Girl, You Is a Woman Now
So Dora the Explorer is growing up and Tampax is getting real...
Some parents feel betrayed that Dora is going to be a tween, and like many "betrayals" it all comes down to money. If they thought there was a market for a thirty-something or octogenarian Dora, they'd make those too. As I said to someone else, at least the new tween Dora will be solving mysteries with female friends, not traveling around in some van with boys, a talking dog and strange snacks.
I actually felt more betrayed by "Princess" Dora, when they took her from being a spunky, adventuresome, problem-solving girl and morphed her into a long-haired, pouffy gown and tiara-wearing princess. What was that about? (Money.) If Disney was going to continue to parade out princesses, they thought why not make Dora into one too?
As for Tampax, it's interesting that they want to go snarky: Instead of being dressed in a flowy white dress and having a talk on the beach with your mother about the 'time of the month' or 'that not so-fresh feeling,' that wicked witch Mother Nature will show up with a red gift as you lounge on that beach in a white bikini.
Have we really come such a long way...one the one hand, they are keepin' it real about what a nuisance a period can be? On the other hand, if we are going to blame "Mother Nature," then that is still woman-bashing.
(And this isn't their first attempt, check out this Mariachi band period commercial)
2 comments:
J, I don't know why, but I love this post. (Maybe it's the title: it reminds me of "Roots" or something.) Two thoughts: I hate the fact that they're tampering (ha!) with Dora. I don't understand why they can't let a good thing be (other than trying to get their hands farther into the money jar). I suppose they'll have two versions of her (in order to keep the pre-school audience AND acquire the kids who think the original Dora is too baby-ish), like they've done with "Baby" Mickey, "Baby" Scooby, etc. Second: I actually like those tampon commercials! I think they're witty. Yes, the Mother Nature-bashing is not cool, but they hit on the most annoying thing about periods -- they come at the most inconvenient times.
Mirna-Glad you liked it :-)
About the title--These two songs were in my head:
-Bess, You is my Woman Now (Porgy and Bess)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApZ0lqGIF74
-Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon(Neil Diamond)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57q3kq4FP2o
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