It may not seem like a big deal, having my daughter insist on us buying the toothpaste with Barbie on the label. But it becomes a big deal when she's brushing her teeth and looks at me with her huge, beautiful brown eyes, tears brimming at the edges and asking "why don't I look like that Mom?" "I don't like my skin." That's when I'd like to kick Barbie's ass. Along with the marketing people who begin shaping the images and ideals that children digest.
We work hard to make sure Clara and Lu have positive role models, Clara's pre-school is diverse and the staff comes in multi-colored hues. We seek out doctors, dentists, stores and restaurants that reflect the same look we have in our family—multicultural. But it's never enough to counter the huge opposing force of mainstream white America, in story books, in products, in marketing, in the day to day.
But now I have a new ally in combatting the images given to my daughter to build her world. It's up to Pete and I to be sure our kids grow up valuing the diversity this Country has, themselves included, but Barack Obama just made our jobs a whole lot easier.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
You go mama.... kick Barbie's ass!!!!
Give her a kick for me too.....
I loved her when I was little but was always wishing my hair would look like hers.... that day never came....
Oh Miss Clara is a such a beautiful little lady!!!!!
Post a Comment