A topless Femen activist burning a crucified doll was among dozens protesting against the opening of the ‘Barbie Dreamhouse’ in Berlin. Protesters say the giant dollhouse and “plastic idols” promote an “unhealthy beauty obsession” in kids.
The opening of the Barbie’s European tour in Germany was marred after activists from several groups engaged into a furious protest. The 2 500-square-meter museum, featuring a life-size replica of her fictional Malibu home, will remain in Berlin until August 25 and then will tour other European cities. This is the world’s second Barbie Dreamhouse, the first one opening earlier this month in Florida.
Femen activists have expressed uproar at the life-size pink
mansion and the fashion doll the brand promotes. A female activist
was seen in the crowd with the words “Life in plastic is not
fantastic” inscribed on her naked torso, later climbing up a
giant pink shoe-fountain, wielding a burning cross with a crucified
Barbie doll.
The woman shouted slogans against the “sexist icon” and had to
be taken away the by security at the scene.
A “Ritual Barbie’cue with fried meat of the plastic idol was
made to demonstrate the true meaning of the history of commercial
monster Mattel. They have turned a piece of plastic into a god for
millions of girls from all over the world who now seek only to
imitate plastic shapes and stupidity and absurdity of conduct,”
a statement on the Ukraine-based feminist group website later
said.
According to the controversial protest group, the company “purposefully ” creates the image “dictating… the appearance of new generations ,” as well a “social role of reckless beauty finding a reason to exist in the continuous care of their appearance and the house.” Despite the seemingly provocative name, another activist campaign “Occupy Barbie Dreamhouse” noted that its attendees went to demonstrate peacefully.
“We are here because sexism is being used for capitalist gains ,” one of the campaigners from a youth socialist group Linksjugend told The Local.
“This protest is not against the parents who chose to take their children, nor the children themselves, but against the unhealthy beauty obsession it breeds ,” protest organizer and a ‘proud male feminist’ Michael Koshitzki added.
Koshitzki was particularly critical of the installation’s
‘dressing room,’ where girls were seemingly encouraged to “make
themselves look like Barbie.”
Stevie Schmiedel from the “Pink Stinks” Initiative has summed concerns about children’s health many activists were expressing.
“Fewer and fewer girls feel comfortable in their own skin, with eating disorders having increased drastically because of figures like Barbie,” he said as quoted by SAPA.
The Greens were also present at the opening party, equally disgruntled with the Barbie ideals.
“The Barbie Dreamhouse sends the wrong signal, ” Green Party women’s affairs expert Karoline Killat said. “What it suggests to little girls is that they should aim to be beautiful consumers.” But not everyone has agreed with the protesters stance.
“Berlin is a free city and Barbie is welcome,” Philipp
Lengsfeld of the conservative Christian Democratic Party told The
Local.
“It’s just one of several interesting attractions in the city
and it is not anyone’s place to say what people should or should
not buy,” Lengsfeld said, adding he was “disappointed”
with the demonstrating crowd.