Barbie Dolls Lead to Mutilation, Torture

So are video games off the hook?

According to a report on CBC, a new study claims that mutilation and "torture" of Barbie dolls is common among young girls.

Researchers at the University of Bath have been looking into the effects of product branding and marketing on children aged seven to 11. They concluded that among products tested, Barbie provoked the most intense feelings.

"The doll provoked rejection, hatred and violence," said Agnes Nairn, a marketing professor in the university's school of management.

"The girls we spoke to see Barbie torture as a legitimate play activity, and see the torture as a 'cool' activity in contrast to other forms of play with the doll. The types of mutilation are varied and creative, and range from removing the hair to decapitation, burning, breaking and even microwaving."

Researchers suggested a variety of motivations for the behavior, most commonly that the girls felt they had outgrown playing with Barbie.

"It's as though disavowing Barbie is a rite of passage and a rejection of their past," said Nairn.

Mattel, which makes and sells Barbie, dismissed the results of the study, saying that annual sales totaling 94,000,000 Barbies prove that the doll is beloved.

GP: I don't even want to tell you what I did to my G.I. Joe's back in the day...

Thanks to GP regular Jabrwock for the heads-up... Your microwaved Barbie is in the mail.