Do you remember when you were young and were still playing with dolls? (Guys, too, don’t lie.) Do you remember those Barbie dolls you used to have and love? (Ok, guys might not have played with Barbie dolls.) Remember all those hours of combing their hair and changing their clothes and making up stories for them? Remember how you yearned for another beautiful Barbie doll? Yes, Barbie dolls have been a big part of lives. Barbie dolls in society are fashion icons and they promote intelligence among women. Over the years, Barbie dolls have expanded and evolved to embrace many different cultures and fashions. People say that little kids look up to Barbie dolls as their role models, and that Barbie’s unrealistic figure gives many kids low self- esteem. In reality, kids should not be looking up to plastic dolls for self- image or self- esteem or confidence; this should be taught by the parents. Parents should be the ones teaching their kids about loving themselves just they way they are.
Just recently, Barbie has added a new line of black Barbie dolls with more characteristics of the black race. It was a vast difference from the black Barbie doll in 1960s which was “essentially a white doll painted brown.” These new Barbie dolls have a variety of skin tones, from light brown to dark chocolate, and they have fuller lips and a more pronounced check-bone. They even have curlier hair. Even though these Black Barbie dolls have many variations to embrace the variations in real life, people are still complaining. Why? People are complaining because these Barbie dolls have hair that is too straight and long. They say that the straight long hair does not address the issues that many black teenage girls deal with: curly, “short kinky hair.”
Black teenage girls are spending vast amount of time, energy, and money straightening their hair because the ideal beauty look is straight long hair. They are putting strong, and sometimes dangerous, chemicals to straighten out their hair, when they should in fact, be embracing their beautiful and natural hair. People want Barbie to add hairdos such as afros and short curly hair instead of the long hair.
But why? Why should we care? Why do we want to spend more time to do that when there is already a great line of black Barbie dolls? Barbie dolls are unrealistic; they are not supposed to be human. In real life, Barbie dolls would have unrealistic body measurements: a too huge chest with a too tiny waist. No one looks like that. You’re not supposed to try to look like them. They are supposed to be perfect models with flawless skin and no bad hair days. If everyone looked like Barbie dolls, sure, we’ll all be beautiful, but no one will be unique, and that’s the real beauty of life.
What am I getting at here? Well, sure, adding more realistic characteristics is great, and it will promote the business, but why waste time worrying about it? Girls, and boys for that matter, should learn how to love themselves just the way they are. They don’t need toys to tell them what they should look like. Toys should not make kids feels bad about themselves; toys are supposed to give happiness. Parents should be the one to tell their kids about these things. Maybe if they sat down and talked to their kids about confidence, the kids wouldn’t feel the need to measure up to fake, plastic Barbie dolls.
In conclusion, self- confidence, self- esteem, and self- image should not be coming from Barbie dolls. Barbie dolls have many flaws, sure, but look at the bright side. They embrace many different cultures and fashions and they promote intelligence. They portrays women in many different high intellectual careers. It is said that Barbie dolls have unrealistic features, and kids are feeling bad about themselves because they can’t compare. Of course they can’t! Kids are not made in factories where everything is perfectly made.
What is your opinion? Do you think Barbie dolls have positively or negatively impacted society? I have shared my opinion, now it’s time to share yours.
Check out these interesting sites:
Article:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33228987/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/?GT1=43001
“Barbie throughout history” slide show:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/29199026?pg=14#tdy_fashion_Barbie
Wow! I have a whole new perspective of Barbie Dolls now after reading this.=)
I do actually agree with what your saying about these dolls, because they look way too perfect and kids say,”why can’t I be like my Barbie’s”. I honestly never really played with Barbie Dolls, but I remember my cousins playing with them and they would try to sometimes look like the Barbie. I thought it was funny at the time but now that I look back, that Barbie was having some kind of influence on my cousin. She never realized either which is a shame because I think she should get rid of those dolls to save her kids.
I think personally believe that Barbies have a negative impact on society because they make kids want to be like those ridiculous dolls! Unfortunatly, parents don’t realize this and I think Barbies should not be sold in stores. Besides there are many other awesome toys for girls like bounce balls, bikes, etc.
wow, thanks for the wonderful comment!
I couldn’t agree any more with you, Crystal! Thanks to Mattel, the perception of beauty is completely distorted, allowing more teenage girls (and definitely teenage boys as well) to believe that perfection is based on your physical appearance alone.
It’s depressing to say that many girls are trying so hard to imitate these dolls, that which were only created for entertainment!
Awesome post! You’re title drew me in. One doesn’t generally relate barbie dolls and self confidence, but you showed how they can relate and even have a huge impact especially on younger girls.
There have been tests that show if a barbie-doll was made life-size in scale, she would be over 7 feet tall and would have to walk on all fours because of her enormous head. Not a pretty sight when the Barbie is a human. It just shows you that no one can literally ever look like her.
You bring an excellent point when it comes to dolls of different races. A new documentary by Chris Rock entitled “Good Hair” highlights on the media’s obsession with long straight hair and the huge impact it has on African-American women particularly.
I enjoyed your blog :]
I like your blog. Even though I do not know a whole lot about Barbie dolls, I think your blog explains really well not to be like a doll. Even though I like girls with long hair, almost nobody in real life is that skinny and still healthy. I think that they should make toys for kids a little more realistic. Good blog keep up the good work.
Hey Crystal,
I think Barbie dolls are awesome! I think that they inspire creativity and teach children how to play and interact with others. Some children need help learning how to play and never get help. For all those children who never played with their friends with their action figures as well as outside, I feel bad for them. Barbies should not have a negative impact on anyone. That just does not make sense to me. Barbies all look different showing that no one is going to look the same. The barbies who are the same will look the same, but there are still slight variations. when I say the barbies are the same I mean the same character. (Barbie, Ken, Teresa, etc.) I think it is good for kids to know that Barbies are pretend, they are plastic, they are imagination, a branch off reality. They are not real.
I don’t believe that any child should play with just one type of toy. They should have a range of toys. Different toys like stuffed animals, basketballs, jump rope, action figures, bikes, skateboards, skates, pollie, Littlest pet shop, pokemon, and all those other toys.
My only disagreement with your whole entire post is that Barbies do to have bad hair days.=)
I agree with you crystal. Barbie dolls have an enormous impact on the lives of children. They spend the first few years of their lives growing up with these dolls as sort of secondary friends. Some aspect of the doll is bound to rub off on them. In the case of Barbie dolls, it would be their absurd, unattainable beauty.
Unfortunately, businesses know this relationship all to well. The girl who grows up admiring the flawless Barbie doll, is bound to chase it later in life.
Enter the fashion and cosmetic industries…
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Thank you! Please feel free to share you ideas and comment.