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