From: starbuck@ucrmath.ucr.edu (starbuck)
Newsgroups: alt.feminism,soc.men,soc.women
Subject: Re: Mattel on women
Keywords: Targetting females once again.
Date: 12 Oct 92 15:43:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: galaxy.22869
Followup-To: alt.feminism
Organization: University of California, Riverside

In article <39351@unix.SRI.COM> maslak@unix.SRI.COM (Valerie Maslak) writes:
>In article <1992Oct7.173414.18001@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> bhv@areaplg2.corp.mot.com (Bronis Vidugiris) writes:

>By the way, they both hold it against me that I never let them have
>Barbie dolls.......... ;-)

>Valerie Maslak

I can see why.  I too decided to ban "Barbie" from my daughters life.  I felt 
that Barbie was a bad influence on girls.  That was before I learned something
about girls and their friendships, never mind what the rest of the world
thinks.

It is very hard to keep "Barbie" out of the house.  Relatives, and friends
give "Barbie" as presents.  I mean you would have to take a contract out on 
"Barbie" to keep her out of the house.

What changed my mind was watching my daughter at play with her friends on
the lawn.  They all had their "Barbies" and were doing the "Barbie thing".
There was Meg with one of her dolls joining in.  I saw that "Barbie"
is a social thing with them.  That this social thing would exist with or
without "Barbie".  I saw an error in my thinking and latter that day
took her to K-mart to let her choose a "Barbie" of her choice and a few
outfits.  

I might note the "Barbie" years ended when she was around ten.
She was packing her "Barbies" in boxes.  "Barbies" have "Barbies". I found
that when peolpe don't know what to give a girl-child they give her a
"Barbie" or the "Evil Ken Doll".  When I asked her what she was
doing I was told, "I'm too old for "Barbies", I want to take these to
the Slavation Army for poor and homeless kid".  Seems we had more influence
on her than "Barbie".  I am glad I changed my mind.

As for math and girls (and boys to some extent) I found that around the
fourth grade they begin to hate math.  That is unless they were lucky
enough to have "Dr. Starbuck" around.  I am not a real doctor, I don't write
perscriptions, but ...   Anyway I have always been active in my daughters
life.  More so than most any parent I know including women.  Being active
with your child means that at times you do things with them and their friends.

I play "Mr. Wizard" in my study, or if messy in the garage.  Math has a place
in this play.  I have spent time tudoring neighborhood children in math
and science.  The point is that it is not "Barbie" who fails children it
is all of us.

If you want a better world you must "do something" about it yourself.
"Bitchin about Barbie" will do very, very little.  If you are a single
person and feel strongly about this type of thing do "something with
children".  Schools have love people to volenteer to be tutors, libraries
have "teach children to read" programs, and their are many youth and church
groups that need help.  If you have children of your own give up some time
for them.  Encourage others to do the same.

I know, I know my suggestions are so mundane.  It's not like reading books
and studies and then bithchin with other adults about the "problem".  It not 
as much fun as rasing hell but it will get the job done.  No law will ever
be anywhere as effective as you yourself can be.  You must be personally
involved. You might make the studies or boods you were going to read obsolete.

starbuck