DORA THE EXPLORER BECOMES DORA THE EXPLOITER
Written by Madam Toussaint on March 31, 2009
(Photo credits:graphicshunt.com & specials.msn.com)
In the new tradition of the new Strawberry Shortcake Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer may be getting a makeover as early as next fall. According to Nickjr.co.uk the show was “designed to engage pre-schoolers in a play along adventure.“ It seems that not only is Dora getting a makeover some of her new adventures will include getting new clothes, jewelry and accessories. This makeover is prompted by Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) making the decision to make Dora “grow up”. The new Dora will be a “tween” which is defined as preadolescence or in more common terms “too old for toys, but too young for boys”. This is new terminology for an age bracket identified by marketers as a group that can be heavily marketed to. People are calling her “Dora the Exploiter” now.
“‘Dora the Explorer has been one of the most successful properties for nearly a decade, with an average of 21.1 million viewers, including 6 million preschoolers, tuning into the television show each month,‘ explained Leigh Anne Brodsky, president, NVCP.“ Dora’s growth spurt is part of a NVCP/ Mattel brand expansion that includes an online interactive Dora Links fashion doll whose customizable appearance can be changed at a whim. As girls play online they can continue the Dora makeover by changing her hair length, jewelry and eye color on screen.
(Photo credit: nickjr.co.uk)
Parents are outraged because Dora is Latina and a bilingual role model to many little girls. Those against Dora’s new look protest “What happened? FIRST it was Dora’s Magic Talking Kitchen, THEN Dora Princess, THEN Dora Babysitter in her cousin’s show, NOW DORA TWEEN.“ There is a petition circulating for people to sign to express their disapproval to Mattel and Nickelodeon. “The petition is supported by the work of Hardy Girls Healthy Women (HGHW). Hardy Girls is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and well being of girls and women.“ ~ipetitions.com
In all fairness the younger Dora and her products will still be available. A case can also be made for having a favorite children’s show character grow with the children who are her fans. And what will become Diego her cousin? My personal concern is that little girls may learn that growing up and becoming a woman involves mini dresses, that looking like a woman of color can be easily, readily and preferably changed and that femininity is all that you can buy and put on.
-Madam Toussaint
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Interesting… Dora has been a long-time favorite not only to the Latino community but across most cultures here in the US as Español has grown to be the Official 2nd language of North America. I guess at some point $$$ takes presidence over developing our young ones exposure to different cultures & languages when it comes to TV Executives wanting to cash in their “Dora-Dollars” for the highly sought after “Montana-Money”. It’s bad enough girls of today are misled by media, magazines, tv shows and now Cartoons to think it’s solely about looks, material objects and acting grown which unfortunately eventually leads them to fall into circumstances that are not as easily gotten out off. I hope http://www.hardygirlshealthywomen.org/ can have an influence in keeping Dora as the wholesome young Latina we’ve all come to adore, until next time. Vamonos…...
zonahispana
Apr 4th 09
01:15 AM