Monday, March 23, 2009

The New Dora the Explorer--What do you think about her?

Recently, Mattel (alongside Nickolodeon) announced the creation of a new tween Dora the Explorer who would appeal to older girls, and showed a picture in which the tween Dora, with long flowing hair, appeared to be wearing a super-short mini-dress.

Moms whose kids are big fans of the show--generally elementary school aged girls--reacted with alarm and consternation. "Did Mattel turn Dora the Explorer into a Tramp?" read one headline from The Huffington Post. Terms like "Dora the streetwalker" were thrown around. Outraged Moms complained about the kind of role model a "sexed-up" Dora would be for their girls.

Mattel/Nick were quick to respond, explaining that the new Dora would NOT be replacing the tomboyish, cartoon favorite with the bobbed hair and red shorts, but was being marketed in the form of an interactive doll designed with the older girls, who felt they had outgrown the show, in mind.

Animated image of new tween Dora
Now a newer picture of this interactive tween Dora doll is circulating. And a lot of the clamor has died down.

Why? Although she has traded in her trademark bob for a longer, freer hairstyle and much of that tomboy image is gone, Dora wears not a super short dress but a more modest tunic and leggings, and her face remains free of cosmetics.

Here's the pic Mattel released. What's your take on the new Dora, Cool Moms?

1 comment:

Alesha @ Full Time Mama said...

I think I like it... Finally something modest! But my little girl is only 3, so I'm not sure how she'll react to a grown up Dora. We'll see!

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