CBS doesn't get it either! But then again Viacom owns CBS.

Just read the comments on our petition -- almost 8000 right now -- of moms, dads, and kids who signed our petition: Let's Go! No Makeover for Dora! and you'll know why we're furious at that awful Early Show coverage of the No Makeover for Dora campaign. Sharon was interviewed for 15 minutes last night and told CBS's the Early Show why we don't want a makeover -- she gave all the points and more contained in the blogs below. But they edited out or didn't use all but one phrase -- "Dora's an alternative", and did not include the points we make about LATINA dolls and the blonde/blue-eyed makeover she can get online, nor about stereotypes of femininity. Instead, we get an anchor who looks like EVERYanchor (sorry to say, but don't know her name) who is really an apologist for Nick and Mattel, and their parent company Viacom. She said "This is the Dora that Daniella (her daughter) plays with" and holds up a pig-tailed, long-haired, pinkified Dora in a pretty dress, a far cry from Dora the Explorer. She just doesn't get it that Dora is an EXPLORER. Then again, her daughter isn't a fan of the show. Her daughter plays with some every-doll version of Dora that already isn't true to what she is and means. But the clincher was her final lines -- "Every girl is more fashion conscious as she grows up and loses the baby fat." Yes, that's what Viacom, Nick, and Mattel want you to think -- that EVERYgirl conforms to their stereotypes of what a girl should be. Accessorized, rather than equipped. Pink rather than dressed in bold colors. In the kitchen or mall, rather than in the jungle. Slim rather than normal -- (by the way, why are people calling Dora chubby??????). I don't believe that even EVERYgirl on the upper West side of NYC where this anchor quite possible lives gets more fashion conscious and slim. Ugh. After having done a few of these shows in the past, my conclusion is that this anchor didn't read the petition, didn't read the articles, didn't listen to the things I said on the taping last night or that Lyn or Hardy Girls Healthy Women director Megan have been saying in other articles, and merely responded in a knee jerk way to represent EVERYmom -- as if she had the right. We love certain producers at the Early Show -- and they must be fuming! P.S. If you read the article at CBS then please leave a comment below... and realize that I DIDN'T, as they say I did, say anything about keeping Dora "wholesome"...what a bunch of cr*p.

Comments

[Carol Smith]

Mattel is making a big mistake by buying (and selling) the line that 8-10 year old girls want to shop and dress up.
They want to learn about the world, they want to be themselves and be with their friends. They enjoy sports and adventure - they are much more complex than Mattel gives them credit for.

[missy711@verizon.net]

I don't think all the negative attention teenage dora is getting is fair. My daughter is 7 years old and likes to watch shows like hannah montana and i carly ( even though i discourage it!) I feel that a teenage dora would give kids something to watch. She is a character that is respectful and polite, and this is an example i would like my child to follow. My child agrees that watching a " big dora" would be " cool", please take into consideration all the moms of 7 year olds who dislike hannah montana, ECT, and would like a good example to follow

[shaina]

To missy711,
I agree that there is a lack of positive role models for tweens on tv. The problem I am having with "Tween Dora" is that three and four year olds have come to love her and they WILL follow her into this change. I don't think that it is healthy to encourage preschoolers to be concerned with clothes, hair, make up, etc. While Tween Dora could possibly be a great role model for your seven year old, the whole idea is obviously geared at widening Dora's spere of influence...to make more MONEY. Matel doesn't care about your seven year old. If they did, they would create wholesome SMART dolls instead of ditsy Barbies, BRATS, etc.

[B]

I just tried to view the CBS Early Show video and it seems to be offline. I could view all the other videos posted, but not that one. Hmmm...

[Reyna]

I think that the new dora is a bad idea because my seven year old daughter loves dora,watches the show,and gets what she wants of dora.My daughter is disabled and we show the new image of dora and she absolutley dislikes her,but when we show old dora she smiles and gets so happy.Putting an new dora would show older kids that it's all about growing up but what about the younger kids?

[Jennifer]

You do have to admit ballet flats are better than high heels.

[Adrian Wolf]

I think the lesson I've learned in all this is don't let kids watch TV unless it's a tape you've personally put together yourself. I hope the link below can be of some use to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kA-ATHZ0kI

[Jennifer]

Then again, the high heels might have hurt poor Dora's feet, like pantyhose.