The Simpsons are Cool but Barbie's a Minger - Professor Agnes Nairn

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The types of mutilation are varied and creative and range from removing the hair to
decapitation, burning, breaking and microwaving. These selected quotes illustrate:
Girl 1 Our friend does that with Barbies.
Girl 2 Yeah, she microwaves them.
Interviewer She microwaves them? Oh gosh.
Girl 1 Did she parachute one out of the house?
Girl 2 Yeah, she parachuted one of the house and it landed in the next-door
neighbours’ garden.
Interviewer What about Barbie?
All Children (loud and in unison) Boo!
Year 3, Private School, Mixed Group
Boy 1 The one thing I like about Barbie is that they’re quite good at destroying.
My sister had one a very, very long time ago and I did like putting soap
over them and burning them and breaking them
Boy 2 (with actions) You grab their hair and pull their heads off
Girl My sister cut all of her hair off cause I used to have them and she cut all
of its hair off and it was bald
Year 3, State School, Mixed Group
The reasons for this hatred and violence were explored with the groups. A variety
explanations emerged elucidating the rich symbolic potential of Barbie. She is hated
because she is babyish, she is hated because she is unfashionable, she is hated because she is
plastic, she is hated because she has multiple selves and she is hated because she is a
feminine icon. These evaluations of Barbie and discussed are illustrated in the following
sections.