I sat on the ground, playing with one of my countless Barbies. I had lots of toys but Barbies were my absolute favorite. I loved to do their hair and makeup stories about their lives. They were always rescued by the handsome prince, of course.
Barbies were my idols. Then I grew up, and they were deposited into a box and left behind. Their influence was not left behind, though. It unknowingly affected me as I grew up, wondering why I didn't have blonde hair and a tall slender body.
In our society today, there is this standard of perfection that permeates throughout us. Walk through a store and look at the magazines — how many of them are plastered with countless eye-catching slogans on how to get the "perfect body." Or when you walk through a department store and the mannequins, faceless and hairless, are the perfect shape and size, emphasizing what really is being pushed. How many pins on Pinterest do you see with tips on how to lose weight and get rid of that "unwanted fat"?
This standard is not limited to just men or women. It afflicts people of all shapes and sizes. It creates a feeling of insecurity and fear. What if people don't like me because of my size? Or Why am I not as skinny or fit as the next person? I eat healthily and exercise.
Barbie, with her perfect body, hair, and smile, has often been at the forefront of this trend — an unofficial mascot in a way. She was perfect and flawless — with a completely unrealistic body. She became this icon of what we wanted our bodies to look like. She was the unattainable goal.
This week, Mattel announced the release of a "new" Barbie. According to the article in Time Magazine by Eliana Dockterman, Barbie now comes in different body shapes and sizes. There are curvy, tall, and petite dolls, with a wide variety of skin tones and hair colors. (For more information, see the Time article "Barbie Has a New Body").
In my opinion, it's about time.
No longer will little girls have to get a doll that is impossibly beautiful. They will be able to pick a doll that looks like them. This doll won't subconsciously tell them that they need to be taller and skinnier.
It will teach little girls that they are beautiful — just as they are. They will have a chance to embrace their uniqueness. Imagine how empowering it will be?
There will always be those nay-sayers. Those people that say that girls don't really notice and that it doesn't affect them. Maybe it doesn't? However, on the other hand, what if it does?
This world has too many people who are on fad diets. There are too many people who look in the mirror every day and can't see the beauty in themselves. There are so people who choose not to eat or binge and purge trying to have that perfect body. It needs to stop. Significant advances have been made in raising awareness, along with self-worth, but there is still more to be done.
Sure, the new Barbie isn't going to change things overnight. There will still be many people who will have to change years of negative thoughts regarding themselves. However, I believe this will be a positive start. Little girls will pull out those dolls and create stories of doctors and lawyers and moms. Strong, beautiful women just the way they are.
