A few years ago I surprised myself by getting involved with my daughter's Daisy Girl Scout troop. What began as an hour of volunteering blossomed into co-leading of a delightful group of girls. I was happy that my daughter joined the Girl Scouts. The organization's progressive policies had impressed me, especially in contrast to The Boy Scouts. 

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My feelings changed drastically a year ago last spring, when I learned of the Girl Scouts' partnership with Mattel Toy’s Barbie line. I could not believe the news, which still makes me sick to my stomach. How could a girls leadership organization embrace a product that so blatantly represents the objectification of women? I postponed my official training to be a Girl Scout leader. I felt betrayed, and very conflicted.

My attempts at communication with the organization were fairly fruitless. When I called my local Girl Scouts office to complain, the staff there didn't even know about the deal. Repeated calls to the office of Anna Maria Chavez, the Executive Director of Girl Scouts USA, got me through to customer service staff, who had little patience for my impassioned pleas. Email yielded one sympathetic reply from someone who said she would share my concerns with her colleagues. There was no further response.

That one would need to spell out why Barbie is a poor spokeswoman for Girl Scouts is crazy. Nonetheless, I did.

First of all, I would prefer that a girls leadership organization not “partner” with a for-profit company that is trying to sell anything to my daughter. But, as we all know, times are tough. If they must embrace corporate sponsors, one would expect the Girl Scouts to choose a company whose product at least postures as educational or beneficial to girls in some way. Dove Soap is another for-profit company partnering with the Girl Scouts. Their Uniquely You campaign has its flaws, but the intent, (besides selling soap), is to increase self-esteem and promote a healthy body image. Barbie does just the opposite, in so many ways.

Barbie dolls are manufactured by children in sweatshops, not something one would expect the Girl Scouts to endorse. Barbie, who is presented as fashionable and beautiful, is not healthy. The proportions of her body are physically impossible. Although one may, if one makes an effort, find Barbie dolls of different skin tones and hair colors, the iconic Barbie is fair and blonde. (No amount of effort will yield Barbies of different body types.)  This blonde, pale, impossibly thin and bodaciously buxom Barbie is the one whose image is all over the page of the Girl Scouts website that is designed explicitly for use by girls ages 5-9. 

Barbie is limiting. Despite the array of costumes representing different careers (all in heels), a recent study in the scientific research journal Sex Roles finds that as little as 5 minutes of play with a Barbie doll can make a young girl feel that she is less capable than boys for various careers. 

Barbie is sexual. Barbie represents and encourages an unhealthy body image. Barbie is a toy for children manufactured by children in sweatshops at the behest of a for-profit company. The company now offers a “Barbie Loves Girl Scouts” product, in cooperation with Girl Scouts USA, which lets girls earn a Barbie advertisement to display on their uniforms. The Barbie patch is larger than badges awarded for traditional scouting activities.

I hope that the Girl Scouts will rethink the decision to partner with Barbie.  If you agree, please sign this petition created by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood: http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/action/girlscoutsbarbie

Personally, I continue to struggle with how to proceed.  I am committed to my daughter's troop.  The girls benefit so much from their experience, and the community is enriched, too.  The baby shouldn’t get thrown out with the bath water, right? So I stay on. But I am no longer proud to be a part of the Girl Scouts.  I can't bring myself to sport the gear, encourage others to join, or be enthusiastic about fund-raising. The cookies just aren't as sweet.