Heroes fic: Of Bratz and Barbies
Oct. 16th, 2007 02:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
out_thereTitle: Of Bratz and Barbies
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Matt/Mohinder (or, fine, Matt & Mohinder, since this is only slashy inside my head)
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even a doll.
Summary: Matt had never imagined standing in the middle of a hot-pink aisle, trying to argue *for* Barbie dolls.
When Matt signed the foster care documents, he'd had visions of the future. He'd imagined watching "Back to the Future" with Molly and seeing her brand-new reactions to it, imagined enforcing regular bedtimes and making sure Molly did her homework every night. He hadn't imagined this: standing in the middle of a hot-pink aisle, trying to argue *for* Barbie dolls.
The fact that he was arguing with a genetic theorist only made the situation *slightly* more surreal.
"I'm not convinced this is in Molly's best interest," Mohinder said, turning the packages over to read the spiel printed on the back.
"We're getting her a Barbie, Mohinder."
"This is a doll based on the feminine ideal of the 1950s, which promotes an unrealistic body image and encourages girls to focus on superficial qualities."
Matt counted the points out on his fingers. "She's a ten year old girl. She likes playing with dolls. She's going to want one."
"And we agreed to buy her one," Mohinder acknowledged, nodding and placing the packages back on the shelves. "But I didn't agree to buy her a ridiculous amalgamation of historical outfits called 'Island Princess'. Also, I see no need for the doll to be this specific brand."
"She's a little girl and she wants a doll that the other kids in her class would play with." Matt sighed. "If it's not a Barbie, she's going to want a Bratz."
"Which are certainly more modern--"
"Sure. They're modern *hos*. We're not getting Molly a pint-sized hooker for her birthday."
"Matthew, those are outdated sexual stereotypes--"
"Have you seen what those dolls wear? I've arrested working prostitutes who wore more."
"They do have a range of different ethnicities. Something that is quite notably lacking in this," Mohinder paused, waving at the shelves of vacant-eyed plastic dolls that stared down at them, "array of Barbies."
"Fine, the Bratz are ethnically diverse. They still look like they'd blow you for a fifty and possibly give you change," Matt said -- low so he wouldn't be overheard by any other parents walking by -- and then added, "Besides, you mentioned body image and no woman has the body of a Bratz doll. Other than Nicole Ritchie."
Mohinder's lips twitched upwards, as if despite his better intentions, he was finding this situation as funny and surreal as Matt did. "I think you're reading too much into this choice."
"I'm not the one agonising over Trucker Barbie or Racing Fan Barbie." Crossing his arms, Matt stared at the frightening display in front of them. "Did you ever think we'd look after Molly and spend an entire afternoon arguing over birthday gifts?"
Mohinder nudged his shoulder against Matt's. "I believe these occasions are known as the unexpected wonders of parenthood."
"Yeah, sure," Matt said, trying to think of a reply that didn't sound corny, incredibly cheesy or both. Then he saw his salvation. He grabbed it and shoved it into Mohinder's hands. "Doesn't look like a hooker, shows ethnic diversity, and it's pretty enough that Molly will actually like it."
"Cinco de Mayo," Mohinder read aloud. "Maybe we should go back to the book section and find something on the history of Mexico to go with this."
"You remember the two hours we already spent in the book section buying her a novel, right?"
"That was fiction. This is educational," Mohinder said serenely, guiding them back to the bookstands.
Matt was so glad birthdays only came once a year.
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Matt/Mohinder (or, fine, Matt & Mohinder, since this is only slashy inside my head)
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing, not even a doll.
Summary: Matt had never imagined standing in the middle of a hot-pink aisle, trying to argue *for* Barbie dolls.
When Matt signed the foster care documents, he'd had visions of the future. He'd imagined watching "Back to the Future" with Molly and seeing her brand-new reactions to it, imagined enforcing regular bedtimes and making sure Molly did her homework every night. He hadn't imagined this: standing in the middle of a hot-pink aisle, trying to argue *for* Barbie dolls.
The fact that he was arguing with a genetic theorist only made the situation *slightly* more surreal.
"I'm not convinced this is in Molly's best interest," Mohinder said, turning the packages over to read the spiel printed on the back.
"We're getting her a Barbie, Mohinder."
"This is a doll based on the feminine ideal of the 1950s, which promotes an unrealistic body image and encourages girls to focus on superficial qualities."
Matt counted the points out on his fingers. "She's a ten year old girl. She likes playing with dolls. She's going to want one."
"And we agreed to buy her one," Mohinder acknowledged, nodding and placing the packages back on the shelves. "But I didn't agree to buy her a ridiculous amalgamation of historical outfits called 'Island Princess'. Also, I see no need for the doll to be this specific brand."
"She's a little girl and she wants a doll that the other kids in her class would play with." Matt sighed. "If it's not a Barbie, she's going to want a Bratz."
"Which are certainly more modern--"
"Sure. They're modern *hos*. We're not getting Molly a pint-sized hooker for her birthday."
"Matthew, those are outdated sexual stereotypes--"
"Have you seen what those dolls wear? I've arrested working prostitutes who wore more."
"They do have a range of different ethnicities. Something that is quite notably lacking in this," Mohinder paused, waving at the shelves of vacant-eyed plastic dolls that stared down at them, "array of Barbies."
"Fine, the Bratz are ethnically diverse. They still look like they'd blow you for a fifty and possibly give you change," Matt said -- low so he wouldn't be overheard by any other parents walking by -- and then added, "Besides, you mentioned body image and no woman has the body of a Bratz doll. Other than Nicole Ritchie."
Mohinder's lips twitched upwards, as if despite his better intentions, he was finding this situation as funny and surreal as Matt did. "I think you're reading too much into this choice."
"I'm not the one agonising over Trucker Barbie or Racing Fan Barbie." Crossing his arms, Matt stared at the frightening display in front of them. "Did you ever think we'd look after Molly and spend an entire afternoon arguing over birthday gifts?"
Mohinder nudged his shoulder against Matt's. "I believe these occasions are known as the unexpected wonders of parenthood."
"Yeah, sure," Matt said, trying to think of a reply that didn't sound corny, incredibly cheesy or both. Then he saw his salvation. He grabbed it and shoved it into Mohinder's hands. "Doesn't look like a hooker, shows ethnic diversity, and it's pretty enough that Molly will actually like it."
"Cinco de Mayo," Mohinder read aloud. "Maybe we should go back to the book section and find something on the history of Mexico to go with this."
"You remember the two hours we already spent in the book section buying her a novel, right?"
"That was fiction. This is educational," Mohinder said serenely, guiding them back to the bookstands.
Matt was so glad birthdays only came once a year.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 05:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 06:11 am (UTC)*BEAMS* Thank you. I think they'd actually make pretty good parents, balancing each other out in weird ways. However, in five years time when Molly starts liking boys, I think she'll have a double dose of scary-protective-dad to deal with.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 05:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 08:16 am (UTC)But I'm with Matt; I had to buy Bratz for my neices, and felt incredibly ashamed and disappointed that I was getting mini hookers for kids.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:25 pm (UTC)Hee! Mini-hookers! That's exactly what they look like. I mean, they're adorable in an anime, fun-fashions way but at the same time? Not something I want to promote to kids.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 10:32 am (UTC)But I'm so firmly on the Bratz side of the divide. Not only do they have ethnically diverse characters, they are subculturally diverse and reading the outfits simplistically as highly sexualised denies their reflection of expression of feminine bodies in modern culture. Also they don't try to have human bodies.
Um. Ok I've thought about that way too much (24 Bratz dolls and counting - it's a collection!)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:51 pm (UTC)Hee. Yeah, I knew about your collection so I'm not surprised at the reaction!
I will defend myself on two points. The first point is that Matt is definitely a *Dad*, a guy who likes beer, football and watching cheerleaders and at the very same time, would never, ever want his daughter dressing like that (she probably will, jsut as she'll end up dating and having her heart broken and becoming an adult, but Matt strikes me as a protective dad who'll have trouble dealing with those things). I think he'd see the sexual nature of the Bratz dolls outifts very, very clearly (regardless of other sociological factors -- factors that Mohinder would probably see the value of). So my first defense is in the name of characterisation.
My second defense is going to be personal preference. Yes, the dolls are more diverse than Barbie (both in ethnicities -- which are mixed enough that there isn't a clear "asian" version or "african american" version, but an actual blending of different skin/hair/eye colours as you get in real life -- and in subcultures) but... These are dolls that I think are great *in theory*, are great for an adult audience, but I don't agree with the idea of eight year olds playing with them and wanting to mimic the style of dressing (which is more sexual and adult in nature than Barbies, more of a "following fashion trends" than simply "dressing in pretty pinks" like the Barbie range).
Mind you, I don't agree with eight years olds watching Video Hits, Home & Away, shopping for fashionable clothes, idealising pop singers, going to concerts -- I don't agree with a whole load of things that most girls seem to do these days. But I was raised in a very protected environment and that's precisely how I'd want to raise my own daughter -- encouraging childish ideas of play, imagination and reading over fashions, boys and friendship groups. (Whether or not it's the best way to raise a girl is up for debate, though. *g*)
Also they don't try to have human bodies.
Eh. As a kid, I never really connected Barbie's figure to mine and I don't think most girls would connect Bratz figures to theirs, not really. But I don't know about the "human bodies" argument, because they are dolls with human characteristics (faces and skin tones that are clearly meant to *represent* humans, whether or not it's done in a realistic way).
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:19 pm (UTC)Bwah! That's exactly it. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, and at the end of the day, the kids themselves tend to ignore all the messages that worry the adults anyway.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 01:41 pm (UTC)"This is a doll based on the feminine ideal of the 1950s, which promotes an unrealistic body image and encourages girls to focus on superficial qualities."
Hee! I love This.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:10 pm (UTC)Well,that is a fantastic thing to hear and I would highly, highly recommend having a look at
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 05:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 09:04 pm (UTC)I had Barbies as a child, though I don't recall thinking anything about her actual figure (which I would never, in a million years, be able to aspire to). But Bratz dolls? Yikes....
Excellent fic! I can so picture this.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:14 pm (UTC)I had 7 or 8 Barbies and one Ken. And my lil bro played with them after me (he either pulled the heads off them in the bath or used to line up the girls and walk Ken up and down, choosing which one he'd take out for a date).
But, yeah, I never thought of the Barbies as a reflection of me, I just thought she was pretty and liked playing with the clothes.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-16 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 01:10 am (UTC)ahahhahahahahahahaha.
And Racing Fan Barbie! I wonder why you picked that one. *bats eyes*
*heart*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 01:57 am (UTC)Oh, you know me well! *smooches you*
Also, you know what helps me be all enthusiastic and fannish at work? Getting to eat a mcDonald's chocolate sundae. Mmmmm!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 01:21 am (UTC)I have no words. I just love this tons.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 01:53 am (UTC)*bounces* See, that's the thing of beauty about them. How much they care about each other and how much they're both thinking of Molly and what's best for her, and oh, this little family makes me so unbelievably happy.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 05:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 07:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 07:15 am (UTC)The Matt-Molly-Parkman household is my favorite part of this season, and this is a really wonderful slice of character work. Yay!
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 07:18 am (UTC)Thank you!
I absolutely love the vividness of Matt and Mohinder's voices, and the surreality of the situation, and the photographic accompaniment, because I have no idea what Barbies look like anymore. (The Cinco de Mayo Barbie is a good choice! And comparatively inexpensive. And they're getting her a history book to go with it. It's like an American Girl doll on a budget!)
Well, I had to look them up to work out what sort of Barbies were selling now, so I figured I might as well link them. And, yes, of course Mohinder would manage to make Barbie's *educational*. (Although personally? I think Molly will just enjoy playing witht he pretty dress.)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 10:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-18 06:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 11:45 am (UTC)I'm surprised Mohinder didn't want to get her a microscope or something.... :)
♥ ;)
no subject
Date: 2007-10-18 06:15 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-17 04:06 pm (UTC)"Fine, the Bratz are ethnically diverse. They still look like they'd blow you for a fifty and possibly give you change,"
GOD. SO TRUE. I'm all for ethnically diverse, but man. And this? this is of the win. And yes, verrry slashy in my head! The idea of Matt & Mohinder with their heads together over the books, arguing cutely. (Not a woman in the store wouldn't be going "AWWWWWWW" and poking their husbands/boyfriends about "why can't *YOU* treat me like that!")
no subject
Date: 2007-10-18 06:21 am (UTC)I'm so glad that other people spotted my favourite line. It makes me all kinds of happy.
The idea of Matt & Mohinder with their heads together over the books, arguing cutely. (Not a woman in the store wouldn't be going "AWWWWWWW" and poking their husbands/boyfriends about "why can't *YOU* treat me like that!")
Hee. So true. And you just know that there would have been at least three different sales assistants who talked to one of them on their own, noticed the lack of wedding rings and went gooey over them explaining, "I'm buying it for my ten year old daughter, etc, etc" and then were highly disappointed when Matt and Mohinder left very little personal space between them.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 02:48 am (UTC)*saves to memories*
no subject
Date: 2007-10-19 07:02 am (UTC)They really do. I think that's why I'm enjoying them so much in S2 -- they just *work* together.
no subject
Date: 2007-10-21 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-22 02:08 am (UTC)Thank you! I actually had to work out what dolls are currently being sold since "Life-like movements barbie" that I remember from my youth isn't one of the current options (also, if you're curious, "life-like movement" meant that her very stiff, bent arms would move up to brush her hair off her forehead when you pressed teh switch. "Life-life", my foot!).
no subject
Date: 2007-10-22 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-22 04:03 am (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-10-22 06:36 pm (UTC)My hatred of the Ho doll daughters of Satan is well known so, hah, Matt's comments are so completely made of win!
Will also be reccing this! ♥
no subject
Date: 2007-10-23 12:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-27 05:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-10-27 08:23 am (UTC)(Also, I totally giggled at your icon.)
no subject
Date: 2008-01-09 03:23 pm (UTC)lmao! Best. Line. Ever! I hate Bratz so much... Not that I really like Barbies either (I only had like two growing up. Being a tomboy rocked lol). Good story ^.^
no subject
Date: 2008-01-12 07:13 am (UTC)And thank you!
no subject
Date: 2008-10-14 11:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-14 09:55 pm (UTC)