Barbie May Want to Steer Clear of West Virginia on Her 50th Birthday

Published January 14, 2015

She's 50 years old and still causing controversy.

No, not Madonna. We're talking about Barbie.

West Virginia state lawmaker Jeff Eldridge proposed a bill Tuesday that would ban sales of the busty Mattel doll, and others like her, in the state, just days before the doll officially logs a half century on March 9.

“I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart," Eldridge told West Virginia Media. "I'd like to send a message to not only our children but parents and educators that let's push education over the importance of beauty.”

YOU DECIDE: Is Barbie bad for girls?

Fellow lawmaker Nancy Peoples Guthrie appreciated Eldredge's sentiment, but doubted the measure had a chance in the West Virginia State House.

“I think that it's nice to have a male member of the House of Delegates worried about women's image and what they're supposed to do or what they think they're supposed to do to succeed," Peoples Guthrie told West Virginia Media. "My sense is that this is probably not a bill that's going to pass.”

A Mattel spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

West Virginia would join a list of communities that includes Montpelier, Vt. and the country of Iran that have called for Barbie bans (Montpelier actually went through with it)

Mattel has been going all out promoting Barbie's 50th anniversary, including a blockbuster Barbie fashion show at New York Fashion Week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/story/barbie-may-want-to-steer-clear-of-west-virginia-on-her-50th-birthday