An artist reimagined Bratz dolls as iconic women. The results? So cool.

Are toys just … toys? Or do they have a bigger effect?

It’s a question artist and mom Wendy Tsao asked when she learned about the controversy swirling around Bratz dolls.

Photo by Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images.

Some parents and psychology groups have argued the dolls’ hyper-sexualized appearance isn’t a great influence on the young girls who play with them.

“I considered the point of view that playing with Bratz dolls or Barbie dolls does not affect a child’s body image,” Tsao told Upworthy.
“This led me to wonder whether a doll does have an impact on a child’s view of herself and of the world.”

That wonder sparked the project that’s now making waves across the web.

Tsao created “Mighty Dolls,” an art series that transforms Bratz dolls from their original state into iconic women.

Inspired by artist
Sonja Singh, Tsao took the concept of reimagining Bratz and added her own twist: “Mighty Dolls” are what happens when you turn Bratz dolls into powerful, influential women.

What would happen if a kid had, say, a little Malala Yousafzai to pal around with?

Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai became a champion for global girls education after being shot by the Taliban in 2012 for simply trying to attend school. Learn more about her here. Photo used with permission from Wendy Tsao.

Or the Harry Potter author/Queen of Twitter J.K. Rowling?

What if a kid became besties with a mini Jane Goodall?

If anyone has built up some good karma, it has to be animal-loving, peace-making Jane Goodall. Learn more about her work here. Photo used with permission from Wendy Tsao.

Or helped make the world a better place with Waris Dirie?

Read more: http://www.upworthy.com/an-artist-reimagined-bratz-dolls-as-iconic-women-the-results-so-cool?c=tpstream

An artist reimagined Bratz dolls as iconic women. The results? So cool.

body-image, diversity-and-equality, gender-equality, health, inspiring, multi-item

For Anyone Who's Ever Looked In The Mirror And Wondered, 'Do I Really Look That Way?'

My kids love looking at themselves in the mirror. They smile and make funny faces and generally think their reflections are awesome. I suspect many of us felt that way when we were very young. But over time, that changes for some of us. How can we start seeing ourselves differently? I love this whole video, but the second half is the best.

Note: There is a scene containing brief nudity.

Read more: http://upworthy.com/for-anyone-whos-ever-looked-in-the-mirror-and-wondered-do-i-really-look-that-way

For Anyone Who"s Ever Looked In The Mirror And Wondered, "Do I Really Look That Way?"

body-image, health, inspiring, video

It's Way Normal For Half Of Us, So Why Do Movies Make It Seem Like The End Of The World?

I heard Aunt Flo is in town. Or maybe it’s Cousin Red? I can’t remember, but I do know it’s leak week for a lot of women out there surfin’ that crimson wave. But it’s totally normal to be on the rag when it’s *THAT* time of the month, so, yeah…

Joking about periods can keep it all silly and casual, but this video really made me think: Does it actually do more harm than good by not giving people the *actual* language needed to have conversations about such a natural part of life?

Read more: http://upworthy.com/its-way-for-half-of-us-so-why-do-movies-make-it-seem-like-the-end-of-the-world

It"s Way Normal For Half Of Us, So Why Do Movies Make It Seem Like The End Of The World?

body-image, gender, gender-equality, health, health-reproductive-rights, thought-provoking, video

She’s Got Some Strong Words For Her 16-Year-Old Self, And They’re Hilarious and True

Anna Akana’s got some strong words for herself. Her 16-year-old self. She’s learned a lot since then, and only a time machine would make it possible for her to lay all this good truth on her younger self. Oh, well, she can just send this tough-love video.

Warning: Straight talk sometimes requires NSFW language.

Read more: http://upworthy.com/shes-got-some-strong-words-for-her-16-year-old-self-and-theyre-hilarious-and-true

She’s Got Some Strong Words For Her 16-Year-Old Self, And They’re Hilarious and True

body-image, community, entertainment-culture, fashion-design, health, human-condition-or-culture, inspiration-general, inspirational, inspiring, video

There Is Now A Calorie-Counting App That Fat Shames You Into Not Eating

We Heart It

In a world of Skinny Mirrors that mask our insecurities and high-tech mirrors that alert us to how “ugly” we are, we can’t feign too much surprise at the reveal of the latest food-shaming app to hit the scene.

Carrot Hunger comes to us straight from the gates of hell to say really mean sh*t about our weight, which is supposed to somehow encourage us to keep to our diets.

Carrot Hunger tells you like it is without messing around.

According to Foodbeast, Carrot Hunger greets you with the following uplifting message as you input your measurements: “Greetings meatbag.”

It then insults you based on how tall you are or based on how much you weigh.

The calorie-counting app allows you to input what you eat and keep track of your daily meals.

It continues to insult you each step of the away.

The app sets a limit for the amount of calories you’re allowed to consume daily, forcing you to “bribe” it with a .99 cent payment every time you screw up. As messed up as that is; it’s kind of a great marketing scheme.

As Hilary Pollack, editor of Munchies, reported after trying the app:

Just to be a jerk, I try to tell the app that I have just consumed 11 Milky Way bars on top of my fairly decadent breakfast. This ‘snack’ pushes me far beyond my daily caloric limit. I’m given the option of bribing the app not to include it in my intake log for 99 cents (a smart monetization model, I will admit), or to ‘ACCEPT CONSEQUENCES.’

But that’s not all; no sir. The app has an assortment of “punishments” at the ready for your lack of self-control, including publicly shaming you as well as putting rude ads on the bottom of the app to demonstrate your tendency towards eating everything you see.

After all of this depreciation, we have to wonder: Does the app actually work to help you shed pounds?

According to Pollack:

Although I didn’t actually eat the near-dozen Milky Ways, I feel a little bit defensive, indignant, and (yes) ashamed. But truth be told, I kind of enjoy this sense of punishment; the interface is so jolly that it feels more like a playful mental spanking than an emotional beatdown.

So, if you’re into feeling like sh*t about yourself at the hands of your smartphone, by all means give this app a try.

Carrot Hunger

Read more: http://elitedaily.com/women/beauty/this-app-will-fat-shame-you-so-you-dont-eat-photo/905440/

There Is Now A Calorie-Counting App That Fat Shames You Into Not Eating

body-image, Carrot Hunger, diet, fat shaming, skinny mirrors

Meet The Wannabe New Barbie, No Longer Burdened With Those Unattainable Alien-Like Legs

Let’s be real: Barbie is a pretty messed up toy. First off, Mattel, the company that makes it, assumes that girls only want to play with dolls (not true), and the doll itself has such a ridiculous, unattainable look that it even has a syndrome named after it.* So one artist decided to see what she’d look like based on measurements from America’s Centers for Disease Control for an average 19-year-old woman. Here’s how he did it.

First, he printed a 3-D model.

Then he made the model look the part.

What do you think? Which one would you buy?

* Barbie syndrome is a real issue.

Read more: http://upworthy.com/meet-the-wannabe-new-barbie-no-longer-burdened-with-those-unattainable-alien-like-legs-7

Meet The Wannabe New Barbie, No Longer Burdened With Those Unattainable Alien-Like Legs

body-image, health, photo, thought-provoking

VIDEO: The Sexist Ads Of 2012

2012 was a great year for women in politics. For women in advertisements, not so much.

Read more: http://upworthy.com/video-the-sexist-ads-of-2012

VIDEO: The Sexist Ads Of 2012

body-image, entertainment-culture, health, media-entertainment, shocking, video

What It’s Like For Some Women To Move Through Life, In 4 Minutes

This definitely isn’t the experience of every woman, but what a way to capture how a person can relate to their body over time.

Read more: http://upworthy.com/what-its-like-for-some-women-to-move-through-life-in-4-minutes

What It’s Like For Some Women To Move Through Life, In 4 Minutes

body-image, community, gender, health, human-condition-or-culture, rape-gender-violence-trafficking, thought-provoking, video