Ethical Dilemma: Barbie in Saudi-Arabia

Ethical Dilemma: Barbie in Saudi-Arabia

Barbie is probably the most famous doll that girls play with worldwide, known for its fashionable (separately sold) clothes. Mattel is making Barbie since 1959 and sells it in about 150 countries, with key markets in America, Latin-America, Europe and Asia. Barbie has been criticized as a symbol of Capitalism and Western materialism (having many cars, houses, and clothes) and besides having unrealistic body proportions. Besides, Barbie has also been criticized for being a white girl having all those richness and being famous. Therefore Mattel released an African American Barbie in 1980.

In 1995 Mattel stopped its Barbie sales in 1995 Saudi-Arabia, because the clothes of Barbie were in violation with the Islamic dress code. However, expensive Barbie dolls still remained available on the black market. In 2003 the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (religious police) in Saudi-Arabia officially prohibited the sales of Barbie dolls in Saudi-Arabia by law, with Sheik Abdulla al-Merdas, a preacher in a Riyadh saying:

"Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful."

"It is no problem that little girls play with dolls. But these dolls should not have the developed body of a woman, and wear revealing clothes,"

"These revealing clothes will be imprinted in their minds and they will refuse to wear the clothes we are used to as Muslims."

In 2009, Ibrahim Ceylan the head of Turkey's national education in the city of Eskisher wants students to remove Barbie images from their backpacks. Besides, Ibrahim Ceylan is also against other foreign cartoons such as Badman, Spiderman and Superman. Mr Ceylan said:

''Images of these super-heroes are almost obscene, on bags and objects that students use. These images draw students into a dream-world and carry them away from real life. We want to protect students from the invasion of foreign culture and that is why we have ordered the technical institute for girls' education to prepare bags and T-shirts that are decorated with images of famous Turkish citizens.''

It seems that Mr Ceylan tries to protect Turkey from these Western children idols too, however unlike Saudi-Arabia, Turkey did not impose any official statement or law that prohibits Barbie.

Mattel's code of conduct

Mattel's code of conduct (May, 2011) states:

Respect and Diversity

‘‘We will treat others as we want to be treated â€" with respect, dignity and fairness.''

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