Best Summer Movies, Concerns Over The Partnership Between Barbie And The Girl Scouts, Wisconsin Life: Iconic Images Of Wisconsin

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Veronica Rueckert and Rob Ferrett talk to a critic of the new partnership between the Girl Scouts and Mattel’s Barbie, talk about the best summer movies of all time, and ask you what you think are the most iconic images of Wisconsin.

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  • Partnership Between Girl Scouts, Barbie Raises Concerns

    A brand-new, Girl Scout-themed Barbie arrived in stores last week, sparking strong opinions for and against. While supporters of the move say the famed doll represents a message of empowerment for girls, critics contend Barbie is a bad role model for young people.

    The doll, called “Barbie Loves Girl Scouts,” was a result of new partnership between Mattel and the Girl Scouts of America. As part of the partnership, the Girl Scouts are offering their first first-ever patch* from a corporate sponsor: the “Be Anything, Do Everything” patch.

    Officials with the Girl Scouts said the partnership promotes diverse career opportunities for girls, but critics say Barbie isn’t right — bringing age-inappropriate sexualization and corporate branding to young people. The new doll wears a pink and green uniform, holds a bag with phrases like “goal setting” and “money management” printed on it and wears high-heeled hiking boots.

    Susan Linn, director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, which has been opposing the Mattel-Girl Scouts partnership, said she doesn’t think it’s a good fit.

    “The Girl Scouts are about health for girls and leadership,” she said. “Barbie is about an impossible body image, fashion and consumption.”

    “It’s hard to see how anyone can go hiking in heels,” she said.

    Linn said she doesn’t believe Girl Scout leaders should welcome commercialization into the organization.

    “The Girl Scouts shouldn’t be advertising anything and they should not be turning their youngest Scouts into walking advertisements for anything. This partnership is an exploitation,” she said.

    Lee Snodgrass, the communications director of Girls Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, said that she thinks Barbie was a logical choice for the partnership.

    “Girls play with dolls, girls play with Barbie and we want to be where the girls are so we can expose them to the great opportunities of becoming part of Girl Scouts,” Snodgrass said.

    In response to the criticism, Snodgrass said that girls look to actual women as role models and not to a doll.

    “We do acknowledge that this Barbie is not for all families,” she said. “Personifying Barbie and suggesting she’s a role model give it far more influence that it really is. She’s a tool for imaginative play.”

    In regards to the doll’s high-heeled hiking boots, Snodgrass said that aside from the heels, Barbie is given appropriate gear to be able to go out into the wilderness.

    While the new Barbie doll isn’t yet available in the shop at her chapter, Snodgrass said, “There are a lot of families who are excited about it.”

    *CORRECTION: The original version of this article incorrectly described the Barbie patch as a “badge,” which is incorrect. According to Snodgrass, “A patch is a souvenir to remember an event or an activity. A badge is earned through a series of specific steps and activities designed to teach and build skills and follows the established components of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.” WPR regrets this error.

    Snodgrass added that while the Barbie patch is the first nationally sponsored patch, local Girl Scouts councils have businesses and organizations that create patches to commemorate and activity the girls did in their community.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Susan Linn Guest

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