Dora The Explorer Turns Tween

Last month Mattel and Nickelodeon announced that Dora of the popular animated series Dora the Explorer is getting a makeover. In her current incarnation Dora is an adventurous child who goes on an exploring trip in each episode of her show. She is a bit of a tomboy- she loves sports and solving puzzles, and spends most of her time outdoors. The new Dora will be a fashionable “tweenager”, living and shopping in the big city. She’ll also be turned into a fashion doll, with a wide range of accessories sold separately.

Understandably, many parents are dismayed that the intelligent, adventurous- and educational- Dora is being turned into another skanky Bratz doll. A petition has been started asking the SoCal companies to reconsider the rehaul. It argues:

We don’t need any more tween dolls teaching girls that growing up means turning into a fashionista, excited about secrets and crushes and going shopping… Please don’t push this version of what it means to be a teenager on young girls. It limits them, narrows their options, and leads them to think that what matters most about themselves is how they look and what they buy.

    From this…                                    To this?
    

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