GIRLS hate Barbie so much that many torture, maim and cut her head off, says research out yesterday.
Many seven to 11-year-olds revile her because she is a "babyish" reminder of their early childhood. Some microwaved or burned them.
Yet boys who had outgrown Action Man still had affection for him.
Many girls thought it "cool" to mutilate Barbie because she was just a "plastic" doll, according to the Bath University study of 100 youngsters.
Dr Agnus Nairn said: "It's as though disavowing Barbie is a rite of passage."
But he added: "Whilst for an adult the delight the child felt in torturing dolls is disturbing, from their point of view they were being imaginative disposing of an excessive commodity in the same way as one might crush cans for recycling."
Kids, who spend £3billion pocket money a year, also hate being targeted by advertisers. And they are more likely to chat about celebrities than toys and games.
Many seven to 11-year-olds revile her because she is a "babyish" reminder of their early childhood. Some microwaved or burned them.
Yet boys who had outgrown Action Man still had affection for him.
Many girls thought it "cool" to mutilate Barbie because she was just a "plastic" doll, according to the Bath University study of 100 youngsters.
Dr Agnus Nairn said: "It's as though disavowing Barbie is a rite of passage."
But he added: "Whilst for an adult the delight the child felt in torturing dolls is disturbing, from their point of view they were being imaginative disposing of an excessive commodity in the same way as one might crush cans for recycling."
Kids, who spend £3billion pocket money a year, also hate being targeted by advertisers. And they are more likely to chat about celebrities than toys and games.
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