Mamanazis

For years, the term "Feminazi" has been out there to describe militant feminists. Sure, it's offensive, but it gets the point across. I think the time has come to coin a new term: mamanazi. Simply put, the mamanazi thinks that nothing should be available to the general public that might have an adverse effect on her children.

"No porn on the internet!"

"No smoking on TV!"

"No gays on TV!"

(oh wait - that last one belongs to the religious right. I'm pretty sure the groups intersect.)

Well the mamanazis have turned against Dora the Explorer. In an attempt to maintain relevance with the pre-schoolers of yesterday (a.k.a. the tweens of today), the creators of Dora will be debuting a new show in the fall with Dora in middle school, no longer dressed like a four year old.

And then the world will end!

While Dora's look will not be revealed until next fall, the companies released a silhouette of the newly aged character, who's trading in her signature tomboy shorts and short bob for longer locks and a short skirt.

That new look has divided the playground -- while the more mature character has some parents scratching their heads in disbelief, other parents and children said they liked the new look.

"Oh, Dora goes wild," said one parent at a park with her children in Westport, Conn. yesterday when shown the new silhouette. "I'm not thrilled. No. I don't like it at all."

One group of parents has started an online petition protesting the change. "What next? Dora the cheerleader? Dora the fashionista with stylish purse and stilettos?" the petition reads. "We can expect it all, because that's what passes as 'tween' in the toy department these days."

So here she is, Media Hurricane Dora. I don't think she looks so tartish. I'm a little concerned about her giant head, and the fact that she seems to only have one sleeve. Sure, her skirt is short, but I think she's wearing capri-length leggings. Look at her straight leg - there seems to be a bump right below the knee (not as visible here as in the bigger version of the image). She's wearing sensible ballet flat shoes, and she's got her legs crossed - a message the mamanazis should love!

And as for the group with the online petition, would Dora the Cheerleader really be the worst thing in the world? I'm sure they would prefer Dora the Yearbook Editor or Dora the Soccer Phenom. (I almost said Dora the Softball Player, but that goes back to the "no gays on TV" thing...) But cheerleading as a "sport" is perfectly fine - it's the mean girls that give it the stigma.

More than her look, I'm wondering how the new show is going to play to the older audience. I can't imagine Swiper the fox being the villain in an urban middle school. And how often can she use her talking Map before she gets mugged in the subway because she looks like a tourist? Will she still put emphasis on every other word? While the alphabet and counting are easy to teach in 30-minute segments, I'm wondering what skills she'll be teaching the older kids. Will her ending song and dance be replaced with hip hop booty shaking?

Anyway, I hope the mamanazis will withhold judgement at least until they see the show. For now, judge not lest ye be judged. And since I'm judging the judgers, I guess that means it's open season on me, too. Oh well, nothing new about that!