The Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood's annual TOADY award (short for "Toys Oppressive And Destructive to Young Children") has named Mattel's Barbie Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Doll the worst toy of 2008. Why?
“When you combine two classic symbols of gendered stereotypes – the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and Barbie – you get one terrible toy,” said CCFC Steering Committee member Joe Kelly, ofwww.dadsanddaughters.com. “Do we really want to teach our young daughters that they belong on the sidelines, not in the game, and the way to get noticed is show a lot of skin?”
Also, it costs $80 (which seems not to have been a deciding factor) and it looks like this:
Barbie beat out the videogame Lego Batman (which is actually quite fun but the organization seems averse to branded products of all kinds), a stationary tricycle, a pooping baby doll, and a motorized toy Escalade, available for the low, low price of $350. (Presumably that's fully equipped.)
(Hat tip The Beat.)