" I put it aside. Matt and I debated about it and I decided to not give it to Clio, but the after thinking about it during the night, I put it under the tree. I wasn't sure if there would be Tinkerbell accessories or whether the grandparents would ask Clio about it. I felt crummy about it, but I just wasn't sure what to do.
On Christmas morning Clio opened a different suspiciously shaped box and it was a Tinkerbell doll with a huge head and splayed legs. I figured the other box must be outfits or something but it was ALSO a Tinkerbell doll. A ballerina, princessey Tinkerbell...both from the same set of grandparents. WHY TWO?
Dario got some annoying Cars stuff, but what bothers me most about Tinkerbell is not just plastic or the character identification (I bought Dario a Muppets lunchbox), but how sexualized and unrealistic the princess/fairy dolls have become. I guess they always were. The princess crap is so much more prevalent than I was a kid, and I do think it sends a damaging message.
Clio LOVES the dolls. She gave the big headed one to Dario and he loves it. Am I too uptight about this?
I don't know if it comes through, but look at how splayed the bigheaded Tink's legs are!