I think she is talking about children using their imaginations. Obviously every girl can't be a princess but every girl can pretend. =D Barbie Dolls inspire little girls to dream and use their imaginations.
I think if little girls see Barbie as having all these jobs like a doctor, or an airline pilot, or what have you, and that in turn motivates them to be aspire to a the same, then I think that's a good thing. It is the same for architects and engineers that start out with playing with LEGOs and Lincoln Logs.
Did Meridith insert an advertisement for Mattel? Yes. But it's a Disney parade and it's near Christmas. The whole thing is a marketing ploy.
I don't think it's really fair to the profession of journalism to include Meredith as one of them, especially not during a stint as a parade host. The parade isn't news; it's just entertainment and heavily sponsored entertainment at that. Even in her day-to-day stuff, calling her a journalist would be generous. Sure, what she said was dumb, but why should we care in this instance?
It sounded to me like she was reading it off a card -- which they may have done for every float. Plus, I don't think I understand the argument of the video. Is it (generally speaking) that calling Barbie inspirational violates journalistic ethics? But if they were reading a card off for every float, it doesn't really seem like favoritism or anything. Plus, parades are also designed with kids in mind. And kids like Barbies. Whoop-de-doo, this video is illogical, and/or carries next to no weight.
Hmmm. Honestly, this doesn't bother me. It may be indicative of a larger failure within our culture to adequately encourage girls to excel and dream big - but as for the actual statement itself - it just seems like something that got said without thinking too much.
I think it did inspire little girls do something but the aspect would the little girl, if you talk about economic wise, no, Barbie would be devil mistress if she was the queen of greed, and envy, and that was her trying to put in a little advertisment.It obviously she was getting paid by saying that and my answer is a little bit Yes it is fair because boys play with army guys even in real life army have psyche issues so yes and no for some journalist for saying she should doing her job..
I don't know about any other women, but I'm inspired to be a princess... I definitely want to inherit a genetic line and be pampered and taken care of with all the advantages and opportunities that being a princess affords based purely upon lineage.
I don't know how I'll BECOME one though... it should be easier to become President...
Regardless of lead-ins, lead-outs & segues among the content - entertainment or news - it's really all about the advertisers' contract(s) with the broadcaster(s): to deliver so many sets of emotionally-(NOT-intellectually-)engaged eyes and ears for a given number of dollars.
In the political realm, the deal includes reflecting corporate political values... which, in the aggregate, tends to be more conservative than liberal.
You know what?Get a life,if all you can say is trashy things about barbie trying to encourage girls to grow up to be whatever they wanna be,then go to Pre-school,AND LEARN THAT.When I was a girl,I had a vet barbie,here i am 9 years later still wanting to be a vet.Every little girl I know from the age of 2-10 wanted to be a pricess because of barbie,just ask my cousin,all those brabie vids on my favorites menu are hers,and if you're that stupid not to take a second to ask your daughter,SCREW YOU!
Well. Since it IS just a doll, ofcourse you can do whatever you want. Most of the little girls I know pretend to be their barbie dolls, so it could really depend on the child if the doll is a good roll model.
what about boys...barbie may be for girls but alot of boys play with her too....i think at the age of 3 any girl can aspire to be a princess but the term "girls of all ages" worries me...i am sure a 13 year olf girl wouldnt want to be a princess.....
LiberalViewer, I think that the Barbie you're thinking of is the Barbie of yesteryear and not the current line of dolls. As sort of a stroll down memory lane, I went to a toy store and was surprised and delighted to see Astronaut Barbie, President Barbie, etc. There are still dolls that emphasize fashion, but as a college-educated feminist I felt that the products were leaps and bounds past what I had only 15 or so years ago. And besides, it's just plain fun to pretend to be a princess. :)
Get a life dude! What is she suppose to say "Here comes that WHORE SLUT Barbie. Little girls watching, don't waste your time playing with Barbies when you could be online analyzing what comments are made about Thanksgiving day parade floats."
D on't worry, this spam whore's account will be deleted soon. YouTube is automatically making his messages SPAM which means that 1) No one gets to read it so he's wasting his time; 2) the account will automatically close after a certain number of spams.
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Actually, in some senses it does. If you've ever seen the barbie movies you would understand they are about finding strengthand courage inside yourself to do the things that are hard. They teach girls to never give up, and to believe in their dreams.
All in all, I don't think barbie is a bad role model at all
come on girls, can be anything they wanna be, i mean barbie is juat a doll, yet a lot of young girls see her as a role modle, but its how she's dressed, her unrealistic popritions, which become draw back, so yes she is a role modle, but at the same time she is steping stone for young girls to see/relate them selfs to, untill they mature and fimd new role modles.
Barbie is a better role model than Hilary Clinton. Would Barbie stay with Ken if she caught Ken banging an intern?
Seriously, the Barbie criticism is just a dodge used to deflect bad parenting. Corporations like Hasbro are easy targets for that kind of finger-pointing.
I think people are taking barbie's effect on young girls too seriously. I used to play with barbies as a kid and I'd like to think I turned out just fine. I don't want to be a princess or a trophy wife or anything. :)
They rip Mr Rogers for saying that everyone is unique and special (based on pretty standard Christian beliefs, may I add), then say that everyone should aspire to marry aristocracy.
The reason why it sounded like a script is because it WAS scripted. Watch any parade on television and the "hosts" will do the same for every float, balloon and the like. When they reach the view of the main camera, the hosts are supposed to read a short synopsis of what the presentation represents. That's just how these events are run.
It wasn't Viera conveying an opinion. She was simply doing her job. Hell, listen to it again. Does that really sound natural to you?
To appoint Barbie as a role model for young girls is just as ludicrous as having Ronald McDonald as a mascot for a children's health care center. As a matter of fact, here in Philadelphia there is such a place as The Ronald McDonald House in St. Christopher's Childrens hospital.....BELIEVE IT......OR NOT.
i believe it. in houston tx thear is a place called The Ronald McDonald House. its a place where familys of kids with realy crappy diseases , i mean realy heavy shit can go and stay while thay seek treatments. churches and other orgenizations volentear thear all the time. thay make dinner for the families or have shows for the kids..that kind of stuff. some guy finally got his eagle scout badge for putting together a dinner.
Is this what you consider an intelligent response? In the time you took to write this you could have educated and empowered yourself by reading something worthwhile. You make a compelling argument for abortion.
one, you should whipe the sand out of your vage.i don't think thats healty at all.
two, you where the first to set the bar low."thay drew first blood, not me!!!"...i love that movie.
now that the big words are coming into playlets see.
what kind of hypocritical selfriches pumpas blow hard are you? i'm amazed how easy it comes for you to notify others of thear ignorence. when in the same statment you show your oun, cupled with sentiments of grandeur....for shame.
i think its run mostly by donations and volentear work. i don't know if the the mcdonald corperation is to blame, or the pharmesudical cumpanies, or the medical system, or pres bush....or bin laden, all i know is that when my sister was sick my mother got a mother's day present.
Barbieis my role model!!! LOL!!! Just kidding, it really did sound like a commercial for Barbie dolls! Not many girls even play with Barbie dolls anymore in this era.
Barbieis my role model!!! LOL!!! Just kidding, it really did sound like a commercial for Barbie dolls! Not many girls even play with Barbie dolls anymore in this era.
Seriously people. There is nothing wrong with Barbie. It gives girls something with which to act out their own fantasies. And if you knew anything Darsises, you would know that Barbie's measurements aren't as extreme as they used to be. In 97 the measurments were redone to be more realistic. And, furthermore if a woman has a 36" chest and a 23" waist there is noting wrong with that, more power to her.
American TV as a whole in the last year or so has gotten so bad with product placement that in some cases the story lines are written around the product. For example the Nissan car in Heroes 2, or in the series life one episode is 10 minutes of cute girl playing "Prince of Persia" to help find a murderer.
Well, as for girls being inspired that they can become princesses, I am just flabberghasted. Unless you are born a princess (not common in America), then you have to marry a prince (again, not common in America) . . . so barbie is inspiring girls to marry foreign men for their title? I am unclear about how this is inspirational. I think Meredith Viera is confused.
Actually, quite a number of American girls are born "princesses". This is probably why my dating history is mostly with foreign born women. =0
And to answer LV's question, no, Barbie is not a role model. Also, nice non sequitur- Doctor, President, princess? Who would want to aspire to be a princess?
Mattel spends eighteen times more to advertise the Barbie Doll than it pays its workers to make it. Mattel has legal protections for Barbie. But when you say to Mattel, "Can't we have similar laws to protect the rights of the sixteen-year-old girl in China who made this toy?" they say, "No, that would be an impediment to free trade."
She should not be advertising like that, considering so many little girls are glued to the screen. While the main motive of advertising is to attract the attention of a certain group, Barbie is not a role model to say the least.
Good catch. But I'm a little surprised that Viera had so little consciousness about what she was doing. She's not a dummy and not that bad as main stream morning show hosts go. Maybe she was getting paid for that little endorsement but clearly she was reading from a script, like most of the stuff that's on TV. I don't think that was extemporaneous.
I would say that, after much consideration, I think that Viera's "sneak advert" affects her reputation as a journalist..... umm, this is a tough one.... adversely! She has at this moment, as a journalist, the classinessn of a street whore. lol.
I've always respected you for you insight and thanks for putting up these clips. I'm curious, do you see yourself as an "optimist"? (I'm a cynicical optimist.) If so, how likely do you think effective do you think these clips are in making people open up their eye/use reason?
Thanks for commenting. In line w/ what you said, do think people might be more inclined to use reason after watching something eye opening? If so, how likely?
As for "cynical optimist", I came across it online. It means someone who works for and want to change the future for everyone, but has little hope of his efforts will produce the desired outcome.
I wonder if it will help to think of optimism on a larger timescale? While it is undoubtedly true that the efforts of LV and others here will make little perceptible difference in the short term, and thus might be thought cynical, if you think of their work as planting seeds, perhaps there is a point to it, and one need not be cynical about the chance of eventual success.
A small force exerted over a long time can produce large results.
She was obviously reading copy provided to her by Mattel. This was product placement. No, this does not nothing to enhance her reputation as a journalist.
One thing I will say in defense of Barbie is that she was a bold step forward for feminism when she was introduced. She was the first doll for girls that *wasn't* a mommy-simulator. At the time the idea of a female figure who had cars and clothes and wasn't the image of "mom in the kitchen" was a great image for young girls, but we've gone beyond that. We need an honest image of a woman who has more important things on her mind than the next outfit.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
ha ha ha, dude, you make me laugh so much
first off, i realllllly can't stress enough how little i care.
i think it's funny that you try to insight people with your little pearls of wisdom, yet when i point out something like your editing, which i didn't go into (and won't) because i believe it to be completely self evident why it sucks.
but at any rate. i've enjoyed laughing at your ignorant videos and inane comments. but i really am out of time to waste.
Again, namecalling isn't much of an argument. Labeling things "stupid," "ignorant," or "inane" is meaningless when u provide nothing substantive to back it up. And, it would not be a waste of time for u to seriously consider why you need to pretend that your opinions are universally shared or, in the alternative, that everyone who disagrees with you is "stupid." Again, I hope that helps and
You haven't explained what is wrong with my "editing skills" other than your inexplicable complaint that they fail to release you from your cardboard box nor have you addressed, again, your need to pretend that your opinions are universally shared or, in the alternative, that everyone who disagrees with you is "stupid." You might want to really think about that last part. Again, I hope that helps and
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
HA HA HA
i really don't care. if it hadn't been in my email that you replied to my comment, i probably would have forgotten all about you and your little videos.
have fun making stupid videos for stupid people~!!
Engaging in namecalling doesn't really help the lack of substance I pointed out in your criticisms nor does it explain why you felt the need to pretend your opinions are universally held. And, how can you tell the people who disagree with you are "stupid" when you make no substantive points?
To me, it seems like almost all news programs have decided that "fluff" makes better news than Congress voting to take away our rights or anything else of substance.
I think it is fair to say that when Katie Couric took over CBS nightly news, we entered into an era of entertainment news, which works to entertain and pushes you to believe a set of narrow facts.
This in conjunction with the quid-pro quo relationship politicians have established with major media (where interviews are given if you agree to play nice, and not ask the 'hard' questions) have destroyed the system of journalism that gives the public a right to know.
On the contrary I have been paying attention. Perhaps I should have been more clear.
-- When Katie Couric took over CBS nightly news, we entered into an era where the Networks stoped caring about looking like they are being diligent in thier reporting, and the AMERICAN public was to impotent to do anything about it.
We'll just have to disagree. It's not that I'm a Couric fan, but I see her as being different from the staus quo only in being a woman, not significantly in the content or style of her news reporting.
The criticisms you've posted on several of my videos aren't very substantive, seeming to be more directed at me than the videos, really. Mainly u just state your opinions, and that's fine, but why do you need to pretend your opinions are universally held (e.g. claiming "no one wants to hear you")?
Many people like my videos. Some don't. If u don't, then don't watch my videos. I hope that helps. And,
I don't believe it is beneficial for young girls to be inspired by a fictional toy company character that promotes the kind of air-brushed, anorexic "beauty" that is glorified in this country. It actually causes more self loathing and low esteem for girls/women who do not fit the profile. It's disgusting and it's detrimental.
The Today Show overall is a joke. This does not surprise me at all. Two years ago the M&M float actually ran into and injured people attending the parade in NY. This is true - The Today Show broadcast M&M float footage from the year before and did not do a report on the incident because Mars/M&M was a sponsor.
Television is Media. Media says what it wants. Media pays individuals to say what Media wants. I just hope the journalist got paid by Mattel for the ad. Also: Barbie is too stupid to be a doctor.
Have any of you actually played with Barbie as a child? Listen, saying that Barbie makes girls want to be thin (I'm 290lbs Barbie had no affect on me, obviously) is the same as saying video games encourage kids to be violent. IT'S THE PARENTS WHO HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE! As for Viera I bet each float had a blurb the announcers were supposed to read that was written by the sponsors of the floats, and I never really thought of her as a journalist to begin with.
"IT'S THE PARENTS WHO HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE!" Hmmm, didn't that go out when the first Clinton admin ruled? And hasn't it been decreed by the deciders that all influences will be determined by the villiage and not the parents?
"Deciders?" Who exactly do you mean? My parents have worked in mental health for a good thirty years each and while sometimes a child is not influenced by they're family (exp. a case were a molested child does not become a molester) the vast majority of self esteem issues are due to parents not raising their child(ren) with love and understanding (like loving them even if they are fat and/or ugly).
"Deciders? Who exactly do you mean?" Are you saying that you don't understand that the Parental role is now viewed as a mere legal responsibility, that as such, ensures all economic transactions are made on behalf the offspring until it reaches full consumerhood?
You sound like the situation is that of a single child in a room, with the parent on one side and the tv adverts on the other trying to influence the child. This is a fair "struggle" for influence. Ideally, you are right, and I wish it were always that way. Yet look at the reality: that advert was shown to hundreds of thousands of children (it happens everyday). Are situations the same for every child?
Think back for a moment to when you were a kid...you remember your birthdays, your friends, your parents scolding you or having dinner with them, right? How many of your memories are about commercials? True, the situations are not the same for every child but do you really believe a commercial holds more influence? Yes, ads may be everywhere but a parent can teach a child to discern between them and other influences, mine did.
Why do you think the advertisement industry is a billion dollar industry? It's not to make forgetable ads. How well you remember something has nothing to do whether it influences you or not. There's plenty of good material on this I could recommend. For now, watch on YouTube watch?v=ZyQjr1YL0zg - a short, entertaining clip.
barbie is a lame-ass role model. all it teaches is to be obsessed with self-image. it helps craft the visual society we live in today. all little girls see is advertising of unrealistic body shapes and products and shit like that. barbie doesn't inspire to become a doctor. she inspires to look good in scrubs.
i guess at the point you realise you're not a journalist, but a corporate sponsored program tied to your advertizers, you might conclude that the reality of 'anything you want be' was more based (baised) on your looks...and if the Barbie icon is bad, what might it say about Katie and society? FairyTales are supposed to have happy endings...woops.
She is just doing her job. Obviously covering a parade is not real journalism. And it's models, not Barbie that make girls feel bad about their bodies. I had lots of Barbies, and it never occured to me that I'd want to emulate the form of a plastic doll. What about Bratz and their giant heads? Are we worried girls might start wanting big heads? It's stupid. They're just dolls. And being a princess is just a frame of mind, an outlook on the world that believes in dreams and happy endings.
Barbie isn't a role model. I don't see why they try so hard to make her into one. When I was little Barbie was a plastic doll that vaguely resembled a human and I played with Barbies as a way of expressing my creativity and how I viewed my family and society. I never directly interacted with my Barbies, that is to say I never talked to them, they talked to each other. Because Barbies live in Barbie world. It was like some version of the SIMs.
Also, how the heck can you "become" a princess? It's no like becoming a president or a doctor; isn't "inspiring girls to become a princess" basically inspiring them to wait for a prince to marry them?
Until they put out a Barbie that doesn't also inspire girls to be super-thin, big-boobed beauty queens, I'm not sure any Barbie, be it President!Barbie, Doctor!Barbie or Princess!Barbie, can truly be a decent role model for girls.
I suppose there's a chance Meredith was required by the parade organizers to read that glurge about Barbie being a role model, but either way, I've never really considered her a journalist in the way that I consider less well-known reporters as journalist. It seems to me the more famous a journalist gets, the less world-changing and investigative their news pieces become. Suddenly they spend whole hours devoting their shows to interviewing Paris Hilton.
I say Barbie=Ick. Her focus is on fashion, commercialism, selling, and body image. No woman or girl could ever achieve her unattainable body size. She is dysmorphic and creepy.
Part 1. LV, seems Viera was reading copy from a teleprompter. As for comprimising her journalistic integrity, the answer is NO, it's a PARADE and NOT a newscast. The retail marketing tie is clearly labeled: "MACY's Thanksgiving Day Parade" and the networks make money from ad revenues. Televised Parades are simply marketing schemes to make money and if people enjoy them, win/win.
Part 2. "Is it fair to say Barbie inspires girls ... to dream they can be anything they want to be" Yes it's fair, because inspiration can come from many things, a song, a book, a conversation, a work of art and yes LV, maybe even a Barbie.
FairMinded...I'm not sure your response for Part 2 is really saying anything. Yes, it is POSSIBLE for anything to positively inspire anyone to be anything they want to be. That much is fairly obvious. Does Barbie do so on a consistent basis as was LV's question.
"Does Barbie do so on a consistent basis as was LV's question." So then, my opinion of Barbie as an image is that it's a good "role model" for children. I think a message that says you can be anything you want to be is a good one. Some people learn that too late in life.
How can your image of Barbie be a good role model for children (mostly girls). The breasts are so big on Barbie in proportion to her body, a real life Barbie would develop back problems. She's skinny, well dressed, and well endowed...what does this teach our daughters? That you can look like this if you try hard enough? Anorexia, anyone?
Many people aspire to be hot, smart and successful, not everyone is going to be a rock star. And those who can't, shouldn't they be encouraged to be decent, competent, and responsible? Let's not look to scapegoat a doll for individual or society's woes, the faults lies more singularly.
I think you're exactly right...she was really ad copy. Ya gotta love it...Doctor, President...or maybe Princess. Boys can dream of being Astronauts, Cowboys or maybe Kung Fu warriors.
I can see that....Pres Bush and Barbie do have alot in common. Just the other day I was thinking what a fake well dressed brain dead we have for a president!!!
The fact that Mattel offers a wide range of Barbie's in academic and professional characters at least tells me that they recognize there is a demand for positive women's role models in the dolls our daughters play with. Many parents are making the right decision about the toys their kids play with. Also, Meridith is a sell out.
Yeah. Pure sell out there. But I'd blame the broadcaster as opposed to the woman. I'm not sure I've ever seen a real journalist before. And let's keep in mind this is just a dumb parade to begin with.
Barbie is definitly not a toy that inherently inspires girls to become doctors or the president... the doll is surly a inspiration to become a princess... and... what a wonderful thing, yes? In this day perhaps being crowned a princess one could get a lot more accomplished in this political climate than as a doctor or president, yes? Wow, maybe not such a bad ad. Let's all just go to school to be princesses!
when i was a little girl i thought barbie was a disgusting creation by men to tell women how they should look and dress because even though barbie is all the things listed above she's also a physical ideal. So yeah I dont think she really indorses the ideas of feminism. but as for viera saying that, well, you gotta earn a living some one. I wonder if they'll make a "sold out journalistic integerity barbie"
To be honest with you, it's very hard for me to decide on the Barbie thing...but make no mistake, Meredith Viera is absolutely no journalist as she clearly demonstrates.
barbie has had a lot of jobs over the years. Is she a good example when it comes to body size?? probably not. Is she inspirational for kids to reach for their dreams?? i'm gonna have to say with college barbie, doctor barbie, nurse barbie, etc etc etc, that yeah she is! Definitely better than those mall/pack rats dolls.
Macy's parade is nothing more than a kickoff for the Christmas shopping season, so of course there would be floats selling toys. Meredith Viera is merely doing her job, reading the copy put in front of her. You can't expect integrity from anyone working as a talking head for a corporation. I'm sure she's hanging her head in shame all the way to the bank.
OMIGOD lv i was just screaming at npr (the so-called 'liberal' media) the other night because they did a story on 'sustainability' where they interviewed the ceo of wal-mart and the *reporter* was dropping phrases like 'everyday low prices.' it was soooo sickkkkkk. sustainability my ass.
Meredith Viera isn't really a journalist. She's just been another tool for corporate marketing. If she ever was a journalist, she hasn't been one since the View.. As far as Barbie being "inspirational?",...all I know is that the Transformers didn't inspire me to become a fucking car. It's a fucking doll people...WTF.
This is a pretty minor blip on the media watch Crap-O-Meter. Still, it's not too cool that "journalists" should engage in such blatant product endorsement and outright advertising. Slime levels rising.
Vieira is a journalist in the same way that Bolton is a diplomat. But to be fair, becoming a princess is much harder today than when even a generation ago. A princess require postgraduate and even then there aren't many islands that need a princess and then ones that do don't pay much compared with similar positions requiring similar levels of study.
Man, thats just out there... For one thing, when i was a little girl i never looked to Barbie for insperation of what I wanted to be was always and will always be my mother. But still thats just she was reading what it said on the thing so that she had more money in her check. Bah
Right on, LiberalViewer. I think that Meredith Viera's comments is more than forced properganda. Her comments is indicative towards the attitude of America and its vogues.
We constantly give things more credit than it deserve because its popularity (Paris Hilton, reality stars, Simon,and now, Barbie). We put our vogues on a pedestal, and attempt to justify our shallowness by attributing false creditials to these vogues.
She was reading a prompter - VERY MUCH! I don't know why they have to read that BS. I wonder if she even believes it. I don't know many girls nowadays who do. Barbie is a doll - there is no inspiration.
Barbie is just a mannequin version of when commercialism advances unrealistic expectations from women in how to achieve happiness, fulfillment, invoke desire from men..blah blah blah. The reason I have so much sex appeal is because I use the right toothpaste, that sort of thing.
Viera is a talk show host. And yes, she was reading a teleprompter to promote a product that originally inspired girls to have thin figures, large breasts and their own "Ken."
I got to have my mother's Barbie dolls as a little girl (she took them back when I was 25 sad story really) But I never looked up to Barbie... I looked up to the women astronauts and teachers!
I think she is talking about children using their imaginations. Obviously every girl can't be a princess but every girl can pretend. =D Barbie Dolls inspire little girls to dream and use their imaginations.
DisPrincessxM 4 months ago
YOUR STUPID SHES A ROLE MODEL ARE YOU DUMB OR WHAT SHE RULES!!
RockItGirl9999 5 months ago
I think if little girls see Barbie as having all these jobs like a doctor, or an airline pilot, or what have you, and that in turn motivates them to be aspire to a the same, then I think that's a good thing. It is the same for architects and engineers that start out with playing with LEGOs and Lincoln Logs.
Did Meridith insert an advertisement for Mattel? Yes. But it's a Disney parade and it's near Christmas. The whole thing is a marketing ploy.
FloridaDave00 1 year ago
I don't think it's really fair to the profession of journalism to include Meredith as one of them, especially not during a stint as a parade host. The parade isn't news; it's just entertainment and heavily sponsored entertainment at that. Even in her day-to-day stuff, calling her a journalist would be generous. Sure, what she said was dumb, but why should we care in this instance?
Leedark3 1 year ago
It sounded to me like she was reading it off a card -- which they may have done for every float. Plus, I don't think I understand the argument of the video. Is it (generally speaking) that calling Barbie inspirational violates journalistic ethics? But if they were reading a card off for every float, it doesn't really seem like favoritism or anything. Plus, parades are also designed with kids in mind. And kids like Barbies. Whoop-de-doo, this video is illogical, and/or carries next to no weight.
poliscimajor1 1 year ago
Obviously, all girls can't be princesses.
MrXmyselfx 1 year ago
@MrXmyselfx You need to read "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Bennet.
katrinalindley 1 year ago
I want to be a tall, skinny and blonde woman when I grow up!
absb075 1 year ago
Hmm they're gonna be up for a big disapointment if they dream to become a princes or a fairy....
Hreinn91 1 year ago
Hmmm. Honestly, this doesn't bother me. It may be indicative of a larger failure within our culture to adequately encourage girls to excel and dream big - but as for the actual statement itself - it just seems like something that got said without thinking too much.
godshiva 1 year ago
I think it did inspire little girls do something but the aspect would the little girl, if you talk about economic wise, no, Barbie would be devil mistress if she was the queen of greed, and envy, and that was her trying to put in a little advertisment.It obviously she was getting paid by saying that and my answer is a little bit Yes it is fair because boys play with army guys even in real life army have psyche issues so yes and no for some journalist for saying she should doing her job..
Mapmaker39 1 year ago
Nothing new here. People will do anything for money, even if it means selling "Barbie" as an inspirational role model for poor, naive little girls.
=}~
IauthenticI 1 year ago
I don't know about any other women, but I'm inspired to be a princess... I definitely want to inherit a genetic line and be pampered and taken care of with all the advantages and opportunities that being a princess affords based purely upon lineage.
I don't know how I'll BECOME one though... it should be easier to become President...
puellanivis 1 year ago
Be mindful it's COMMERCIAL broadcasting.
Regardless of lead-ins, lead-outs & segues among the content - entertainment or news - it's really all about the advertisers' contract(s) with the broadcaster(s): to deliver so many sets of emotionally-(NOT-intellectually-)engaged eyes and ears for a given number of dollars.
In the political realm, the deal includes reflecting corporate political values... which, in the aggregate, tends to be more conservative than liberal.
"Liberal Media" is a myth.
voyeurdug 1 year ago
I wan't to be a doctor, the president AND a princess.
TheUstinovich 1 year ago 3
You know what?Get a life,if all you can say is trashy things about barbie trying to encourage girls to grow up to be whatever they wanna be,then go to Pre-school,AND LEARN THAT.When I was a girl,I had a vet barbie,here i am 9 years later still wanting to be a vet.Every little girl I know from the age of 2-10 wanted to be a pricess because of barbie,just ask my cousin,all those brabie vids on my favorites menu are hers,and if you're that stupid not to take a second to ask your daughter,SCREW YOU!
jade4884 1 year ago
Oh goodness, I haven't seen a Doctor Barbie since I was a little kid :/
I think there was a time that Barbie could be a role model for young women, considering I grew up with Barbie, but that time has come and gone.
She's better than Bratz though, far better.
Nishiwakisama 1 year ago
Well. Since it IS just a doll, ofcourse you can do whatever you want. Most of the little girls I know pretend to be their barbie dolls, so it could really depend on the child if the doll is a good roll model.
Lolli9192 2 years ago
what to do about the SCOTUS decision, on my page now
davisfleetwood 2 years ago
what about boys...barbie may be for girls but alot of boys play with her too....i think at the age of 3 any girl can aspire to be a princess but the term "girls of all ages" worries me...i am sure a 13 year olf girl wouldnt want to be a princess.....
it did however sound like an advert though!!
araparap 2 years ago
B who you wanna be Barbie girl !
09152350076 2 years ago
GO BARBIE!!!
ilovedisney84 2 years ago
Weak; no integrity lost. She was reporting on a Macy's parade, not about the smoking gun being a mushroom cloud. On a funny note -
Little girl: "Why divorced Barbie cost 10X as much as the other Barbies"
Toy salesman: "Because divorced Barbie come's with Ken's car, Ken's house, and Ken's best friend"
tracker2208 2 years ago
LiberalViewer, I think that the Barbie you're thinking of is the Barbie of yesteryear and not the current line of dolls. As sort of a stroll down memory lane, I went to a toy store and was surprised and delighted to see Astronaut Barbie, President Barbie, etc. There are still dolls that emphasize fashion, but as a college-educated feminist I felt that the products were leaps and bounds past what I had only 15 or so years ago. And besides, it's just plain fun to pretend to be a princess. :)
kathyvicki 2 years ago
@kathyvicki Hehe.....You're right,I remember what it was like to play princess and barbies!
jade4884 1 year ago
Frankygoestoboston wrote "Vieira not Viera"
Thanks for correcting my error which I have now fixed.
I appreciate your caring enough to take the time to comment :-)
LiberalViewer 2 years ago
Get a life dude! What is she suppose to say "Here comes that WHORE SLUT Barbie. Little girls watching, don't waste your time playing with Barbies when you could be online analyzing what comments are made about Thanksgiving day parade floats."
thesignthebridge 2 years ago
D on't worry, this spam whore's account will be deleted soon. YouTube is automatically making his messages SPAM which means that 1) No one gets to read it so he's wasting his time; 2) the account will automatically close after a certain number of spams.
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mdimerdder 2 years ago
Actually, in some senses it does. If you've ever seen the barbie movies you would understand they are about finding strengthand courage inside yourself to do the things that are hard. They teach girls to never give up, and to believe in their dreams.
All in all, I don't think barbie is a bad role model at all
FunFlirtyFlute 2 years ago
Well LiberalViewer, why shouldn't Ms.Viera not hold that opinion? You seem want one kind of orthodoxy vs. another.
KosmicCitizen 3 years ago
come on girls, can be anything they wanna be, i mean barbie is juat a doll, yet a lot of young girls see her as a role modle, but its how she's dressed, her unrealistic popritions, which become draw back, so yes she is a role modle, but at the same time she is steping stone for young girls to see/relate them selfs to, untill they mature and fimd new role modles.
WhitePretear 3 years ago
To shut up
sarapuppylover 3 years ago
To quote Malibu Stacy: "Don't ask me, I'm just a girl!"
megamarsvin 3 years ago
one word barbie nation..this harm the phyce af all little girls.
orca666 3 years ago
I really think she was joking, she has enough wit to be that quick. it was hilarious if she was kidding.
yuothineyesasian 3 years ago
When was the last time you saw Doctor Barbie or President Barbie?
MisterEvil1 3 years ago
Barbie is a better role model than Hilary Clinton. Would Barbie stay with Ken if she caught Ken banging an intern?
Seriously, the Barbie criticism is just a dodge used to deflect bad parenting. Corporations like Hasbro are easy targets for that kind of finger-pointing.
"Laughter and fun must all be undone
We must blame them
And raise a fuss
Before somebody thinks
Of blaming us"
--from "South Park: Blame Canada"
WeedOfCrime 3 years ago
I think people are taking barbie's effect on young girls too seriously. I used to play with barbies as a kid and I'd like to think I turned out just fine. I don't want to be a princess or a trophy wife or anything. :)
brrrrantarctica 3 years ago 5
@brrrrantarctica
They rip Mr Rogers for saying that everyone is unique and special (based on pretty standard Christian beliefs, may I add), then say that everyone should aspire to marry aristocracy.
y u no logic Fox
gamerunknown 4 months ago in playlist My critiques of entertainment shows
Clearly this was a paid advertisement
slrothen 3 years ago
The reason why it sounded like a script is because it WAS scripted. Watch any parade on television and the "hosts" will do the same for every float, balloon and the like. When they reach the view of the main camera, the hosts are supposed to read a short synopsis of what the presentation represents. That's just how these events are run.
It wasn't Viera conveying an opinion. She was simply doing her job. Hell, listen to it again. Does that really sound natural to you?
TyphoidBryan 3 years ago
To appoint Barbie as a role model for young girls is just as ludicrous as having Ronald McDonald as a mascot for a children's health care center. As a matter of fact, here in Philadelphia there is such a place as The Ronald McDonald House in St. Christopher's Childrens hospital.....BELIEVE IT......OR NOT.
ghostofday 3 years ago
i believe it. in houston tx thear is a place called The Ronald McDonald House. its a place where familys of kids with realy crappy diseases , i mean realy heavy shit can go and stay while thay seek treatments. churches and other orgenizations volentear thear all the time. thay make dinner for the families or have shows for the kids..that kind of stuff. some guy finally got his eagle scout badge for putting together a dinner.
bloodopos 3 years ago
"churches and other orgenizations volentear thear all the time?"
Where were you schooled, in a cave?
kuskut 3 years ago
mexico, didn't go to school much. i think i'm doing quit good considering. whats your excuse for being the pivet man in sevral hundred bukake videos?
bloodopos 3 years ago
Is this what you consider an intelligent response? In the time you took to write this you could have educated and empowered yourself by reading something worthwhile. You make a compelling argument for abortion.
kuskut 3 years ago
one, you should whipe the sand out of your vage.i don't think thats healty at all.
two, you where the first to set the bar low."thay drew first blood, not me!!!"...i love that movie.
now that the big words are coming into playlets see.
what kind of hypocritical selfriches pumpas blow hard are you? i'm amazed how easy it comes for you to notify others of thear ignorence. when in the same statment you show your oun, cupled with sentiments of grandeur....for shame.
i know my spelling sucks.
bloodopos 3 years ago
When you are this fucking illiterate you should be reading not writing, you dumbass!
kuskut 3 years ago
illiterate like a fox!!!!
bloodopos 3 years ago
i think its run mostly by donations and volentear work. i don't know if the the mcdonald corperation is to blame, or the pharmesudical cumpanies, or the medical system, or pres bush....or bin laden, all i know is that when my sister was sick my mother got a mother's day present.
spc cavazos
ps.i have bis balls.
bloodopos 3 years ago
Barbieis my role model!!! LOL!!! Just kidding, it really did sound like a commercial for Barbie dolls! Not many girls even play with Barbie dolls anymore in this era.
twistedburton 3 years ago
Barbieis my role model!!! LOL!!! Just kidding, it really did sound like a commercial for Barbie dolls! Not many girls even play with Barbie dolls anymore in this era.
twistedburton 3 years ago
Barbie ISN'T an inspiration to ANYONE! This was obviously read off from something. How can a doll be inspirational? THINK FOR A SECOND! lol.
Emmaaug19 4 years ago
Seriously people. There is nothing wrong with Barbie. It gives girls something with which to act out their own fantasies. And if you knew anything Darsises, you would know that Barbie's measurements aren't as extreme as they used to be. In 97 the measurments were redone to be more realistic. And, furthermore if a woman has a 36" chest and a 23" waist there is noting wrong with that, more power to her.
drksoul426 4 years ago
Hey we all know that it takes a 20" waist and a 36" chest to be a doctor, the president...or a princess.
Darsises 4 years ago
I'll never forget the talking Barbie I wasn't allowed to have when I was younger, and for good reason!
Phrases included "Math is hard, let's go shopping!", "School is boring," and "Will I ever have enough clothes?"
Being a good role model is the job of an adult, not an inanimate object.
jujuchrist 4 years ago
American TV as a whole in the last year or so has gotten so bad with product placement that in some cases the story lines are written around the product. For example the Nissan car in Heroes 2, or in the series life one episode is 10 minutes of cute girl playing "Prince of Persia" to help find a murderer.
hobbesie 4 years ago
Barbie was supposed to be a role model for young girls, so that part isn't new to me.
However, the woman DID sound like she was reading some script...
DaTweeClymer 4 years ago
Well, as for girls being inspired that they can become princesses, I am just flabberghasted. Unless you are born a princess (not common in America), then you have to marry a prince (again, not common in America) . . . so barbie is inspiring girls to marry foreign men for their title? I am unclear about how this is inspirational. I think Meredith Viera is confused.
morrigane13 4 years ago 2
Actually, quite a number of American girls are born "princesses". This is probably why my dating history is mostly with foreign born women. =0
And to answer LV's question, no, Barbie is not a role model. Also, nice non sequitur- Doctor, President, princess? Who would want to aspire to be a princess?
Kaszely 4 years ago
I am quite inspired by Barbie... that is why I am into teaching students Technology.
Yatashah 4 years ago
Mattel spends eighteen times more to advertise the Barbie Doll than it pays its workers to make it. Mattel has legal protections for Barbie. But when you say to Mattel, "Can't we have similar laws to protect the rights of the sixteen-year-old girl in China who made this toy?" they say, "No, that would be an impediment to free trade."
getplaning 4 years ago
She should not be advertising like that, considering so many little girls are glued to the screen. While the main motive of advertising is to attract the attention of a certain group, Barbie is not a role model to say the least.
somtetsuo 4 years ago
Huh. You have a stronger stomach than I do, I could not sit through crap television like that for a single minute.
Urgelt 4 years ago
Good catch. But I'm a little surprised that Viera had so little consciousness about what she was doing. She's not a dummy and not that bad as main stream morning show hosts go. Maybe she was getting paid for that little endorsement but clearly she was reading from a script, like most of the stuff that's on TV. I don't think that was extemporaneous.
pvbklyn 4 years ago
hmmm, let's see... what do I think of that?
I would say that, after much consideration, I think that Viera's "sneak advert" affects her reputation as a journalist..... umm, this is a tough one.... adversely! She has at this moment, as a journalist, the classinessn of a street whore. lol.
apollodionysus7 4 years ago
LiberalViewer,
I've always respected you for you insight and thanks for putting up these clips. I'm curious, do you see yourself as an "optimist"? (I'm a cynicical optimist.) If so, how likely do you think effective do you think these clips are in making people open up their eye/use reason?
Adnaana 4 years ago
As far as I know you can't "make" people use reason. By definition and nature to use reason effectively it must be ones choice.
Also ... and I do not mean to be insulting ... I am not sure what a cynical optimist is but it sounds alot like a bet both ways.
speakerdavid 4 years ago
Thanks for commenting. In line w/ what you said, do think people might be more inclined to use reason after watching something eye opening? If so, how likely?
As for "cynical optimist", I came across it online. It means someone who works for and want to change the future for everyone, but has little hope of his efforts will produce the desired outcome.
Adnaana 4 years ago
I wonder if it will help to think of optimism on a larger timescale? While it is undoubtedly true that the efforts of LV and others here will make little perceptible difference in the short term, and thus might be thought cynical, if you think of their work as planting seeds, perhaps there is a point to it, and one need not be cynical about the chance of eventual success.
A small force exerted over a long time can produce large results.
Urgelt 4 years ago
I like the physics analogy. Well said. Thanks.
Adnaana 4 years ago
Is LiberalViewer's ACLU video out yet?
LeprechaunEater 4 years ago
Merideth is reading a mattel advertisement. I think it comes with the float.
EmilyCaroline 4 years ago
She was obviously reading copy provided to her by Mattel. This was product placement. No, this does not nothing to enhance her reputation as a journalist.
melv9 4 years ago
One thing I will say in defense of Barbie is that she was a bold step forward for feminism when she was introduced. She was the first doll for girls that *wasn't* a mommy-simulator. At the time the idea of a female figure who had cars and clothes and wasn't the image of "mom in the kitchen" was a great image for young girls, but we've gone beyond that. We need an honest image of a woman who has more important things on her mind than the next outfit.
taigan 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
ha ha ha, dude, you make me laugh so much
first off, i realllllly can't stress enough how little i care.
i think it's funny that you try to insight people with your little pearls of wisdom, yet when i point out something like your editing, which i didn't go into (and won't) because i believe it to be completely self evident why it sucks.
but at any rate. i've enjoyed laughing at your ignorant videos and inane comments. but i really am out of time to waste.
werunfromcops 4 years ago
werunfromcops,
Again, namecalling isn't much of an argument. Labeling things "stupid," "ignorant," or "inane" is meaningless when u provide nothing substantive to back it up. And, it would not be a waste of time for u to seriously consider why you need to pretend that your opinions are universally shared or, in the alternative, that everyone who disagrees with you is "stupid." Again, I hope that helps and
thx 4 commenting :-)
LiberalViewer 4 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
ok..yeah, just keep replying.
I DONT CARE!!! my comments unfortunatly won't fix your editing skills either.
go eat more ben and jerry's, and be happy.
werunfromcops 4 years ago
werunfromcops,
You haven't explained what is wrong with my "editing skills" other than your inexplicable complaint that they fail to release you from your cardboard box nor have you addressed, again, your need to pretend that your opinions are universally shared or, in the alternative, that everyone who disagrees with you is "stupid." You might want to really think about that last part. Again, I hope that helps and
thx 4 taking the time to comment :-)
LiberalViewer 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
HA HA HA
i really don't care. if it hadn't been in my email that you replied to my comment, i probably would have forgotten all about you and your little videos.
have fun making stupid videos for stupid people~!!
werunfromcops 4 years ago
werunfromcops,
Engaging in namecalling doesn't really help the lack of substance I pointed out in your criticisms nor does it explain why you felt the need to pretend your opinions are universally held. And, how can you tell the people who disagree with you are "stupid" when you make no substantive points?
Thx again for commenting :-)
LiberalViewer 4 years ago
To me, it seems like almost all news programs have decided that "fluff" makes better news than Congress voting to take away our rights or anything else of substance.
wrksks4me 4 years ago
I think it is fair to say that when Katie Couric took over CBS nightly news, we entered into an era of entertainment news, which works to entertain and pushes you to believe a set of narrow facts.
This in conjunction with the quid-pro quo relationship politicians have established with major media (where interviews are given if you agree to play nice, and not ask the 'hard' questions) have destroyed the system of journalism that gives the public a right to know.
bortology 4 years ago
bortology,
If you think the "era of entertainment news" began with Katie Couric, you haven't been paying attention.
vrede420 4 years ago
On the contrary I have been paying attention. Perhaps I should have been more clear.
-- When Katie Couric took over CBS nightly news, we entered into an era where the Networks stoped caring about looking like they are being diligent in thier reporting, and the AMERICAN public was to impotent to do anything about it.
bortology 4 years ago
bortology,
We'll just have to disagree. It's not that I'm a Couric fan, but I see her as being different from the staus quo only in being a woman, not significantly in the content or style of her news reporting.
vrede420 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
is it fair that you should keep making videos?
no. it's not.
is it fair that you couldn't edit your way out of a cardboard box?
no, it isn't
please stop. for the love of all that is good. no one wants to hear you.
werunfromcops 4 years ago
werunfromcops,
The criticisms you've posted on several of my videos aren't very substantive, seeming to be more directed at me than the videos, really. Mainly u just state your opinions, and that's fine, but why do you need to pretend your opinions are universally held (e.g. claiming "no one wants to hear you")?
Many people like my videos. Some don't. If u don't, then don't watch my videos. I hope that helps. And,
thx 4 commenting :-)
LiberalViewer 4 years ago
I want to hear you!
You do a better job of 'keeping the world than honest' "TV" based programing.
bortology 4 years ago
I don't believe it is beneficial for young girls to be inspired by a fictional toy company character that promotes the kind of air-brushed, anorexic "beauty" that is glorified in this country. It actually causes more self loathing and low esteem for girls/women who do not fit the profile. It's disgusting and it's detrimental.
mconn2112 4 years ago
The Today Show overall is a joke. This does not surprise me at all. Two years ago the M&M float actually ran into and injured people attending the parade in NY. This is true - The Today Show broadcast M&M float footage from the year before and did not do a report on the incident because Mars/M&M was a sponsor.
This is not a news show.
jlmason83 4 years ago
good points all around. kudos.
wwk68tig 4 years ago
a princess is pretty much one of the only things women cant be when they grow up
mcalien24 4 years ago
If I were the head of NBC I would fire that woman on the spot for lack of integrity.
ZanderJSketch 4 years ago
The problem is not just about the influence of barbie being positive or negative or if the parents have the ultimate influence.
Really this goes to show you how corporation have taken over the culture. The all parades
are used like advertising anyway.
kulgan18 4 years ago 2
let's not forget the positive influence for stiff vapid plasticity
pzottolo 4 years ago
I think its pretty cool that you, as a dad, are concerned about it.
cutthroatbooksdotcom 4 years ago
Television is Media. Media says what it wants. Media pays individuals to say what Media wants. I just hope the journalist got paid by Mattel for the ad. Also: Barbie is too stupid to be a doctor.
patriciaredstone 4 years ago 2
Have any of you actually played with Barbie as a child? Listen, saying that Barbie makes girls want to be thin (I'm 290lbs Barbie had no affect on me, obviously) is the same as saying video games encourage kids to be violent. IT'S THE PARENTS WHO HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE! As for Viera I bet each float had a blurb the announcers were supposed to read that was written by the sponsors of the floats, and I never really thought of her as a journalist to begin with.
Magoonski 4 years ago
"IT'S THE PARENTS WHO HAVE THE MOST INFLUENCE!" Hmmm, didn't that go out when the first Clinton admin ruled? And hasn't it been decreed by the deciders that all influences will be determined by the villiage and not the parents?
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago
"Deciders?" Who exactly do you mean? My parents have worked in mental health for a good thirty years each and while sometimes a child is not influenced by they're family (exp. a case were a molested child does not become a molester) the vast majority of self esteem issues are due to parents not raising their child(ren) with love and understanding (like loving them even if they are fat and/or ugly).
Magoonski 4 years ago
"Deciders? Who exactly do you mean?" Are you saying that you don't understand that the Parental role is now viewed as a mere legal responsibility, that as such, ensures all economic transactions are made on behalf the offspring until it reaches full consumerhood?
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago
You sound like the situation is that of a single child in a room, with the parent on one side and the tv adverts on the other trying to influence the child. This is a fair "struggle" for influence. Ideally, you are right, and I wish it were always that way. Yet look at the reality: that advert was shown to hundreds of thousands of children (it happens everyday). Are situations the same for every child?
foxdragoon84 4 years ago
Think back for a moment to when you were a kid...you remember your birthdays, your friends, your parents scolding you or having dinner with them, right? How many of your memories are about commercials? True, the situations are not the same for every child but do you really believe a commercial holds more influence? Yes, ads may be everywhere but a parent can teach a child to discern between them and other influences, mine did.
Magoonski 4 years ago
Why do you think the advertisement industry is a billion dollar industry? It's not to make forgetable ads. How well you remember something has nothing to do whether it influences you or not. There's plenty of good material on this I could recommend. For now, watch on YouTube watch?v=ZyQjr1YL0zg - a short, entertaining clip.
foxdragoon84 4 years ago
Very interesting clip. Thanks, very informative.
Adnaana 4 years ago
Barbie is a nagative role model. And I dislike nearly all advertisements.
SaintVengeance 4 years ago
barbie is a lame-ass role model. all it teaches is to be obsessed with self-image. it helps craft the visual society we live in today. all little girls see is advertising of unrealistic body shapes and products and shit like that. barbie doesn't inspire to become a doctor. she inspires to look good in scrubs.
fedeman2 4 years ago 8
oh im looking forward to the next video
urbanclimber777 4 years ago
maybe it a subliminal message to the moms to vote for hillary...
MojoJuana 4 years ago
Barbie CAN inspire young girls...to be anorexic...
virtusextenebris 4 years ago 6
Good Question.
clmorgan 4 years ago
i guess at the point you realise you're not a journalist, but a corporate sponsored program tied to your advertizers, you might conclude that the reality of 'anything you want be' was more based (baised) on your looks...and if the Barbie icon is bad, what might it say about Katie and society? FairyTales are supposed to have happy endings...woops.
b4skin 4 years ago
She is just doing her job. Obviously covering a parade is not real journalism. And it's models, not Barbie that make girls feel bad about their bodies. I had lots of Barbies, and it never occured to me that I'd want to emulate the form of a plastic doll. What about Bratz and their giant heads? Are we worried girls might start wanting big heads? It's stupid. They're just dolls. And being a princess is just a frame of mind, an outlook on the world that believes in dreams and happy endings.
ilovemytiara 4 years ago 2
Barbie is fat.
fullnelsongrip 4 years ago
Barbie isn't a role model. I don't see why they try so hard to make her into one. When I was little Barbie was a plastic doll that vaguely resembled a human and I played with Barbies as a way of expressing my creativity and how I viewed my family and society. I never directly interacted with my Barbies, that is to say I never talked to them, they talked to each other. Because Barbies live in Barbie world. It was like some version of the SIMs.
PsoMyth 4 years ago
As far as the journalist, she's getting paid.
Now that I think of it my favorite Barbie wasn't actually Barbie. It was a blond version of the Kevin doll.
PsoMyth 4 years ago
the whole parade was like this, not just the Barbie float. the commentary was ridiculous
ldcfg 4 years ago
Also, how the heck can you "become" a princess? It's no like becoming a president or a doctor; isn't "inspiring girls to become a princess" basically inspiring them to wait for a prince to marry them?
Until they put out a Barbie that doesn't also inspire girls to be super-thin, big-boobed beauty queens, I'm not sure any Barbie, be it President!Barbie, Doctor!Barbie or Princess!Barbie, can truly be a decent role model for girls.
KarliMeaghan 4 years ago
I suppose there's a chance Meredith was required by the parade organizers to read that glurge about Barbie being a role model, but either way, I've never really considered her a journalist in the way that I consider less well-known reporters as journalist. It seems to me the more famous a journalist gets, the less world-changing and investigative their news pieces become. Suddenly they spend whole hours devoting their shows to interviewing Paris Hilton.
KarliMeaghan 4 years ago 2
I had Barbie with her Dream House, Soda Shop, etc.Now Barbie seems only 1/2 step up from the Bratz dolls - inspirational? Utterly doubtful.
mooitz 4 years ago
Only stupid people who need someone to tell them how to think watch fox.
DjDialogic 4 years ago
I say Barbie=Ick. Her focus is on fashion, commercialism, selling, and body image. No woman or girl could ever achieve her unattainable body size. She is dysmorphic and creepy.
Suzbekistan 4 years ago
i dream of becoming a princess!!!!
what's wrong with that, LV?
hahahaha! april fools!
xoxox
skinnychef
skinnychef 4 years ago
Part 1. LV, seems Viera was reading copy from a teleprompter. As for comprimising her journalistic integrity, the answer is NO, it's a PARADE and NOT a newscast. The retail marketing tie is clearly labeled: "MACY's Thanksgiving Day Parade" and the networks make money from ad revenues. Televised Parades are simply marketing schemes to make money and if people enjoy them, win/win.
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago 2
Part 2. "Is it fair to say Barbie inspires girls ... to dream they can be anything they want to be" Yes it's fair, because inspiration can come from many things, a song, a book, a conversation, a work of art and yes LV, maybe even a Barbie.
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago
FairMinded...I'm not sure your response for Part 2 is really saying anything. Yes, it is POSSIBLE for anything to positively inspire anyone to be anything they want to be. That much is fairly obvious. Does Barbie do so on a consistent basis as was LV's question.
jonbauer99 4 years ago
"Does Barbie do so on a consistent basis as was LV's question." So then, my opinion of Barbie as an image is that it's a good "role model" for children. I think a message that says you can be anything you want to be is a good one. Some people learn that too late in life.
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago
How can your image of Barbie be a good role model for children (mostly girls). The breasts are so big on Barbie in proportion to her body, a real life Barbie would develop back problems. She's skinny, well dressed, and well endowed...what does this teach our daughters? That you can look like this if you try hard enough? Anorexia, anyone?
jonbauer99 4 years ago
Many people aspire to be hot, smart and successful, not everyone is going to be a rock star. And those who can't, shouldn't they be encouraged to be decent, competent, and responsible? Let's not look to scapegoat a doll for individual or society's woes, the faults lies more singularly.
FairMindedCitizen 4 years ago
I think you're exactly right...she was really ad copy. Ya gotta love it...Doctor, President...or maybe Princess. Boys can dream of being Astronauts, Cowboys or maybe Kung Fu warriors.
DaCoach68 4 years ago
They can dream of becomming a plastic doll with a boyfriend without a penis.That's inspiering.
L0vethehater 4 years ago 4
hahahahahha!!!!
very funny!
skinnychef 4 years ago
Lol, great video LiberalViewer. I'm a recent subscriber and I'm very happy with my decision to subscribe! Keep it up!
Wikimedian 4 years ago 2
I can see that....Pres Bush and Barbie do have alot in common. Just the other day I was thinking what a fake well dressed brain dead we have for a president!!!
gobblegobblechew 4 years ago 4
The fact that Mattel offers a wide range of Barbie's in academic and professional characters at least tells me that they recognize there is a demand for positive women's role models in the dolls our daughters play with. Many parents are making the right decision about the toys their kids play with. Also, Meridith is a sell out.
atheistphilosopher 4 years ago
Ya, we need more professional women role models, with huge firm bazoombas!
Gugguggug 4 years ago
Mattel wants to pump your kids full of lead
7thStreetSaints 4 years ago
Yeah. Pure sell out there. But I'd blame the broadcaster as opposed to the woman. I'm not sure I've ever seen a real journalist before. And let's keep in mind this is just a dumb parade to begin with.
dQuarters 4 years ago
Creepy.
Barbie is definitly not a toy that inherently inspires girls to become doctors or the president... the doll is surly a inspiration to become a princess... and... what a wonderful thing, yes? In this day perhaps being crowned a princess one could get a lot more accomplished in this political climate than as a doctor or president, yes? Wow, maybe not such a bad ad. Let's all just go to school to be princesses!
AsertyDances 4 years ago
when i was a little girl i thought barbie was a disgusting creation by men to tell women how they should look and dress because even though barbie is all the things listed above she's also a physical ideal. So yeah I dont think she really indorses the ideas of feminism. but as for viera saying that, well, you gotta earn a living some one. I wonder if they'll make a "sold out journalistic integerity barbie"
SwollenEyeAgent 4 years ago
To be honest with you, it's very hard for me to decide on the Barbie thing...but make no mistake, Meredith Viera is absolutely no journalist as she clearly demonstrates.
aldfkjldasfkj 4 years ago
It cuts both ways: Barbie has inspired men to cross dress.
superfisto 4 years ago
hey liberal viewer... thanks for the great videos that point out the real things in life we normaly cant see. i love your vids!
jamesblond00china 4 years ago
ahaha barbie as a role model.. im sorry what joke
fatallygorgexus 4 years ago
barbie has had a lot of jobs over the years. Is she a good example when it comes to body size?? probably not. Is she inspirational for kids to reach for their dreams?? i'm gonna have to say with college barbie, doctor barbie, nurse barbie, etc etc etc, that yeah she is! Definitely better than those mall/pack rats dolls.
Sleveless 4 years ago
Macy's parade is nothing more than a kickoff for the Christmas shopping season, so of course there would be floats selling toys. Meredith Viera is merely doing her job, reading the copy put in front of her. You can't expect integrity from anyone working as a talking head for a corporation. I'm sure she's hanging her head in shame all the way to the bank.
lookingforananswer 4 years ago
corporate media serves corporate interests
pennilesscripple 4 years ago
OMIGOD lv i was just screaming at npr (the so-called 'liberal' media) the other night because they did a story on 'sustainability' where they interviewed the ceo of wal-mart and the *reporter* was dropping phrases like 'everyday low prices.' it was soooo sickkkkkk. sustainability my ass.
pennilesscripple 4 years ago
Hey barbie is a perfect role model.
If you're a white girl whit big tits, blond hair, long legs, nice ass and shit for brains.
Visfen 4 years ago 6
Meredith Viera isn't really a journalist. She's just been another tool for corporate marketing. If she ever was a journalist, she hasn't been one since the View.. As far as Barbie being "inspirational?",...all I know is that the Transformers didn't inspire me to become a fucking car. It's a fucking doll people...WTF.
Venger26 4 years ago 2
"...all I know is that the Transformers didn't inspire me to become a fucking car. It's a fucking doll people...WTF."
HAHAHA The best comment ever!
jammertime33 4 years ago
This is a pretty minor blip on the media watch Crap-O-Meter. Still, it's not too cool that "journalists" should engage in such blatant product endorsement and outright advertising. Slime levels rising.
MartySchrader 4 years ago
She was definitely reading the prompter.
velocity246 4 years ago
Vieira is a journalist in the same way that Bolton is a diplomat. But to be fair, becoming a princess is much harder today than when even a generation ago. A princess require postgraduate and even then there aren't many islands that need a princess and then ones that do don't pay much compared with similar positions requiring similar levels of study.
But Ken definitely is my hero!
annarboriter 4 years ago
Man, thats just out there... For one thing, when i was a little girl i never looked to Barbie for insperation of what I wanted to be was always and will always be my mother. But still thats just she was reading what it said on the thing so that she had more money in her check. Bah
lupinswitch99 4 years ago 3
Clearly a plug.
foley15136 4 years ago 2
Right on, LiberalViewer. I think that Meredith Viera's comments is more than forced properganda. Her comments is indicative towards the attitude of America and its vogues.
We constantly give things more credit than it deserve because its popularity (Paris Hilton, reality stars, Simon,and now, Barbie). We put our vogues on a pedestal, and attempt to justify our shallowness by attributing false creditials to these vogues.
hollyhoodjoe123 4 years ago 2
She was reading a prompter - VERY MUCH! I don't know why they have to read that BS. I wonder if she even believes it. I don't know many girls nowadays who do. Barbie is a doll - there is no inspiration.
libradaj 4 years ago
Sounds like an ad to me. Is that so weird though, given our culture today? Look at the Super Bowl, that's only watched any more for the ads.
Wendy62 4 years ago
BARBIE IS THE BEST TOY EVA!!
Seriously, please tell us that was sponsored by Mattel! Tell us. (Hmm...well at least we can get that Viera out. She's making Today look bad.)
hkfreak 4 years ago
i thought gravel dropped out.
yankeaze 4 years ago
Barbie is just a mannequin version of when commercialism advances unrealistic expectations from women in how to achieve happiness, fulfillment, invoke desire from men..blah blah blah. The reason I have so much sex appeal is because I use the right toothpaste, that sort of thing.
BeatBuddy 4 years ago
Viera is a talk show host. And yes, she was reading a teleprompter to promote a product that originally inspired girls to have thin figures, large breasts and their own "Ken."
voyzovrezon 4 years ago 2
I got to have my mother's Barbie dolls as a little girl (she took them back when I was 25 sad story really) But I never looked up to Barbie... I looked up to the women astronauts and teachers!
RHPSmagenta 4 years ago