Challenge over Girl Scouts’ tie to Barbie

NEW YORK — A few weeks after her foray into the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, Barbie is entangled in controversy again, this time over her ties with the Girl Scouts.

Two advocacy groups often critical of corporate advertising tactics — the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and the Center for a New American Dream — on Thursday urged the Girl Scouts of the USA to end its partnership with the doll’s manufacturer, the Mattel toy company.

The partnership, announced in August, includes a Barbiethemed activity book, a website and a Barbie participation patch — the first Girl Scout uniform patch with corporate sponsorship.

“Holding Barbie, the quintessential fashion doll, up as a role model for Girl Scouts simultaneously sexualizes young girls, idealizes an impossible body type, and undermines the Girl Scouts’ vital mission to build ‘girls of courage, confidence and character,’ ” said Susan Linn, director of the commercial-free childhood organization in Boston.

The Girl Scouts’ national headquarters in New York rejected the groups’ appeal.

“Our partnership with Mattel focuses on career exploration and teaches girls about inspiring women in a fun way,” its statement said. “We stand behind this partnership, as it helps us bring to over 2 million Girl Scouts the message that they can do anything.”