"Iran’s top prosecutor has called for restrictions in the import of Western toys, saying they have a destructive effect on the country’s youth."

And don't see that much wrong about it. I come from Norway, which certainly is a country with many similarities to the culture in the US - and I have about 20 Barbie dolls that look pretty much all the same. Blonde, tall and VERY skinny. It's strange I didn't end up chasing the dream of looking like Barbie. Chasing the image of the "ideal girl".

And yeah, I would still like to wear what I want even though I'm posting this, but really, it's all about culture. And this is an observance of culture, no criticism, no "I like this much better", it's only observance of a toy sold in the Arabic countries.

I would actually say that the Arabic countries have done something about the problem that could occur, girls chasing a maybe dangerous dream. Simply change the ideal, and get rid of the problems. (My way of saying to the European contries/US that: put more clothes on Barbie, she'll need it. To show girls what real beauty is, without the short skirts, big, blonde hair and blue eyes with looong eyelashes.)

So when I found my Barbie dolls again - after about 10 years of forgetting that I had them - I was stunned that I had that many blonde Barbie dolls.
And even happier when I found a dark haired one. (Which showed up to be Esmeralda from The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. So that's the doll in this picture, it's Esmeralda. I used the same doll in this picture, [link] , but I've changed the eyecolor to brown in both pictures... and of course added a burka in this photo. )

I've made the burka (made it out of a scarf), added a sepia effect and even put more makeup on her eyes.
I had to make the burka myself, because the dolls I saw in Egypt that had a burka on, they weren't that kind of dolls I wanted to use for my photos. So it took a while, but it was well worth it!

I actually don't think she looks too bad with it. I need something new to put up on the walls in my room. I think it would be cool if I had many portraits of Barbie dolls, and then I certainly would add this portrait to the collection. Even though most of her face is invincible, I think she has personality. More than what I can say about the blonde, tall and skinny dolls I have dozens of. None of them are unique, but hey - a burka Barbie really is!

So I guess my photography project for now will be to add personality/lack of personality to my Barbie dolls. As a conceptual thing.
^^