I have to admit that I don't see much difference between the male barbies and the GI joes either (except for the name Barbie on them as you have already mentioned). There is only the perception of something different. The reality is that they are both dolls.

Gender stereotyping says that it's bad for boys to play with dolls. I don't understand why. I think what they see is themselves in the doll. When toddler boys play with dolls, they are acting out what they see their mom and dad doing, which is taking care of them. When older kids play with dolls, again, they are merely acting out things in their imagination. I suspect if you get him these dolls, then he will pretend play what he has seen from the movies. (Although the female barbies in your house might want to watch out lest they become allergic to the sun.)

I have to also admit that I don't understand why some dads (obviously not all because some probably don't care) would be bothered by kids playing with dolls. I believe anyone who is homosexual is born that way; they aren't changed by playing with dolls. And I don't believe that any of that would manifest until teen years anyway.

But besides that, I belong to a mom group website, and many with adult sons and daughters have posted that their sons' played with the sisters' barbies or baby dolls and have grown up to be quite independent and productive people.

We could also think back to our toys. I certainly don't remember all of the toys that I have had over the years. At 6, I doubt your son would remember playing with "girl dolls," especially since he already has dolls (and tell your husband to stop kidding himself. Just cause the dolls have chest hair doesn't make them any less of dolls). He will probably see them as all one type of toy. It's our adult perspective that classifies them as "girl toys" or "boy toys." My daughter has plenty of trucks and a tool bench along with learning toys and baby dolls.

I say get them for him. He'll love them. Good luck to you.

Dads are funny about stuff like that, aren't they? When my son was grade-school age he asked for beads and string to make friendship bracelets, and my hubby had a fit because I bought them for him; that was a "girl" activity in his book! But I wasn't going to squash my son's creative instincts, which were quite strong then and still are. And I have no doubt about his heterosexual preferences!

Dolls are dolls, whether they are Barbies or "action figures." I would probably buy my son the Twilight Barbies but take them out of the packages before dad saw them, if I knew it was going to be a big issue. He'd never know the difference.

I always find it sad when parents try to enforce gender rules with their kids: "No, Johnny, you can't pursue your interests. You have to act like society says, or no one will love you!" However you want to say it, it's the same.

No one worries about girls playing with trucks. People worry about boys with dolls because they're afraid it will somehow turn him gay (oh, the horror, the horror). If a GI Joe won't hurt him, a Barbie won't hurt him. If anything, denying him these things will make him wonder if he's somehow "wrong," or "bad."

I say, let kids pick their own toys. Encourage them to be creative and imaginative, and accepting of themselves.

I have 4 grand daughters and when we go to see them my 9 year old son plays dolls and house with them and when they come here they play trucks and trains with him. It's just a toy it doesn't mean anything or cause anything.

He actually loves going there because they have toys that he doesn't have and he likes playing with them. It just dawned on me that he has never requested any of the toys for himself he just likes to play with them with the girls. Hmmmmm interesting...