Beat on the Bratz

"Baby girls with a passion for fashion!"\nSuch is the slogan for Bratz Babyz, a very progressive and educational toy targeting young girls by MGA Entertainment. \nExcept, that's an enormous lie.\nThe dolls don heavy eyeliner, bright pink lipstick, long hair (it's as long as their entire body ... ?) and midriff-bearing tops. And, for Pete's sake, they look tanned. They are supposed to be 2 years old. \nYeah, gross.\n"Look sexy." From early on in recent years, little girls have received this message loud and clear. From the toys created for them. From the TV shows they watch. From the clothes produced for them.\nBut another very contradictory message persists as well: Don't talk about sex, and certainly don't engage in such activities. Then, of course, you'd be a big, fat slut.\nHistory tells us women's sexuality has been regulated across the world since the beginning of time. When Latin American countries were being colonized in the 16th century, ideas about "purity of blood" were essential for a family's honor. Men largely had the freedom to cheat on their wives without persecution; women were responsible for maintaining honor. \nIn the Victorian era, women were called upon to be beacons of morality, to uphold ideas about sexual purity -- and to influence men to do so, as well.\nAs late as the 1970s, Puerto Rico had one of the highest rates of women's sterilization in the world. Most of the surgeries were conducted between the 1930s and 1960s, when the country underwent a massive campaign to control a "population problem." Many of the women sterilized weren't informed of the consequences of the procedure. In some cases, the government had women's husbands sign the papers. \nAnd constraining ideas about women's sexuality perpetuate. A recent qualitative study from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine indicated that, while young women (in many countries, including South Africa and Sweden) are aware of the necessity of condom use and other sexual protective practices, they are wary of carrying condoms because of what it would imply for their reputation.\nThey could be known as sluts.\nI don't support irresponsible sex or promiscuity, but I do support one's enjoyment of her or his own sexuality without being chastised, judged and persecuted or ... sterilized. \nWhat's at stake for women and men in sex is the same.\nIt is true that women have the whole "potential to have a human growing in her uterus" thing to think about. But it took equally a man and his sexuality to create such a thing.\nBasically, it takes productive discussion and open minds to challenge culturally constructed ideas about gender and sexuality. We must take responsibility for our actions and our bodies, unlearn and deconstruct limiting ideas, and, if you're bold enough, talk to your friend about what they mean the next time they call someone a "ho-bag."\nAnd passing value judgment should always be avoided. \nUnless it is upon those Bratz dolls. They are so creepy!