Women don’t come in one shape and size, and for the first time since her debut in 1959, the iconic American girls’ toy, Barbie doesn’t either. You may have heard.
Mattel’s recent announcement of Barbie’s makeover has caused a media sensation this winter and we’re sharing this point of discussion from our friends over at Darling Magazine to get the discussion going…
Long under scrutiny for her unrealistic body proportions, Mattel recently announced that Barbie will now be available in three new body sizes: petite, curvy and tall. As a “…nod to growing up girl in our culture right now,” many are wondering why it took Mattel so long to finally address concerns that mothers (and women) have had for decades.
But is this change enough? Watch the above clip and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Are we still making too big of a deal over a woman’s — even a doll’s — body? Or is this finally a step in the right direction of breaking down impossible beauty ideals?
What are your thoughts on the Barbie controversy? Are the new body types an overstep by Mattel? Are they the kind of changes you think women needed to see? Or do you think that Barbie’s unrealistic, but glamorous styling is all all a part of the innocent tradition of doll play? Weigh in and click through here to check out the whole story at Darling Magazine.
I agree that it is time that Mattel make a few changes to bring Barbie into 2016. My concern is the emphasis on the size of the Barbie. Yes everyone, woman and man, come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. Does a doll really determine how we look at ourselves? We compare ourselves to beauty magazines because we think we are looking at real people. These are people we see on the big screen and TV. To us there is a real factor even though there is Photoshop enhancements. But does Barbie really have that affect on body image? I had Barbies growing up. I had a lot of Barbies and I don’t remember thinking that I wanted to look like her. I knew she wasn’t real.
Growing up in the 70’s, my Mom wouldn’t let me have a Barbie because she thought the doll was a bad role model. My grandma, though, took my sister and I out one day and we asked if she’d buy us each a Barbie and she said, “Sure! Pick one out.” I picked a princess Barbie with a long gown and thick ankle-length hair; my little sister picked a sophisticated darker-skinned Barbie with a mod wardrobe. We got them home and played with them: sometimes they were sisters, sometimes they were friends or roommates, sometimes they were spies on a mission, or pioneers, or explorers. I think we just made them be whatever we wanted them to be in any game we were playing– ultimately imposing our imagination on them rather than someone else’s being imposed on us. My Mom actually had it backwards. (Grandma got it right– thanks Grandma!)
I personally love the look of Barbie. The body image theory needs to have both sides of the coin. There is a lot of discipline, hard work, eating right and motivation that goes with staying thin. That side has to be appreciated as well..