Despite Ruth’s intention to create a doll that would empower young girls, from the very beginning Barbie has been both celebrated and vilified. Do you think of Barbie as a feminist icon or a dangerous role model for women?
My thought is, can’t we just have a fun toy for girls that isn’t somehow political?
Barbies represent most professions and ethnicities. DANGEROUS ROLE MODEL? That’s extreme to me.
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Although these views of Barbie are a little extreme, I think it depends on in which era you “met” Barbie and perhaps your socio-economic status.
Feminist Icon? Possibly — because Barbie had careers, not babies. However, remember 1992 when Teen Talk Barbie said “Math class is tough”? Mattel was obviously thinking women wanted fashion careers, not STEM careers.
Dangerous Role Model? Possibly — especially if in 2001 you weren’t 110 lbs, didn’t have long blonde hair or boobs that were twice the size of your waist and … were a Black girl looking at the newest “Oreo School Time Fun Barbie”.
To be fair, Mattel has become more culturally aware in the 21st century and Barbie does have friends that are more realistically human.
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My opinion is that Barbie was a “doll” to be played with, treasured and a collectable to some people. I wouldn’t say that it was thought of as “political”. Girls just want to have fun, and pretend.
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I dont see her as a doll that empowered women. But she might have stimulated conversations about things a babydoll wouldn’t. Not empowerment but the opening of minds. Enrichment vs. Empowerment maybe.
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Initially, Barbie was not a doll that empowered woman. She was more the iconic women with the perfect clothes, hair, shoes and car. Maybe later on with astronaut Barbie …
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This is one of those examples where a book has changed my worldview. I recently read The Bluest Eye for an upcoming discussion, and the whole point of the book is how our society promotes a specific beauty standard - sometimes subtly, sometimes blatantly. Before I read that novel, I’d have said that I didn’t think Barbie was dangerous, but now I think that maybe it is.
I think it was especially impactful when it was first introduced, but even today I think most Barbie dolls fall into the “beautiful” - or at least, “attractive” - category. I applaud Mattel’s efforts to represent various skin tones, professions, and abilities, but still …
Then again, would people buy a doll for their child that isn’t attractive?
I’d like to think things are getting better. We’re seeing more realistically-sized models in ads these days, and many kids growing up are learning to embrace who they are. But some are still falling prey to the unrealistic image, thanks to social media pressure (among other things). Does that make Barbie evil? No, not necessarily. But I think parents need to make sure their kids understand that they shouldn’t try to mimic the doll.
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I don’t think Barbie is a feminist icon, despite Mattel’s efforts to make her one by creating careers for her. But I don’t think she’s a dangerous role model either. I do think she has a negative influence on body image, with her impossible proportions and feet that only fit high heels. Barbie is ultimately a fashion doll and promotes an interest in fashion and accessories. I saw a presentation for Astronaut Barbie, and her space capsule could turn into a makeup case. That to me captures the essence of Barbie. There’s always a fashion and makeup aspect to her roles.
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I did not know that, @Rosanna_H! How interesting that the space capsule could be turned into a makeup case. I had no idea.
You know, the whole “makeup” thing is a case in point. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where many women wear no makeup at all, myself included. When I went home to visit my relatives in Ohio they thought I was insane. Where did this notion come from that women must wear makeup to improve their appearance? Men sure aren’t expected to do it. And this is the point about Barbie I’m trying to make, I think. It reinforces trying to change yourself into something you’re not, and many feel less-than if they can’t live up to the image.
All I can say is I’m super glad I’m beyond the age where I care all that much. I revel in my wrinkles and gray hair - I’ve earned every one!
When I played with Barbie dolls, I didn’t think of them as anything more than a doll that wasn’t a baby. Looking back, I see how some women have worked hard to look like Barbie and idolized her body. Yes, I was happy to dress Barbie up in different outfits that represented different “jobs”. But, I wouldn’t use the “feminist” label.
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I never thought of my dolls as role models. Maybe as Barbie evolved and began having careers, young girls might aspire to be more like her. But in 1960 I was mostly interested in the cute clothes!
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I don’t think of her as either. The few times I “played Barbies” with my daughter of niece, I just thought she was fun and had so many beautiful outfits (which I had never had as a child). At the same time, we would be making fun of her figure and how unrealistic it was!
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I can see where the introduction of a mature doll, rather than a baby doll, was quite a change in the 1950s. When I played with Barbie in the 1960s, I wasn’t particularly concerned with her career, but enjoyed her usual outfits, hair, shoes, etc. As an adult, I can appreciate being offered a doll with career aspirations rather than being limited to mothering a baby doll. But as a kid, I really didn’t care.
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I give credit to Mattel that they have become more inclusive in skin color, hair, body proportions, careers and physical ability. I did play with Barbie but quickly moved onto to other things. I purposively did not buy my daughter a Barbie, but she got one as a gift. She played with Barbie and then became interested in other things.
I don’t think Barbie is dangerous, but it is vital to offer other role models. We cannot have Barbie be the only example of how to be. She is a doll.
I am trying to raise a strong, independent woman who will decide how she wants to dress/look rather than being told there is only way to look. We have had conversations about reality vs unrealistic images.
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Given that I am now in my 60’s, I had forgotten the impact of having Barbies had on me until I saw the Greta Gerwig film “Barbie.” What I realized is as a young girl, I was able to create a world where women ruled and men were just peripheral characters (yes, I had a Malibu Ken doll but he stayed on the side (his clothes were so uninteresting!) as did Barbie’s boyfriends GI Joes (my brothers’). This was a world where women made all the decisions, went to jobs, etc. I did not truly appreciate how that had a profound impact on my life. About the same time, I also joined Girl Scouts, which also empowered me away from male norms. So I get the criticism, that sometimes Barbie fell into the stereotypical tropes of “I hate math,” etc. but I do feel Mattel rectified that after the criticism. In my world, Barbie did not need a man’s permission to do anything or have to have Ken cosign on her barbie dream car (like Jack had to do for Stevie).
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I think Barbie was an icon. She gave little girls the option of putting Barbie in charge when they played with her. She was beautiful and always happy. She also had her own home and car, which most women didn’t have.
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