2012 Razanne Muslim Doll

Assuming there’s nothing wrong with Barbie—a fairly large assumption, I’ll grant you—I can’t see anything terribly disturbing about Razanne. Indeed, she seems to embody the values of an essentially conservative, peace-loving Muslim middle class, about whom we hear far too little in the MSM.

I especially like Teacher Razanne—a concept quite foreign, until recently, in certain quarters of the Islamic world.

Fulla Doll and Muslim Lifestyle:

The Fulla Doll emerged in 2003 being marketed in mostly Arab countries as a Muslim lifestyle prop that caters to the modern Muslim motivations, needs and wants. Its marketers, Syria based New Boy Design Studios, created the Doll with Muslim values in mind much in stark contrast to the all-American Barbie who is considered to be an iconic “role-model” for young girls worldwide. According to a 2005 New York Times article, Fulla Dolls success had resulted in Barbie doll’s sales falling in the Middle East.

Meeting the Motivation for an Islamic Lifestyle:

Though Islam is often seen as a religion of “traditional,” the Muslim lifestyle is essentially something new as Muslims begin to disentangle themselves from cultural cling-ons and traditional practices that are not endorsed by Islamic teachings. Even in the Arab world, the number of women in hijab (the Muslim headscarf for women) is steadily increasing as the younger female generations are growing more aware of and becoming better educated regarding the Muslim woman dresscode. One common reason given is that following the tragedy of September 11 2001, many American Muslims renewed their interest and faith in order to gain a moral footing of Islam. Overall, more and more Muslims are looking towards the Islamic lifestyle as prescribed by the Qur’an and the Sunnah (way of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him) rather than those that are endorsed by traditional cultural practices.

The Fulla Doll has spawned through this motivation, leaving a thumbprint on the importance of adhering to Islamic principles. New Boy Design Studios has tapped into the Muslim market by emotionally connecting with parents who wish to raise the next generation of practicing Muslims, just by providing a reference guide in the form of a toy.

I’m conflicted: I half think ‘sure! Little Muslim girls probably like dolls and it must be nice to have one which isn’t dressed like a pole-dancer and maybe resembles them and their family.’ Then I think ‘Gross! Mattel is exporting commercialised conceptions of beauty (which are sick and wrong to begin with) all around the globe. Now that we’ve brainwashed the western world’s girls that they have to look like barbie in order to matter, we can start on the rest of the world. Also – I’m pretty sure most Muslims aren’t white. These dolls look like your average pasty european fresh from the tanning bed.