Saturday
Mar282009
Dora, You Can't Lead the Way
Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 12:27AM 
It seems a lot of people are talking about this.
I've read articles ranging from the "meh" response to "why did they make her such a tramp?"
I even read an article that claimed that because she's not curvy enough, she's no longer Latina.
The resounding question is "Why is appearance so important?"
Why is appearance so important? I don't know. It just is.
I like the long hair. And the leggings. And the ballet slippers. Does that make me sexist? Demeaning? Not a feminist? I thought feminism was about allowing women the right to make choices. That, to me, includes the choices that may support the existing paradigm of gender specific fashion.
I wonder, just out of curiosity, how many of the women ranting about tween Dora are sporting high heels that have been proven to cause orthopedic damage in the hopes of appearing taller and thinner.
Or wax their eyebrows, a process that consists of ripping the hair above the eyes out by the roots in order to make the eye appear more aesthetically pleasing.
Or refuse to eat bread or rice or anything white because they're afraid of getting fat which will prevent them from being attractive to their current or potential mates.
Or suck in their breath as they squeeze into a pair of Spanxs in the hopes of smoothing over a figure that is a bit too curvy for their own sensibility.
Are they practicing what they preach? Is there an army of sweatpant wearing, hairy eyebrowed, flip flopped moms wandering around this planet that I do not know about? Most of the mothers I know, do some of the above mentioned things. And, dads, don't think you're exempt. You're slaves to the body image gods in your own ways, too.
And that is fiiiiine. (Says the high heel wearing, eyebrow threading, Spanx wearing mom).
But, we may want to rethink where our fingers are pointing when we discuss the perils of raising children with healthy conceptions of their bodies.
How do I feel about tween Dora? I don't care about tween Dora because I've got bigger issues to worry about.
I'm too busy concocting a game plan of how I'm going to compete with tween Dora, Princess Aurora, Cinderella, Ariel and Barbie (wretch, wretch) for the precious title of being my daughter's role model.
Is it old fashioned to be completely appalled at the thought of my daughter taking morality and self development cues from celebrities, be they fictitious or real?
Maybe if I live by the standards to which I hold others accountable, the addition of a slimmer Dora won't be that much of an issue in the first place?
Perhaps it's best, in a situation like this, to sit back and evaluate whether the indignation is consistent with the practices.
I could get comfortable with my choices, too. I look in the mirror and feel pleased when I see well groomed eyebrows. This does not make me oppressed or downtrodden. I do it because it pleases me. And if it doesn't please you, then, for the love of all that is holy, do not do it. It really is that simple.
My ultimate goal? Is to help my daughter understand that when she hears some cartoon tell her that makeovers are more fun than hiking, she should make up her own mind about whether she thinks that's true or not.
And I won't judge her either way.
tagged body image, tween dora
body image, tween dora
Reader Comments (19)
I don't really see it as a "slimmer" Dora, per se. She's just growing up. Still hasn't grown into that planetoid she calls a head yet though.
That thing has it's own gravitational field.
Considering that someone actually had the forethought to create a facebook group called 'Dora the Explorer is an illegal immigrant', I am not surprised by anything that people say. I think she looks cute.
She looks like all the tween girls I see. Part of growing up is getting taller and slimmer (unless you are obese). Let's just be glad she doesn't have boobs. Yet.
But yeah... we need to emphasize that the most important thing is that you can choose and those choices should be OK no matter what, that there is no one standard that suits everyone.
I think the new Dora is pretty but I wish they would have just left the old Dora. So many of my kindergarten/1st grade girls LOVE Dora. They already have "Bratz" dolls and High School Musical for the tween look. Let them just keep and admire Dora as a little girl.
I'm sure your little girl will always see you as a role model, Faiqa!
J.
There's nothing wrong with learning morality from fiction. And eyebrow waxing is the civilized thing to do - has nothing to do with beauty!
I played with Barbies as a kid, and not once did I feel like I should look like them. Never. My mom told me, over and over, that I was the most beautiful girl in the world, and I really believed her. I did! She told me I was perfect in every way, that I was special and no one was just like me anywhere in the world. Hearing that on a consistent basis formed my sense of self and subsequent non issues with my body - not playing with a fricking Barbie doll!
Parents need to stop blaming people who make CARTOONS and TOYS for their kids' low self esteem/ body issues. What is that saying? When you point your finger at someone, there's 3 fingers pointing back at you?! Well, it's true.
The new Dora looks like my 7 year old and many of her friends. Not one of them has body issues or looks slutty. (Well, last year they all loved to dance around in their underwear, but there was no pole involved and no money exchanged. Ha!)
The women who get so offended over this new Dora need to get a frigging life.
I never liked the old Dora, anyway. That show is the LOUDEST, most obnoxious show on tv for kids! Diego was better.
Um, I shouldn't have even gotten started on this - or I should've written my own post, clearly. Haha :)
Sorry.
Very interesting point. I'm one who has taken issue with the new Dora, mostly because she's being marketing to 5-8yos who I believe really need to NOT spend their time thinking about appearance. But you are right; I worry about appearance myself a lot. Hmmm.E
@B.E. Earl: Hahahaha... her head IS freakin' HUGE.
@Robin: "Groups" on Facebook is on my Top 10 Most Annoying Crap Ever Created. Is there a group that hates Facebook groups?
@Finn: Exactly, she's a reflection of what most of the girls in that age group are already wearing, right?
@HoosierGirl: Now, see, I would never buy a Bratz doll for my daughter. Those are just downright promiscuous. :)
@Avitable:I didn't say morality from fiction. I said morality from fictitious celebrities. Don't worry, your sacred comic book morality code remains intact. As for eyebrows, there isn't anything wrong with that, either. Having my eyebrows shaped professionally changed my LIFE.
@Sybil Law: Sorry? I agree completely. DIEGO RULES!! :) We're total sexists, aren't we?
@Cecily: I agree that young girls shouln't be obsessed with their appearance, but I think it's inevitable. It's an age where they're discovering not only their bodies, but how the everyone in the world relates to that concept. I think 8yos probably think about appearance because they watch the adults in their life do it... if anything, tween Dora is symptomatic of something that already exists.
[...] About « Dora, You Can’t Lead the Way [...]
I don't get why they made her a tween. Aren't the kids who watch Dora preschoolers? Wouldn't they rather see a kid closer to their own age? Now she's like the know-it-all big sister.
I think people are giving this doll way too much unnecessary attention. They still make the kid version for those who like the old one. So what if they have an older version for older kids...
Parents are not worried about the tight shorts that show off half the you know what..that girls are now wearing out in public..but they have to create an issue about some doll..
we need to get our priorities right..
Well, color ME out of touch! I didn't even knew Dora grew up? But gosh I really kind of LIKED the tomboy Dora. Mostly because, much to Miss Britt's disgust, I DO go out in public far too often wearing sweatpants and flip flops.
Sigh. Outed again
Did you just call me sexy?!!
Haha
:P
"Is there an army of sweatpant wearing, hairy eyebrowed, flip flopped moms wandering around this planet that I do not know about?"
And I am their leader! Mwahahahahaha. I can play the sexy card when I want to; I can play the cute card when I want to; but really, I'm all about comfort. I was very tempted to email you a picture of what I looked like yesterday in public but I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore.
I did get my eyebrows waxed once and the girl almost ripped my face off. I went to another salon a few months later and the woman refused to wax them because it seems I'm the one woman in the world that doesn't need to wax or pluck or any of that.
I'm not a total slob though - I do shave my legs and armpits and such.
I really don't understand why she's perceived as looking like a tramp. She looks cute and I'd dress my little girl like that.
In fact, I think the original Dora needs some work. SHE's the one who's wearing a shirt that's too short and showing off her belly button.
And she's not Latina because she's not curvy??!! Who in the HELL said that? I'm so tired of us Latinas being portrayed only a certain way on TV!!!
Like you, I too am competing for being the role model to my daughter. And I also have the responsibility of making sure she learns that those images of Latinas and black females on TV are not necessarily the reality. There is more to our cultures.
I think she looks adorable. I was just worried that they wouldn't have dressed age-appropriately but I think she is.
Of course, I did also have Stacey's question. The old Dora seemed like a peer for her target audience. Perhaps they are going for a new target audience?
"Is there an army of sweatpant wearing, hairy eyebrowed, flip flopped moms wandering around this planet that I do not know about?"
IF I HAD KIDS, THERE WOULD BE!
alas, i don't have any kids so i am an army of one sweatpants wearing, huge hairy eyebrow sporting, flip flop wearing, 37 and a half year old woman. and the two women i forced to meet me in their pajamas at cracker barrel for breakfast this morning both wax their eyebrows. (vain bitches! hehe) they both showed up in sweats with flip flops. fun morning!
Bah. I couldn't care less how she looks or dresses. I'll reserve judgment for when we see how she ACTS on the show.
Actions speak louder than words.