# Barbie commercial with stereotypically swishy young gay male child - Is this OK? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 16, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751 "2015-11-16T23:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/1 "2015-11-16T23:40:48Z")
Bold move by Mattel! [Commercial here](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/11/16/there_s_a_boy_in_this_barbie_commercial_and_he_is_a_sign_of_the_girly_capitalist.html). Just curious, would you ever have a kid that stereotypically swishy at that young an age in real life? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/2 "2015-11-16T23:52:04Z")
Any young kid who says “That’s fierce!” is exhibiting learned behavior. No one is born saying such a thing. But yes, there are young boys who act quite “swishy”, especially when they aren’t shamed about it. True, they are likely a tiny minority. But perhaps enough young boys will see that commercial and start feeling comfortable enough to show their swishy ways, and the number will grow. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/3 "2015-11-16T23:53:59Z")
Being swishy doesn’t make you gay, or vice versa, and playing with Barbies makes you neither swishy nor gay. But swishy people have the right to be portrayed with dignity. And they get to play with Barbies. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/4 "2015-11-16T23:57:09Z")
It’s okay with me. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/5 "2015-11-17T00:06:05Z")
I will say that Barbie commercials seem to have [changed a bit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwMG7ifuTjQ)[from the old days](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ELV9d12hHg)… ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/6 "2015-11-17T00:08:08Z")
Looks like a god-damn parody. Sickens me. (and only slightly because of the Fabio child) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/7 "2015-11-17T00:09:06Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Just curious, would you ever have a kid that stereotypically swishy at that young an age in real life? I know a guy, friend of my uncle. When his son was three, the kid would have complete, screaming meltdowns, because my uncle’s daughter, who was about the same age, got to wear prettier shoes than he did. That was about fifteen years ago. Last time I saw the kid, he showed up at Thanksgiving with his hot new French boyfriend - who is frankly way nicer than that kid deserves, the little snot. Anyway, yeah. While **AHunter** makes a good point about the difference between gender non-conformity and sexual identity, either way, this sort of thing can manifest _way_ early. ---
**Author:** ![Emiliana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@Emiliana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emiliana)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/8 "2015-11-17T00:34:12Z")
I want that kid’s haircut. Go ahead, call me swishy. (Yes on Miller’s point on early manifestation. I once thought my daughter was a swishy little boy.) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/9 "2015-11-17T00:46:31Z")
The ad makes me cringe - but not because of the boy. The girls are just as bad. ‘Hi - we’re pre-teens and we’re hooked on designer-wear - like, TOTALLY!!1!!’ _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/10 "2015-11-17T00:46:51Z")
I wish they had had commercials like this\* when I was that age (this was in the late 50’s, so it wasn’t gonna happen). I was so full of shame once I realized at age 7 that I was _one of those people_, I completely shut down emotionally, something from which I still suffer to some degree today. So yes, if you have to have commercials for obnoxious toys, please show all kinds of boys and girls in them. \*This commercial is only incrementally more horrible than the commercials I remember from my childhood. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/11 "2015-11-17T01:16:15Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Just curious, would you ever have a kid that stereotypically swishy at that young an age in real life? I know a few. And I wouldn’t bet on which (if any) are gay. “Looking” and “being” are very different things. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/12 "2015-11-17T01:27:26Z")
As a completely separate matter from having a boy in it, I feel like the whole commercial was meant to be over-the-top ridiculous. The way the kids pronounced “Mo-_schi_-no”, the Moschino t-shirt in the background, something in the tone of the voice-over woman . . . Maybe I’m just underestimating consumerism, but it seemed like a parody of itself. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/13 "2015-11-17T03:08:44Z")
Aside from the enthusiasm over the brand name, which I’ve always disdained, I wouldn’t have noticed anything about that boy aside from the last sentence where it seemed like he had a “baby talk” kind of accent going on. I don’t think he seems particularly oriented in any direction. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/14 "2015-11-17T03:17:07Z")
Wait, how come Moschino Barbie has a 1990s model phone? Is she being hipster ironic? And that boy can swish or vamp as much as he damn well pleases, in fact I agree that part of progress should be to be able to do so without it being seen as a negative. But I’m more confused that his hair/clothes style looks to me 30 years out of phase… or is that it’s what’s coming back this season? Besides count me as someone who doesn’t get what’s to be so het up about Mos-chi-no anything. (BTW thanks to **Count Blucher** for digging up those old oh-that’s-just-wrong Nissan ads featuring GI Joe going all Alpha Male on Barbie and Ken… but the thing is, those WERE parodies!) ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/15 "2015-11-17T03:18:47Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Any young kid who says “That’s fierce!” is exhibiting learned behavior. No one is born saying such a thing. Any young kid who says anything is exhibiting learned behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/16 "2015-11-17T13:42:23Z")
If I had just seen the commercial cold, with no explanation, I would have assumed the boy was a girl with a bad haircut. I guess that’s what happens when you feed your kids Campbell’s soup. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/17 "2015-11-17T13:53:22Z")
I want to be like Bill Maher, and say something supporting because I’m Progressive, but also snarky because I’m an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/18 "2015-11-17T14:20:43Z")
I’ve never heard of Moschino. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/19 "2015-11-17T14:38:35Z")
I find the mini Valley Girls far more objectionable than the boy. Also, \*\*Octarine \*\*is right, it feels like a parody, such as you’d see on SNL. And why does a boy who is interested in fashion dolls (or other boys, for that matter) have to be portrayed as swishy? On the one hand, I think it’d be great if those that like to get their swish on could grow up feeling comfortable doing as they please. On the other, is it furthering a stereotype? Aren’t the vast majority of gay males non-swishy? Either way, I cannot wait to see / hear about the spittle flecked outrage this is sure to induce. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751/20 "2015-11-17T14:43:54Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > As a completely separate matter from having a boy in it, I feel like the whole commercial was meant to be over-the-top ridiculous. The way the kids pronounced “Mo-_schi_-no”, the Moschino t-shirt in the background, something in the tone of the voice-over woman . . . Maybe I’m just underestimating consumerism, but it seemed like a parody of itself. Yeah, I kind of figured it was essentially a fashion parody, except instead of some OTT gay man and some fashionistas cooing over a model wearing some designer’s clothing, it was children dressed up and acting like that cooing over Barbie. I don’t even think that there was any real intention to portray the boy himself as gay, but rather as a kid parody of gay designers and fashion commentators. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/barbie-commercial-with-stereotypically-swishy-young-gay-male-child-is-this-ok/737751.md?page=2)