BIG NEWS! Mattel has finally listened to society and decided
to create a new line of Barbie Dolls that are more body realistic.
The evolution of Barbie since she debuted in 1959 has been
huge. She has had roughly 150 careers, the epitome of a working gal, and she
dominates each one in style.
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| Human "Barbie" |
One thing she is known widely for is her thin, unrealistic,
physique. Its been studied that her looks cause body dismorphic disorder in
young women, and set unattainable standers. Because of this people have criticized
the company for putting out a doll that young girls would negatively compare
themselves to. Few woman around the world have made it their mission to change
their bodies to look like Barbie, going though numerous, dangerous, surgeries
to obtain the Barbie-bod.
I no longer have the files, but I did a group presentation
in college on Eating Disorders and Body Dismorphic Disorder, and we touched on
the topic of Barbie’s unrealistic size. Besides the fact her knees and elbows
are fixed in one spot she would have multiple other issues that would make it
impossible to stand up straight. In summary her neck would have trouble holding
her head, her ankles could not support her body, and she would not have room in
her body for vital organs.
Being realistic, I was never one to sit there and stare at a
doll thinking “I’m not pretty enough unless I look at her,” but not everyone
can rationalize this idea. Many women compare themselves to this figure who is
flawless and in need of a cheeseburger. As we get into a world where life
revolves around the Internet it is appropriate that Mattel has come out with
these new figures to share with young girls who are more affected by body types
and the way they look.
I strongly believe that Barbie’s were just another toy in
the box, they were just used as fun girly toys that we enjoyed, and we didn’t
pay attention to their physique. But as times have changed we not only judge
how women look, but we have reverted to judging a doll that most girls have
grown up knowing to be their best friend. In reality it is just a doll. We have
chosen to give it power in how we compare it to REAL women… Luckily no one ever
compared themselves to a Raggedy Ann Doll.
All in all I think it’s great that Mattel has given Barbie a
new look since we tend to base ourselves off the toys we grow up playing with.
I’m not mad over the fact I had the “unrealistic” Barbie, but then again I
don’t tend to compare myself to an inanimate object. I know I’m coming off
quite cynical, but society has driven women to judge themselves making toy
companies feel obligated to change a 57-year-old doll. I don’t think if society
were in uproar anything would have been changed.
One thing I do commend them changing for a GOOD reason is
the new Barbie’s will have various skin tones and hair colors. Although Barbie has
had various skin and hair colors in the past, she was mainly known as a blonde hair blue eyed Caucasian.
I 100% love the idea that girls can finally get a Barbie that looks like them
in that aspect!
In reality it's great that girls can look at these new dolls and see normal sizes and realize that their sizes aren't so different, that they are also NORMAL! So kudos on that. Unfortunately this does not solve societies problems, girls will still want breast implants and lipo suction. That being said we are a step in the right direction. Now we just need a Gay Pride Barbie and all will be good!
PPPS: With all these new sizes you'll have to actually pay attention to the clothes you buy for your barbie!! Thats kind of fun!
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