A new tattooed Barbie doll has been criticised by parents’ groups as "overly-sexualised and inappropriate." The rock chick Barbie doll comes with dyed pink hair with her chest and neck covered in tattoos, and a small dog in a cactus suit called Bastardino.Although Barbie has been criticised frequently throughout its 52-year history for setting a bad example for young girls with her unrealistic body shape and ditsy character, none of her incarnations seem to have caused so much fuss as her latest avatar.
Manufacturers, Mattel has described the doll as a "funky fashionista" who is "ready for fun in fashion-forward form", and is already sold out in the US until next month.Parents and commentators across America have criticised the image it portrays to children, with Professor Joel Bakan, the author of ‘Childhood Under Siege’, describing it as a "cynical exercise"."This is a calculated attempt to play on young girls’ natural desire to appear older," the Telegraph quoted the professor as saying."This is something to be resisted."The 50 dollar doll was created with tokidoki, a Los Angeles-based fashion label, and carries a bag bearing the company’s logo."It also encourages girls to become walking billboards," Prof Bakan added."For those who look to Barbie as a role model for strong, empowered girls, the tokidoki doll is overly-sexualised and inappropriate" Holly Lebowitz Rossi, a writer for parents.com said.