An e-mail joke making the rounds “advertises” a new, limited edition “Southern Colorado” line of Barbie dolls, designed to play off stereotypes associated with area neighborhoods and communities.

For example, “Manitou Barbie” is depicted as a Birkenstock-wearing, man-hating lesbian with hairy armpits.

“Pine Creek Barbie” comes with a BMW convertible or Hummer H2, “Shallow Ken” and “Private School Skipper.”

Meanwhile, a recently paroled “Southside Springs Barbie” comes with a 9 mm handgun, a knife and “meth-lab kit.”

Experts in human behavior say it’s juvenile, mean-spirited and a perpetuation of hurtful stereotypes. It could, some suggest, harm the self-esteem of children — and even adults — in the targeted neighborhoods.

“The labels and stereotypes that percolate through mass culture are never really harmless fun,” said Katherine Giuffre, associate professor of sociology at Colorado College. “And this e-mail gets really mean. It’s a lot of denigrating, demeaning images.

“I think they are very hurtful. And more importantly, they point to a divisiveness in the community.”

Giuffre said she would not let children see the e-mail.

“We are bombarded with images that have an enormous impact on our lives and behaviors,” Giuffre said, describing how young girls develop eating disorders trying to emulate magazine models and children act out violence they see in video games and on television.

The e-mail suggests Briargate women are airheads who cruise around in their minivans wearing tight-fitting exercise outfits and talking on their cell phones.

Women in the unincorporated area of Widefield are promiscuous dropouts. Women from Peyton are tattooed, redneck party girls. And women from Pueblo are flamboyant, brawling tramps.