Childhood experts outraged at sexy Bratz dolls

By Jane Metlikovec
Herald Sun
Aug. 31, 2006

SEXUALLY provocative baby dolls dressed in leather and lingerie are being marketed to girls as young as three.

Childhood experts have slammed the latest range of Bratz Babyz, claiming they are tantamount to child pornography.

But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it was powerless to strip the dolls from shelves.

"We have mandatory product safety standards . . . but there is no arbiter for bad taste," a spokeswoman said.

The Australian Childhood Foundation and the Australian Family Association have warned parents not to buy the "Sugar and Spice" twins Phoebe and Roxxi, which sell for $40 in department stores.

Phoebe "Sugar" is dressed in a fluffy pink jacket with pink and black underwear, while Roxxi "Spice" has an open fake leather jacket and skimpy red and black lingerie. Both dolls have baby milk bottles hanging off chains strapped to their legs.

The packaging carries a choking hazard warning, and says the dolls are unsuitable for children under three because of their small parts.

The AFA calls the dolls immoral.

"The portrayal of children in sexual poses is prohibited, and these dolls border on that," AFA state vice president Angela Conway said.

"We are appalled by the lack of corporate responsibility displayed here. These sexualised images of children are disgusting."

Distributor Funtastic said they had received no customer complaints about the dolls, and Bratz Australian sales are likely to reach one million this year.

"The styling of Bratz is very edgy, but nothing is meant to be real," a spokeswoman said. "These dolls are clearly cartoon depictions."