They Sure Don’t Make Them Like They Used To

Previous SF Barbie art store owner and artist, Lavonne Sallee, is anticipating the opening of her new store in Vallejo, CA where local residents  have started a petition to protest the the continued business of Sallee- even though the doors have yet to open.

Sallee’s reputation has preceded her. Her store, OOAK (One Of A Kind), is a Barbie superstore where each doll is customized to fit certain themes. These themes range in controversial nature ranging from religious references to homosexual exploration. The San Jose Mecury News reports that many of these Barbies contain “sexual overtones.”  Look at the photos below and tell me if  “overtone” is an understatement. The Barbie’s you see below are overtly and obviously sexual- there is no tone about it. In fact, you can find these dolls on Sallee’s website under the “kinky” tab. No joke.

Sallee has tinkered with various forms of arts and crafts over the years and says “nothing has ever caught my attention and inspires me the way Barbie does.”  On one hand, it is really great that someone of 63 years-of-age has finally found her comfortable and inspiring niche. On the other hand, Barbie is a TOY. TOYS ARE TARGETED TO CHILDREN-BARBIE IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO YOUNG GIRLS. It is bad enough that young girls have to choose between cheerleader Barbie and hair salon Barbie…Now add Kinky Sex Barbie in the mix and you have a debilitating combo for young girls.  Of course, adults don’t have to (and hopefully won’t) purchase these mojo-saturated dolls for their children. However, the store is located on a busy street and there is no age requirement to enter.  A child doesn’t have to own a doll to be impacted by its “overtone.” Simply strolling in the store and seeing these dolls is enough to make a difference in a young, impressionable mind. All in all, will exposure to Sallee’s dolls result in children aspiring to be strippers? Probably not. But at the same time, there should be a certain level of social responsibility. Equipping Barbie with a whip while in doggie-style position is not exactly ideal.