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Rediff.com  » Business » Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
This article was first published 10 years ago

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Last updated on: May 21, 2013 11:39 IST

Image: Activists from women's rights group Femen burn a barbie doll on a cross as they protest outside a
Photographs: Pawel Kopcz/Reuters
Women's rights protesters disrupted the opening of a giant pink doll's house in Berlin, saying the Barbie "Dreamhouse Experience" objectified women.

(Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: A general view shows a Barbie Dreamhouse of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Promoting the doll made by Mattel Inc, the house allows paying visitors to try on Barbie's clothes, play in her kitchen and have a go on her pink piano.

The exhibition will be open until August 25.

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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: People relax outside the Barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

A handful of protesters gathered outside the shocking pink house that has been erected in one of central Berlin's greyest areas.

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Tags: Berlin , Barbie

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: Activists from women's rights group Femen burn a barbie doll on a cross as they protest outside the Barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters

A topless woman, a member of the Femen protest group, who had the slogan "Life in plastic is not fantastic" scrawled across her chest, set fire to a Barbie doll tied to a mini crucifix.

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: People enter a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse of Mattel's Barbie dolls during a media tour in Berlin.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

"There's too much emphasis on becoming more beautiful and on being pretty and that puts an awful lot of pressure on girls as well as wasting capacities which they could use to simply be happy or for school," said Stevie Meriel Schmiedel, a founding member of the "Pink Stinks" protest group.

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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: A visitor stands inside a Barbie Dreamhouse of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

"We're protesting because Barbie would not be able to survive with her figure and yet she is an idol for many girls and that's not healthy," she said.

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: A room is pictured inside a Barbie Dreamhouse of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

One placard read: "Dear Barbie - don't just bake cupcakes, eat them too!"

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: Girls watch the kitchen inside a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

A male protester in a wig, pink shirt and shimmering skirt held a poster reading: "Do you like me now?"

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: A staff poses for the photographer inside a life-size Barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Christoph Rahofer, chief executive of Event Marketing Services, which organized the exhibition, similar to one that recently opened in Sunrise, Florida, said the Dreamhouse Experience was a positive thing.

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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: A women watches Mattel's Barbie dolls inside a barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

"It's basically about playing, being amazed and discovering - there are lots of hidden things to be found and it's an interactive exhibition."

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin

Image: Demonstrators protest with a performance against a Barbie Dreamhouse.
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

The Barbie doll made its debut in 1959, and is named after the daughter, Barbara, of its inventor Ruth Handler, according to Mattel's website.

Click NEXT to see more images of the Barbie Dreamhouse...


Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin


Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Six year-old Lara (C) plays with a computer inside a "Barbie Dreamhouse" of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin , Mattel , Lara

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin


Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

A staff poses for the photographer next Mattel's Barbie dolls are pictured inside a life-size so-called "Barbie Dreamhouse" during a media tour in Berlin.

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin , Mattel

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin


Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

Mattel's Barbie dolls on sale are pictured inside a shop of a life-size "Barbie Dreamhouse" during a media tour in Berlin.

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Tags: Barbie , Berlin , Mattel

Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin


Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

A giant shoe is pictured outside a life-size "Barbie Dreamhouse" of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.

Tags: Barbie , Berlin , Mattel
Source: REUTERS
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