November 29, 2002
Barbie is banned from Russia, without love
The doll's outrageous curves are corrupting the minds of children, says President Putin who wants to promote 'wholesome' values instead.An unfeasably busty plastic doll, known for her lavish tastes and docile boyfriend, is an unlikely enemy of the Russian state. But Barbie, along with a host of Western toys, faces the wrath of the Kremlin for contaminating the young minds of Russia.
The Russian Ministry of Education has included Barbie along with a list of other toys and games, such as Pokémon, that face a ban because of the supposedly harmful effects they have on the minds of young children. Barbie, in particular, is under fire because the doll is thought to awaken sexual impulses in the minds of the very young, and encourage consumerism among Russian infants.
" ... a number of criterion have been pinpointed, asking whether the toy 'provokes aggression, or cruelty towards other players,' if it contains 'themes of immorality and violence, or provokes unhealthy interest in sexual problems,' or if it inspires 'disdain or negativity to the racial peculiarities and physical inadequacies' of other people."
Posted at November 29, 2002 08:32 AM | Entertainment
