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Mattel and Nickelodeon are engaged in a campaign to clear up misconceptions about their reacently announced Dora the Tween project. It appears that Dora is growing up, and will now become a ten year old girl. But don't worry, she will still be the same sweet wholesome role-model that we as parents all know. Obviously who ever came up with this idea has never had to deal with ten year olds in the real world. More details here
I think the dissenters are absolutely correct. The world does not need a sexed up, Bratz version of Dora.
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I think the issue is not so much her growing up, cattle prods should be standard accessories for dealing with any kids from 4-12, but the specific new look chosen.
Of course "tramping out" has become pretty much standard for all girls entertainers as they age, deliberately, incidentally, or lecherously projected. It remains to be seen if anyone can really shatter that trend.
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where can I see this sexed up dora the exploperer, I want to see the 18 year old hustler magazine pinup dora with her own armband and hypodermic needle.
All I can find is a pretty tame ten year old looking doll that people overreacted to because they saw a sillouette and jumped to conclusions. Also calling 10 years old Grown up, is kind of a misnomer, slightly older would have been a better choice.
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I don't see how people can over react if that is the silhouette they are talking about. She looks perfectly fine to me and I can see why they are doing this. My first daughter loved Dora when she was 2-4 years old and she is now almost 6 and has grown out of the Dora craze. Now she likes Barbies and despite the fact we refuse to buy anything associated to them, Bratz(I think it's the want what you can't have thing). I would much rather have her like this older Dora then the other two any day. My younger daughter is three and really likes both Dora and Diago so if they want to age Dora and keep the younger one I think that is great.
I personally think that 10-year olds will not be very interested (unless they were really obsessed with Dora when young). 10-year olds are just starting to mature, they're going to stop wanting anything so closely related to such a little kiddish figure. Unless it actually gets its own show, they're going to keep seeing Dora as they remember her: childish. They might keep thinking of her as such even if she does get a TV show of her own.
I can see how the sillhouette of the image would prompt fears. Without color to show the leggings, it looks like a skirt that would barely cover the groin, if at all. I imagine most parents who see Dora as a healthy role model for their daughters aren't looking for a panty-shot version to take over as they grow out of the first few years.
Compared to Barbie, Bratz, or any other product even remotely aimed at that age and gender demographic, this new Dora is tame, innofensive, and wholesome. Of course, that means the Anonymous of the internet is going to destroy it, but thats a different story. For the company, I think this was intelligent and well thought out, if not neccessarily needed, choice.