Re: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" picture

[Aviva Sheb'a]

Oh gees, Pinky, that's classic! I don't care what's going on in my life when you're in Adelaide, I have a VERY comfortable velour double air mattress that just fits on my lounge floor and you're not allowed to stay anywhere else. Or, if you prefer, I'll sleep in the lounge and you can use my waterbed. Only I'm NOT going to lend you any of my personal women's toys! In stitches, Aviva ----- Original Message ----- From: Pinky McKay To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 1:59 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" picture Hi Aviva -I dont wear a wedding ring either even tho I did get married. my finger grew out of it years ago and since my husband doesnt wear one I dont see why I should. Actually, when I was a little girl and  asked my mummy how do you make babies? she told me "when you get married and sleep with your husband they come -I (smart kid that I was) replied well how come you have only had 3 babies and Dottie Huta has 9 kids and you sleep with Daddy every night? -Ha stumped her there!!!   Actually I was so in stitches about Midge as the PR girl was describing her to me that I couldnt resist asking (tongue firmly in my cheek) "Im not sure about this -is she married?"  "oh yes Pr girl  replied very seriously -her wedding story is on the box!!!!!" Then I cracked up and spoilt it all as she realised I was only joking.   I simply cant be serious -and one of my lovely props happens to be  a 1957 book about talking to children about childbirth and sex -it is a total hoot -I just wanna read a page out loud!! My Monday interview will be live and is with Yvonne Adele (alias Ms Megabyte) I have done several interviews with her before shes good fun and has a nine year old and a baby about 11months old -shes very pro breastfeeding so is possibly ok about birth too. Dunno about Barbies tho-   actually another concern about Midge in teh US was that she would be encouraging teen pregnancies -not sure how little girls would be able to figure out how she got that way from her (and hubby Alan's ) equipment - when my girls were little they used to play families with the Barbies - the Fisher price little people were the children and Action man was always the Daddy -I dont think they thought Ken was quite up to it -I remember Barbie driving a (tonka) truck one day while Daddy (Action Man)  minded the babies -Larissa was a right madam and bossed the little boy she was playing with -told him to give the baby ezpressed milk if she wasnt back when the baby woke up!!   Another day she also shocked hell out of a neighbour when she "gave birth" to a doll who was tucked up her dress -she made some very realistic noises -squatted and "dropped" the baby then pulled up her shirt and breastfed -she was about 3 years old and Sarah was a baby at the time -Neighbour was a right prude with one 4 year old girl - this neighbour even ironed underpants so probably thought I (who barely recognised an iron) was quite a savage anyway - so of course would have savage children! I am looking forward to some funny interviews - mattel may or may not be amused!!   The last pregnant doll was a Judy doll -I have an American friend called Judy so she reminded me of teh name.   Pinky.  PS -yes lets just ship a boat load of Happy Family dolls to Iran and save the chilren !!     ----- Original Message ----- From: Aviva Sheb'a To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2003 12:07 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" picture Here's a link from the same page. If Barbie dolls are having such an effect on Iranian children as they say in the article, then all George Dubbya has to do is wait ten years and Iran will be all-American. Much less messy, they could argue.   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1856558.stm   Humble apologies for tongue in cheek. Aviva ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary Murphy To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 11:10 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" picture YEARS AGO THERE WAS A "BARBIE TYPE" DOLL (CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME) WHO HAD A PREGNANT BELLY WITH A LITTLE BABY DOLL INSIDE.  THE FRONT OF THE ABDOMEN CAME OFF TO SHOW THE BABY INSIDE.   USED IT TO SHOW WOMEN VARIOUS POSITIONS OF THE BABY AND TO SHOW LITTLE ONES THEIR SIBLING IN UTERO.  OF COURSE THEY DISAPPEARED OFF THE MARKET WITHIN ONE SEASON.  Sorry about the capitals, cheers, MM ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Garratt To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 8:00 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" picture Hi,Me again;) I've found a picture and some info on Midge, worth a look if your interested. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2608867.stm It is suggested in this story that "Midge can help parents discuss pregnancy without having to have graphic descriptions of the reproductive process". Midge also has a "tiny wedding ring" I think this is a real hoot!  Pinky your definitely going to have fun with this one, keep us posted. Julie'',   ----- Original Message ----- From: Pinky McKay To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 7:25 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Pregnant "barbie" Hi ladies, Midge- Barbies best friend -is pregnant(Barbie is the paediatrician) -arriving in toyshops in the next week. Now are you sitting down -I have been asked by Mattel's PR company to give some quotes/ do some interviews re kids and pregnancy/ birth etc.   After a discussion with Andrea and lots of thought plus making certain I am not expected to endorse the doll although the media may misconstrue my words -I am going to be doing quite a bit of talking about birth and children. I am doing a live interview on 3ak monday at 12 .15pm. I am taking an array of props - Hello Baby by Jenni Overend and In Union -by Vicki Chan and Nic Edmonstone. I want to take this opportunity to turn the crap into a positive - to tell women that how they portray birth to their daughters can convey awe of the female body (dear Midge needs some serious help - perhaps atexta to add nipples for starters!)   The fact is, this doll is going to be out there anyway and people will be buying her -she looks lovely with her dress on even though her whole belly is attached with a magnet so comes completely off (ridiculous!!I agree - my son immediately tipped her upside down to see how the baby would come out! - poor darling doesnt have a vagina - a teachable moment!!) - I think we can use this launch as a trigger for lots of dscussion about birth and pregnancy - feel free to be there when the phone lines open and write letters to the editor etc - there are people who think this doll is TOO REALISTIC!!! -That is why she was pulled from the shelves at Walmart in the US.One WA journalist actually wrote that surely it is ok for 5 year olds to believe babies come via the stork -ie arent we corrupting kids innocence -I think there will be some great debate.   What next ??- I have been waiting for a pear shaped Barbie for years!! Would she be a collectors item? Pinky    ---   Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.449 / Virus Database: 251 - Release Date: 27/01/03