Comments on: Let’s be politically correct, right?

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:12:02 +0000

Yusuf, I don't watch TV, so I can't comment!

By: Martin Bradley

Martin Bradley — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:45:52 +0000

I am wondering just what you might be thinking about the recent Coca Cola advert on Malaysian TV. It smacks to me of the type of racist advert that proliferated in the 1950s, in the West.

Or an I being over sensitive.

Ps this advert follows on from another, a football advert, which seems to think all Africans are idiots and objects of fun.

By: Hendo

Hendo — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:04:07 +0000

Heh, I think the world would be a better place if that was normal for more of us.

My guess is your girls never even noticed their doll's colour. I suspect it would be a similar thing to kids who grow up surrounded by different languages, they can move between them effortless, often without even realising it.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:19:24 +0000

I think my kids had nothing that would be called "normal" by most…they grew up accepting of just about anything and anybody. They never knew where they'd be next week, or who Dad or Mum would bring home next. Almost every week, there was someone of a different ethnic background joining us for dinner, and our family friends went all the way from white to black, culturally Western, to all varieties of Asian.

As teenagers, when their dad worked for the UN, things got even more diverse.

They both loved their blond Barbies at one time or another, but there was "normal" for them when it came to colour. The few times they faced discrimination or comment because of their own appearance, I think their reaction was mainly one of astonishment that anyone could be so daft.

Next time I see them, I'll ask if they ever felt the lack of PoC dolls!

By: Hendo

Hendo — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:30:38 +0000

I don't know about you Glenda, but I think that's a little bit sad. But admittedly, in my eurocentric mindset I was thinking of white kids growing up in a white family, in a white town and playing with white dolls, and how that would affect what they think is normal. Your kids, growing up in Malaysia with a Malaysian dad, would probably have grown up with a different idea of normal, right?

By: Deb

Deb — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:35:17 +0000

As I commented on Jennifer's blog…we wouldn't want kids to have to live in the real world now, would we? I haven't read the article, but heard it on the news. According to the radio newsreader, Miss Muffett is also no longer afraid of the spider, they are now friends.
My mum knits dolls – all types. Animals, fairytale characters…and golliwogs. The gollys sell very well – she knits to order. I am sure they are just as well loved by the children who receive them as the other different coloured dollys she knits. Having said that, I wouldn't buy one for a child for fear of offending someone.

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:09:36 +0000

Emma, that's interesting. Once again, it's all in the eye of the beholder – the makers of these dolls see the colour as something to celebrate, and good on them. PoC in the USA see gollywogs as an unpleasant stereotype, and I don't blame them. Me, growing up in Australia, saw mine as a cuddly toy.

Lol Joanna… funny thing is that very young kids (of nursery rhyme age) are usually incredibly blase about death, as long as the death doesn't have an impact on their family life.

Hendo – my half 'n' half kids had all-white dolls. Why? Because here in Malaysia in the 70s there was no other kind. Or at least none I ever saw.

By: Hendo

Hendo — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:57:55 +0000

Hehe, I hadn't thought about it like that Joanna, I'd read it more as 'poor little kiddies shouldn't have any cause to doubt the competence of our invincible armed forces'.

I agree Glenda, I don't think the P.C. erasing of gendered or racial language is an effective way to deal with things, on its own. If the underlying issues aren't dealt with, it could possibly have the opposite effect, enforcing the perception of homogeneous culture and denying everyone the language to challenge it.

I can see why the golliwog would be offensive, and as you say that's fair enough. But I don't see it as being any more helpful for kids, white or black, to only play with white dolls. What does that teach them?

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:17:49 +0000

Well, you know the poor little kiddies, can't handle such a difficult concept as death! Their delicate little feelings might be hurt if there's a sad ending to the story.

*heavy sarcasm*

By: kesalemma

kesalemma — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:43:24 +0000

The only place I have seen golliwogs recently was the shop at the Koori Heritage Trust in Melbourne – made and sold by aboriginal people.

My golliwog was my favourite toy for years. I was born in the late 70's. Neither I or my parents saw it as a racist object. After all, I had white dolls with similar features too.

Sometimes, I wonder if we're taking this all too far.