WTF Barbie is No Role Model - Veena Goel Crownholm

I know, I know I am going to get crucified for saying this, but BARBIE IS NO ROLE MODEl. Lets dissect this idea:

1) Her History is Flawed: Barbie was originally created by Ruth Handler after the German doll Bild Lilli. Who was Bild Lilli? A prostitute gag gift doll that was for bachelor parties, thus her prominent bust and itty bitty waist size. Handler was trying to pitch a 3 dimensional “plastic” paper doll to her company “Mattel” for pre-teen girls, like her daughter Barbara, to play with. Handler named the doll “Barbie” after her daughter and brought it to the toy fair in 1959. Contrary to popular belief, the doll did not become an overnight sensation, it was only after money was heavily dumped into advertising during Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club did the doll take off. Who knew, Barbie’s sordid past? Not me and I bet not you either

2) She still has NO FLAWS

So maybe with the “new” line of Barbies coming out, Barbie has 3 new body options (petite, tall and curvy), 7 new skin tones and 24 hairstyles. Yes she has way more options for your little one to choose from, but she really has NO flaws still. She might have larger hips in the “curvy” model but there are no lumps and bumps like a normal person might have. She still had a picture perfect face with eyelashes for days and perfectly pouty mouth. She doesn’t look like the every day woman to me. She is a model of perfection–which I will expand upon later

3) Proportions are still Whack

Previous Barbie models were totally impossible proportions in real life:

6ft tall

100 lbs

39in Bust

19in waist

Although Barbie has a few more body options, I find it hard to believe that any one of them would accurately represent what its like to be petite, tall and/curvy in real life with more “real life” proportions. Why are we celebrating unattainable ideals? Why are we showing our little girls that this is an ideal look?

4) Emphasizes Body Labels MORE

While on one side I applaud Mattel for coming up with some new Barbie options to be slightly more inclusive of today’s girl, we are actually adding MORE labels onto our girls. Indirectly we are asking them if they fall into one of these categories…petite, curvy, tall or old school barbie? If we buy a Barbie as a gift for a petite girl, do we have have to buy a “petite” Barbie that looks more like her? Will it empower her or deflate her about her height? If she has curves, are we telling her that she looks more like a curvy Barbie and may never be a traditional Barbie? Why do we have to categorize little girls like this? I certainly don’t agree with the following statements:’The new toys allow “the product line to be a better reflection of what girls see in the world around them,” says spokeswoman Michelle Chidoni.’

‘”We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty,” said Evelyn Mazzocco, senior vice president and global general manager of Barbie’

Seriously?!?!? Look at the picture above. These Barbie’s DO NOT reflect women around the world!!!!

5) Barbie does not INSPIRE

I know the Chief Operating Officer of Mattel feels differently that I do about this because he believes ‘ “For more than 55 years, Barbie has remained a global, cultural icon and a source of inspiration and imagination to millions of girls around the world,” Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Mattel, said in a statement. “Barbie has reflected the world girls see around them. Her ability to evolve and grow with the times, while remaining true to her spirit, is central to why Barbie has remained the number one fashion doll in world.” ‘

What exactly has Barbie inspired? Little girls who want to have an unattainable body? Perfectly coifed hair? Permanent eye makeup? Perfect looking boyfriend/husband Ken? Bubblegum lifestyle? Until recently, the ability to only wear high heels? I am having a hard time believing that Barbie has inspired anything positive. She has been the source of body issues and not representing the melting pot that is America. I know there are some “ethnic” Barbie’s, but seriously when was the last time you went to a play date and there Barbie’s from around the world? Never!

So I will give some Kudos to Mattel for trying to make Barbie more relevant today but lets face it, she will never be an American Girl. A girl that emulates eight to eleven year old girls of varying ethnicities and histories. Young girls also have the option of creating an American Girl that looks like them..true substance is something Barbie may want but will never have.

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