Tunisian security forces have been raiding toy stores across the country to withdraw Fulla, the hijab-clad doll popular in Arab countries.
Authorities claim that the doll, doning a long-sleeved loose dress and a headscarf, invokes the invitation to wear "sectarian dress" (the authorities' term for the hijab), according to an Egyptian blogger.
Having grown up with a classic Barbie doll, like many other girls of my generation, I turned out just fine. I do not aspire to become a size 0 supermodel, I do not own a fancy car or mansion, I do not have a wardrobe of skimpy clothes, and Ken is not on my speed dial (contrary to frantic claims that Barbie dolls have a negative impact on young girls).
Barbie's marketing nemesis, Fulla (the Arabic word for the jasmine flower) seems no less controversial. I passed by her in Toys R Us, Dubai and she made me smile. Something about her little prayer mat, her colourful scarves and robes, her aspirations to become a teacher or doctor (she comes in both models) made her endearing. I could not envision her, as the Tunisian authorities do, to be some matriarchal figure aiming to nurture a generation of mini female fundementalists.
Tunisia's current political regime is strictly secular. With regards to the hijab, it has made the same ideological mistake that France has: casting the veil as a religious symbol rather than a religious duty.
If the authorities wish to ban this supposedly "Islamic" doll because they fear its negative impact on young girls, why have they not banned Barbie who has long ago sparked debate as being a negative role model for children?
Authorities are worried that she will encourage "sectarian dress" but Fulla's abaya-clad figure does not epitomize some stereotype of the "oppressed" Muslim woman doing housework and serving her husband hand and foot. Rather, she wears colourful and modest dresses/scarves and inspires little girls to be teacher or doctors, rather than the Barbie-equivalent of being a princess or mermaid.
Assuming that a plastic doll can change the life and mentality of young girls is to assume that they do not grow to be young women who can think independently for themselves about their priorities. Let's not project big ideas on little dolls.
2 comments:
I agree - Why attack Fulla and not Barbie?!!
I mean don't get me wrong,I have nothing against Barbie - in fact, loved Barbie when I was growing up (had 11 - including Camp Barbie whose hair got changed color in the sun!) but it sort of reminded me of what someone was telling me recently when talking about the whole niqab controversy that is currently going on (UK/Egypt) - If women are given the choice to dress as scantily as they want, they should also be given the choice to cover up as much as they want!
So if we have Beach Barbie (and I am pretty sure I have seen Barbie in a bikini), Fulla should be allowed on the shelves!
And yes, lastly, its just a doll! We do grow up into independent young women who can think on our own...
Of course, I have to point out though that the obsession with either dolls can get rather materialistic - while Barbie may have bedsheets, Fulla has a prayer mat set (Dh 149!) ...Lol! :-S
People have too much time on their hands to come up with such ridiculous policies.
The Fulla problem is obviously indicative of the broader issue of the Hijab ban, which should really be a non-issue.
To borrow a colleague's quote, which I think perfectly sums up the absurdity of the matter, "I don't understand why it's okay for someone to walk around half-naked, but it's not okay for someone to NOT."
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