A Burka Barbie for Oppressed Muslim Girls Everywhere
A Burka is a head to toe costume worn by some traditionally devout Muslim women designed to conceal every part of their bodies, expect for the eyes. In the months after 9/11, during the liberation of Afghanistan from the Taliban, the Burka was seen by many in the West as a symbol of Muslim oppression of women. Women in Afghanistan were forced to wear Burkas, which tended to make navigation unreliable. A number of women in Afghanistan before the liberation were killed in automobile accidents as the Burkas they were forced to wear restricted their vision.
Even many Muslims believe that the Burka is taking Islam's admonishment to women to dress modestly to extremes. The hajab head scarf, along with modest clothing, is seen by most Muslim women as sufficient. The Burka Barbie seems to be a misguided attempt by Westerners to be "culturally sensitive" by catering to the most extreme forms of the Muslim faith.
Of course there is the suggestion, apparently made by westerners, that the Burka Barbie would make Barbies accessible to girls living in strict Muslim countries. The Burka Barbie certainly addresses the other criticism that Barbie has gotten over the years; that the large breasts and the willow waist of the Barbies played heck on little girls' self image. With the Burka covering, the impossibly slender, large busted Barbie will no longer be a problem.
Of course one can play with the meme a little bit. For the Burka Barbie to work, Ken is going to need a makeover. Ken will have to become Khalid and have a traditional beard and turban and take to ordering Barbie around, forcing her to remain in bondage. Ken/Khalid would even sport an AK 47 typical of a member of the Taliban.
And just to complete the meme, GI Joe can show up, shoot Ken/Khalid, liberate Barbie, and allow her to get an education and go to work. That would be an unintended version of playing dolls that Burka Barbie might cause.
Source: It's Barbie in a burkha: World-famous doll gets a makeover to go under the hammer for 50th anniversary, Daily Mail, November 21st, 2009
Published by Mark Whittington
Mark R. Whittington is a writer residing in Houston, Texas. He is the author of The Last Moonwalker, Children of Apollo, Dark Sanction, and Nocturne. He has written numerous articles, some for the Washington... View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentI would like a burka doll!
I doubt any muslim woman could get the doll, though, because their religion bans having representations of humans.
This was a very interesting article ;)
haha I love adding the other dolls! (=