Bald and Beautiful

**Halie** · 01-15-2012, 03:03 PM

So I've just been on facebook and a friend of mine has written a status about a campaign for Mattel to make bald barbies for cancer patients. So I googled it and apparently it's true, and Mattel may actually be considering it apparently.

Cancer Barbie: Backers seeking bald doll to help sick kids*come to terms with hair loss - NY Daily News

So what do you guys think about this? I think it would be a good idea if all the proceeds went towards actual cancer research. But knowing Mattel, one of the most well-known toy companies in the world, I highly doubt that would happen. And I think one of the most enjoyable things about having a barbie is playing with her hair, at least it was when I was little. Still, it's a nice sentiment and if it could potentially help people then let them go for it. Your thoughts?

**Hobaginator** · 01-15-2012, 04:31 PM

How about amputee barbies, midget barbies, obese barbies, hare lip barbies, siamese twin barbies, aids barbies... I could go on. My point is that you can't cater to everyone's physiological ideals AND moral ideals in the same sweep without making a mix of both that's ruined. It's like trying to mix health food with dessert -- it just doesn't work. If you want cake, eat cake. If you want to lose weight, eat celery. If you want a doll to dress up get a barbie, if you have cancer and want something to make you feel good about yourself read a book or watch a movie about people overcoming cancer or whatever. People who feel upset just because there are things out there that display character traits that they don't/can't share will have issues with self esteem no matter what's around them because they have an envious nature. It's envy. You can't solve envy.

But it's a nice effort.

**Halie** · 01-15-2012, 04:59 PM

I actually agree with most of what you said. That's why I brought up the point of donating the proceeds to cancer research, that way it seems more beneficial than just "making them feel better". I think a bald barbie is a less disturbing way, for lack of a better word, to get a message across to young children though. For example, when I was a little girl an amputee barbie doll would have been scary to me but a bald doll wouldn't have. Obviously now that I'm older and more mature something like that wouldn't be as scary but to a child it's likely to.

I also think it's important to teach children about things like this, and making a bald barbie seems like it could be an effective way. But obviously it's just my opinion, every child differs and some probably would find it scary.

**Hobaginator** · 01-15-2012, 08:20 PM

Why do we need to teach kids about cancer? They'll find out. It's not like cancer is a pressing issue to a 5 year old, besides that might have some sort unintended traumatizing effect. If you want to donate money to cancer awareness/research, donate. It's not like it will change anything in the next 10 years. I say out of sight out of mind is a perfectly valid way to allow a kid to have a childhood before taking on the mental stress of some more 'adult' issues.

**che** · 01-15-2012, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Hobaginator

Why do we need to teach kids about cancer? They'll find out. It's not like cancer is a pressing issue to a 5 year old, besides that might have some sort unintended traumatizing effect. If you want to donate money to cancer awareness/research, donate. It's not like it will change anything in the next 10 years. I say out of sight out of mind is a perfectly valid way to allow a kid to have a childhood before taking on the mental stress of some more 'adult' issues.

Let me google that for you

**SOLDIER #819** · 01-15-2012, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Hobaginator

How about amputee barbies, midget barbies, obese barbies, hare lip barbies, siamese twin barbies, aids barbies... I could go on.

With the rising cost of plastics, obese barbies would bankrupt Mattel before they even hit the shelves.

**NikkiLinkle** · 01-15-2012, 09:17 PM

It sounds like a nice idea. It could be to try and make young girls with cancer feel 'normal' in a way. But what about young boys? Will they make bald Ken's too? I guess we wouldn't know exactly how a young cancer patient would feel about this. I'm sure it'd put a smile on some of their faces. Which is good. But yeah you would hope that majority of sales would go to cancer related charities.

I do agree, what about all the other disabilities and illnesses in life? Will they make a Barbie for each of those? Probably not. Besides I don't think making a depressed Barbie would benefit anyone.

I guess it's good that Mattel are actually doing something. I don't know how much they do for charities otherwise, but I do agree that if big companies want to donate money, they should just do it, instead of trying to get credit for their good will.

**Unknown Entity** · 01-15-2012, 10:20 PM

I don't know how I feel about this idea. In one hand, it could be good to raise awareness (as if no one is aware of cancer by now), but in the other, it's just wrong and depressing.

If they made a limited batch of them, and did a campaign that lasted a month or so, then I could see it working well. Having them on sale like regular Barbies' could be disturbing, and disrupt sales. I agree with the points made about Barbies' with other ailments too.

It doesn't need to happen like that. Nurse Barbie (if she doesn't already exist) could be a good, or better approach.

**Halie** · 01-18-2012, 04:36 AM

@Hobaginator: Babies can be born with cancer. It's a pressing issue to everyone no matter what age. I remember when I was very, very young I went shopping with my dad and I pointed and laughed at a woman with dwarfism because I had no idea what it was, I just thought she looked funny. Now, even though I was only a little girl I feel really bad for doing that and would prefer to have been taught about stuff like that despite how young I was. So imagine the same type of situation, but instead of somebody with dwarfism it's a little girl with cancer and she has no hair, so other kids make fun of her because they don't know why she's bald, they just think she looks weird and different to them. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be taught about cancer at that age as a way of preventing that type of situation as opposed to being unaware and really hurting somebody's feelings like that regardless of my age. A bald barbie could be a way of doing it.

I think the idea of a limited edition one was good, perhaps only on sale during Cancer Awareness month or something.

**che** · 01-18-2012, 05:06 AM

Originally Posted by Xana

@Hobaginator: Babies can be born with cancer. It's a pressing issue to everyone no matter what age. I remember when I was very, very young I went shopping with my dad and I pointed and laughed at a woman with dwarfism because I had no idea what it was, I just thought she looked funny. Now, even though I was only a little girl I feel really bad for doing that and would prefer to have been taught about stuff like that despite how young I was. So imagine the same type of situation, but instead of somebody with dwarfism it's a little girl with cancer and she has no hair, so other kids make fun of her because they don't know why she's bald, they just think she looks weird and different to them. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be taught about cancer at that age as a way of preventing that type of situation as opposed to being unaware and really hurting somebody's feelings like that regardless of my age. A bald barbie could be a way of doing it.

I think the idea of a limited edition one was good, perhaps only on sale during Cancer Awareness month or something.

I completely agree and support this idea.