Have all you Bratz-bashing "parents" (I don't really believe most of you are out of High School) ever actually played with one? Growing up, I owned both Bratz AND Barbies, but preferred Bratz  for reasons just like Nikkole said. They had "trendy" clothes (Honestly, not many of the outfits were trashy, just downright hideous) and more and better hair. Just because I played with them doesn't mean at all that I aspired to be like them. Extremely far from it, actually. I wear less makeup than nearly every girl in my High School, and I'm a huge believer in natural beauty. What you played with as a child doesn't even come close to defining you.

Also, have any of you SEEN a Bratz doll? Any kid who wants to look like one has serious issues. They have heads taller than their torsos, lips the size their head should be, and feet that come off. Far from the ideal image.

When Bratz dolls first came out, some relative (on the OTHER side of the family) gave my daughter one for her birthday.  I took one look at it and threw it in the trash. 

I think the bratz dolls are horrible role model toys for girls. I think they have too much make up on thier face, and thier clothes are slutty and show too much "skin". Girls don't need that kind of example of being a girl.  Mind you, when I was a girl, Barbies face had a ton of make-up on her and had an impossible waist no normal girl could have along with other attributes. Now she's far more natural looking.

I would never buy those dolls for my daughter. Yes, she's asked for one, and we talked about why I won't by them. Now she looks at them and says "Mom, they need a natural make over!".

I did buy her a barbie doll, but we still talk about real expectations of size, shape, beauty and weight. I'm 5 ft 4, I'll never be a super model, or wear a size 7 again. My daughter is on her way to being probably 5 ft 7, and wants to be a Engineer.  She's 10.

Let people buy whatever doll they like best. As for me, Barbie will never be beat by any other doll.  A few great reasons to love Barbie.  Barbie is a perfect example of what a feminine woman should look like. She keeps her hair and nails looking nice, wears makeup and dresses with a sense of style and class WITHOUT ever looking cheap.  Barbie cares about her weight and never makes an excuse why she has to look like a over puffed marshmallow.  Barbie is a happy person, cares about others yet keeps her strong vision and moral fiber intact.  Barbie wanted marriage but Ken did not so they split up. Barbie came out looking like a classy lady once again and was not going to let a man have his way with her without being married. 

Thumbs up if Barbie IS what a woman should be.   

Barbie YOU will always be my doll of choice.