Disabled dolls and animated tweens: Is it wrong?

On Time Magazine's website, a thought to be light-hearted story of a woman, by the name of Mary Ann Perry, trying to buy the perfect doll for her daughter, turns out to be an issue. The doll bought was a Down Syndrome model; the condition Perry's daughter has. It was bought out of love to stray from the curvy and flamboyant Barbie dolls of today.

The sale of disability dolls are becoming popular, however some think they rather define people and not provoking the ideal of equality. And now with the change of Dora the Explorer, it has become the battle of the parents.

Girls' role models are leading a trail beyond the candy and curvy plastic parts: Truth. I find the disability dolls very cute and actually quite caring. The dolls are not pigeonholing people to where they say, "Well you're different so you might as well play with this." It's saying who you are is not to be ashamed of and difference is a good thing. Why must we keep playing the twisting of the equal card? We are equal beings as no one is better than another, but we share different traits and purposes to the world. The dolls are only comforting girls who feel they must have the Bratz outrageous lips and Barbie pointy bosoms to become loved and considered beautiful. Society has said enough with what beauty is and the dolls are assuring that true beauty starts with loving yourself.

As for Dora and her new tween look, I feel parents are a little too worried as well. Yes, she may have become older without her signature hair and orange and purple outfit, but she doesn't stay young forever. Perhaps it may have been too soon, but when is a child going to grow up? Parents are constantly trying to control the growth of their children in fear of losing their sweety-pies. Dora's age difference is proving that parents mustn't fear and pretend children are never going to someday go off into the world and venture themselves. She's no different and will forever be the same little girl who asks a bunch of questions when all she has to do is turn around. I feel that is the same with children growing up. Aging and blossoming into stronger people is a natural process as well as parents fearing it. Dora will certainly show children that growing up is a as fun as being little.

To wrap these two situations up-why shed actuality with tons of sugar? Beauty is beyond looks and age is an uncontrollable natural way of life. You can't hide everything when you know for certain it'll come out sooner or later. And now a cheap way to end my discussion, but relevant towards our time: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."