November 6, 2017
Climate Barbie?
I’m not sure who advised McKenna on this course of action, but how’s it working out now that the whole country knows her by that nickname? All the confrontation did is publicize the slur, the media outlet and make it stick by feeding the trolls.
Maybe this approach works with grade 3 bullies, but not when you’re a government official with a high profile portfolio charged with the herculean task of changing a lot of minds about climate change.
I want to ask: what’s wrong with Barbie dolls anyway? For generations, Barbie has sparked imagination, role-playing, social and cognitive skills – even exposed girls to career options – but not politics, apparently.
We fully expect Santa to be giving our outdoor-loving daughter Camping Barbie this Christmas.
But if there was such a doll available, she’d love to have a Climate Barbie. She and her little friends even started a recess and lunch break litter collection team. “It’s not good for the Earth, Mommy! We have to be kind to the Earth!”
The thing about when you’re being bullied is this: your first, gut response is the one you make and it is usually the wrong one. You want to stand up for yourself and confront them, but sometimes that just invites more of it. They win and you don’t deserve more crap that gets thrown at you.
I can’t help but think Catherine McKenna could have given a more positive response than what transpired here, one that stood up to her bully and for both young girls and women around the world.
Like maybe dressing up Barbie in green, giving her a tiny recycle bin or a Tesla car, placing it on her podium and introducing her to the world. – HPD.