Post: Don't Cha Wish that Hasbro Wouldn't Make These Toys:
Pussycat Dolls To Become...Acutal Dolls
Don't Cha Wish that Hasbro Wouldn't Make These Toys:
Pussycat Dolls To Become...Acutal Dolls
Hasbro toys announced a few weeks ago that it had inked a deal to turn the six-piece burlesque musical act Pussycat Dolls into a line of toys...marketed at 6 to 9 year old girls.
Yes, these are the same Pussycat Dolls that perform in lingerie and made a name for themselves with the lyrics "Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me/Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me." (You can read our review of their album here.)
The decision to create Pussycat Dolls dolls, explained Hasbro's general manager for marketing Sharon John, was based entirely on money. From an article in the New York Times:
"Most of the time, the toy item for Britney Spears, 'N Sync, is post the success of the act, way down the line. It's really the last thing they think of. We looked at it as, let's not wait for the Pussycat Dolls to become big hits and we take the tail end of the value chain."
None of this has sat very well with the Campaign for a Commerical Free Childhood, which has launched a letter writing campaign asking Hasbro to stop production of the toys.
"It’s irresponsible for Hasbro to target little girls with such blatantly eroticized dolls,” said Dr. Susan Linn, a co-founder of CCFC. "They’re not thinking about what’s good for children. Instead, they’re ratcheting up the raunch to compete in a market saturated with sexualized toys, clothing, and media targeted at kids.”
For their part, though, the Pussycat Dolls insist they are fine role models for children. From an article in the San Jose Mercury News:
"When little girls can look up to you, you know you're doing something right,'' said Ashley Roberts, a member of the group. "We might be sexy, but we always treat ourselves very classy and we never say (anything) raunchy or dress raunchy or dress nasty.''
Really? Do you get the feeling Roberts doesn't pay very close attention to her own group's lyrics?
There are 1 replies to this post
Date: May 22, 2006
At least the dolls are wearing a few more clothes than the real life people. Couldn't Hasbro have at least PRETENDED they were going to market these to older kids. Six to nine? You've got to be kidding me!