Fulla (doll)

Fulla (Arabic: فُلَّة‎) is the name of an 11.5 in (290 mm) Barbie-like fashion doll marketed to children of Islamic and Middle-Eastern countries as an alternative to Barbie. The product's concept evolved around 1999, and it became available for sale in late 2003.[1] Fulla was created by a Syrian manufacturer from Syria called NewBoy FZCO.But since 2015 the company has moved to the UAE and it's now located in Dubai. Fulla is also sold in China (where it attracts children of the Hui minority), Brazil, North Africa, Egypt, and Indonesia, while a few are sold in the United States. Although there had been many other dolls in the past that were created with a hijab, such as Razanne and Moroccan Barbie, Fulla surpassed them in popularity due to launching alongside a marketing campaign aired on the then-popular television channel Spacetoon.[2] Fulla is a role-model to some Muslim people, displaying how many Muslim parents would prefer their daughters to dress and behave.[3]

Fulla
Fulla Princess character
A 2016 Fulla doll
First appearanceNovember 2003
Created byNewBoy FZCO
In-universe information
Alias"A Girl's Dream Doll"
GenderFemale
OccupationTeacher
Doctor
FamilyFather, mother, twin brother & sister (Nour and Bader), twin sisters (Basma and Nasma)
Age15

Comparison to Barbie

Fulla and Barbie are about the same height.[10] Differences between them include lifestyle and appearance. Fulla's activities mostly include shopping, spending time with her friends, cooking, reading, and praying. Barbie dolls come in a wide range of hobbies and careers. According to the brand manager at NewBoy, there will be a doctor and a teacher Fulla in the future, as "these are two respected careers for women that we would like to encourage small girls to follow."[7]

Although they both have a wide range of clothes, furniture, jewelry, and other equipment, Fulla's outdoor clothes do not include swimwear or anything similarly revealing. Skirts are longer than knee-length, and Fulla's shoulders are always covered.[11] Where Barbie dolls are made 'nude' beneath their clothes, Fulla's body has a vest and shorts painted on.[12] Compared to Barbie's curves, thin legs and large breasts, Fulla has a smaller chest, is thinner and may be younger than Barbie.[13] While the standard Barbie has blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin, the standard Fulla has dark hair, brown eyes and olive skin. Despite this, they are both criticized "for presenting the same unrealistic idea of beauty... a certain image for women to conform to."[14] Fulla was actually once described to be the physical antithesis of Mattel's Barbie.[15]

Fulla was designed to promote Muslim values and be a role model for Muslim girls worldwide, whereas Barbie is targeted to Americans.[16] Fulla has no male companion[11] whereas Barbie has Ken.

Popularity

Fulla is sold with a line of accessories, including umbrellas, watches, bicycles, corn flakes, cameras, CD players, inflatable chairs, and swimming pools. She was designed to be unlike Barbie and to be the traditional Muslim woman whose life revolves around home and family.[17] Some Muslim parents have claimed that if girls dress their dolls in headscarves, they will be more encouraged to wear a hijab themselves.[18] Fulla has been praised as giving girls a Muslim role model.[19]

In many of the countries in which the doll is sold, Fulla is relatively expensive at about $10 for the standard doll.[20] Because of this, NewBoy created a cheaper version of the doll called Fulla Style.[21] In 2015 NewBoy came with a reboot version of the Fulla doll also knows as Generation #5 that is sold from 2016–present day.

Fulla Magazine

NewBoy library is considered the electronic portal to access all educational materials such as "books and electronic magazines" related to NewBoy products like Fulla for example.

Launched in Oct. 2006, the monthly Fulla magazine is published in Arabic and is targeted at young females up to twelve years of age.

The 48-page magazine covers a number of topics, stories and activities. Over 45,000 copies are distributed throughout the Persian Gulf region and the Levant.

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See also

Notes and references
  1. Khaleej Times Online.com. ""Pulla" - the Arab world's Barbie". Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  2. Vanessa. "All Dolled Up...Well, Not Really". Feministing. Archived from the original on 2014-05-21. Retrieved July 16, 2006.
  3. Arts & Entertainment.com. "Fulla—the Hijab-Wearing Barbie w/Muslim Values Thrives among Young Girls in the Middle East". Archived from the original on April 30, 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
  4. Liberty Post.org. "Barbie who? (Fulla, her Islamic counterpart takes her on)". Archived from the original on 2006-01-28. Retrieved July 17, 2006.
  5. Al-Jadda, Souheila (December 13, 2005). "Move over, Barbie". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2013-06-24. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  6. Middle East.com (January 12, 2006). "Barbie loses out to veiled rival". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  7. The New York Times.com (September 22, 2005). "Bestseller in Mideast: Barbie With a Prayer Mat". Archived from the original on 2006-04-28. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  8. ANBA.com. "Virtual store wants to sell Muslim dolls in Brazil". Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  9. "Hijab Doll Knock Barbie off Shelves". Islam Online. September 24, 2005. Archived from the original on November 22, 2005. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  10. Abdel-Moneim, Amany (June 12, 2006). "Move Over, Barbie". Yale Global. Archived from the original on 2014-08-15. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  11. Arab world's demure Fulla is no Barbie wannabe
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2017-09-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  13. "Fulla Doll Gains Popularity In Egypt". WCCO. CBS Broadcasting. January 14, 2006. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2006.
  14. Csmonitor.com. "Can Fulla save Muslim girls from Barbie?". Archived from the original on 2006-03-31. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  15. Chicago Sun-Times.com. "Bye-bye Barbie: Muslim families pick modest Fulla doll". Archived from the original on July 2, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  16. Toydirectory.com. "The Road to Damascus: A Whole New Fashion Doll for the Middle East". Archived from the original on April 20, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  17. "Middle East: Islamic Doll Kicks Barbie's Ass". Western Resistance (Blog). September 22, 2005. Archived from the original on March 24, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  18. International Herald Tribute.com. "Barbie pushed aside in Mideast cultural shift". Archived from the original on 2006-06-18. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  19. Middle East Online.com. "Veiled Fulla is Arab answer to Barbie". Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved July 13, 2006.
  20. Militant Islam Monitor.com. "Barbie converts to Islam and gets a hijab". Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
  21. Tbt.com. "Doll that has it all (almost)". Archived from the original on 2005-12-05. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
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