I saw this on Latina.com and thought I would share. It looks like little Dora the Explorer is growing up and now she has a newer, more mature (like 10 yrs old!) image. Her hair has grown out and her legs are shapely. She is sporting the typical girly look of the day with leggings and ballet slippers that can be seen in stores aimed at little girls like Limited Too or Gap Kids. Nickelodeon does not plan on changing the show, this new image will be used for a line of dolls as part of the Dora Explorer Girls line. Apparently there has been some
backlash from parents over Dora's new look. Some think the look is too grown up and over-sexualized while others think she is cute. She is definitely slimmer and more dainty looking. She is also looks very typically feminine in the color and detailing of her ensemble as opposed to the tomboyish appearance of the the younger version with the backpack and sneakers (which I think would work better for exploring than pearls and flats but that's just me). What do you all think? Is she suitable for tweenage consumption or does she perpetuate society's ideals about female beauty?
Just found your blog, love it! I think the new Dora is adorable and I'm happy they grew her up in order to stay with her core audience. You would think she looked like a bratz doll, the way some of these parents were acting.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Kat! Part of me does think she is super cute then part of me (the part that is studying gender, race, class, ableism, heterosexism, etc in my cross cultural counseling course)wonders if she has lost the "Explorer" aspect of her look in favor of girlishness. Will little girls who looked up to her for her sense of adventure and love of learning now think the way to go is cute accessories? I do not think her look is sexy but is it going in the direction of "I'm getting older so I need to look appealing"? Because Nick is not using her as part of the tv show, all girls will see is this new image with no explanation (I'm assuming besides a blurb on the side of a box). I hope they do something, either in the advertising or the packaging that speaks to her still valuing education and exploration. Since taking that class it's hard not to look at everything,especially in the media, with a critical eye.
ReplyDeleteI dont see any wrong with at all! I actually think it's really cute! When i was ten, I was outside, getting dirty, exploring in the woods behind my house, and all of that, but i still wanted to clean up and look pretty too. Nothing wrong with that. I definitely agree that they should give some explanation for children who are watching, or maybe even grew her up in stages instead of BAM.
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I had my Women and Communication class tonight so I MIGHT be looking too much into this...
ReplyDeleteMEH i like the old Dora. You're right: sneakers and a backpack are ideal for exploring. After all it's Dora the EXPLORER. I'm a little disappointed in the direction that Dora's image is going. She used to be an active girl, on the go, exploring things, fighting off swiper. But her merchanidise focuses on frivulous girl activities. My sister has pretty much every Dora doll there is and most of them focus on activities such as doing Dora's hair and makeup, or Princess Dora in a gown, or Dora the ballet dancer. Let's give Dora back her action. I don't like how Dora is focusing on stereotypical "girl" activities that make her passive. Let's stop focusing on making girls "cute" and make it more acceptable for them to do "boy" stuff.
i just read your comment response to Kat and I'm studying pretty much everything you put in those parenthesis haha.
ReplyDelete"wonders if she has lost the "Explorer" aspect of her look in favor of girlishness"
That's exactly what I was trying to say. We're denying Dora agency.
i think the new dora is cute... i dunno, who are these parents who are complaining? i know, in MY neck of the woods, growing up in jamaica there were 10 years old with a lot more curves than that, lol!
ReplyDeletemy only concern, though, is that they didn't do enough to make her look hispanic. i notice the color of her hair has gotten lighter. she could pass for a brunette white girl. what's up with that?
if you didnt mention that was Dora the Explorer I would have never guessed. they should have kept some aspect of the old Dora..no back pack? whats she gona carry now, a purse?
ReplyDeleteWhy do women/girls have to choose between being an "explorer" and being girly (or in a woman's case, feminine/sexy?) I think of myself as a woman who is muti-tiered. I don't think looking "girly" takes away from my adventurous spirit.
ReplyDelete@Makeup Theory
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY agree! We can be both/and instead of either/or. But I don't think little girls typically get that message. Understanding that concept is one you have to grow into,I think. Most kids are very concrete and unable to think abstractly due to their developmental level and therefore what they see is what they get (or so they think!). I think the new Dora is cute but like I said before I wonder how they plan on maintaining her "Explorer" status as well as allowing her to be a girly tween. From Chanel's comment,it seems like what is already out there caters to just the girly side and not the adventurous side of Dora. I know it's just a doll but then again some people say it's just hair. We all realize how much of an impact these things can make, especially with little girls.
I love reading all the comments guys!
Its am excellent thing for kids to have something safe to take with them to middle school. they already trust Dora, and now she is a big girl just like them. As for the feminist aspect of it, its wise to remember that feminism is rooted in academia to a big degree. It is healthy for girls to care about their image. as long as it is something they do joyfully and not to excess. In todays world a girl can explore fashion and explore the world. It doesn't have to be one or the other. Come to think of it Amelia Airhart was a fashion icon. So maybe it never did. My kid was thrilled to see that Dora was growin with her, and I am a big fan.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid I could climb around in ballet flats or clogs or sandals. Heck I still can. she isn't wearing spiked heels, is she? How can Chanels sister have these dolls? They are not out yet? I think you are confused about that.
ReplyDeleteOverall I like the new look. But if we lost the lipstick and pencil thin eyebrows I'd be more forthcoming. It wouldn't be bad to slap on some high boots even, to make her look more relistsic.
ReplyDeleteThis is Dora the Latin American tween. Not Dora the explorer.