Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The Best of The Simpsons: Lisa vs. Malibu Stacey

Inspired by a talking Barbie doll who bravely told girls that “Math is Hard”, this Simpsons classic begins with Grampa Simpson deciding to give the family their inheritance before he dies. Lisa chooses to spend her money on a talking Malibu Stacy doll, then is aghast to discover the sexist things that it says, classic lines like-

“Don’t ask me- I’m just a girl”

“Let’s Bake cookies for the boys”

and even worse-

“My name is Stacy, but you can call me (wolf whistle).”

Lisa’s attempt to confront the management of the company that makes Malibu Stacy during a factory tour shows that the men in management are not very enlightened about women’s rights, as evidenced by the following exchange:

Lisa: Is the remarkably sexist drivel spouted by Malibu Stacy intentional or is just a horrible mistake?
Female Tour Guide: Believe me, we’re very mindful of such concerns.
Male Executive: Hey jiggles, grab a pad and back that gorgeous butt in here.
Female Tour Guide: Oh, get away, you!
Male Executive: Don’t act like you don’t like it.

Disturbed by what she sees, Lisa convinces the original creator of Malibu Stacy to come out of retirement and create a new doll named Lisa Lionheart. With its hilariously sexist dialogue, this episode is an excellent satire of society’s views on women and the way the toy industry passes these sexist viewpoints onto the next generation through harmless seeming toys.

And now, just because, another quote from Malibu Stacy herself-

“I wish they taught shopping in school”