Barbie is a toy that defined and shaped many girls' and boys' childhoods, whether it was subconsciously or not. She showed us that we could be whatever we wanted, whether it was an astronaut or a rock star. This positive message, however, was overshadowed by the fact that Barbie did not represent a wide range of body types or even races.
She was so skinny that if she was a real person, she wouldn't be able to stand due to her unrealistic body proportions and would be considered anorexic. For this reason and many others, Barbie has received her fair share of criticism. Subsequently, sales dropped and people began to question whether or not Barbie was actually a role model.
Apparently, Mattel decided to do something about it. The company announced this week that they will release Barbie's with three new body types, curvy, petite and tall, 30 hair colors, 22 eye colors and seven skin tones. While this is a step in the right direction, more still needs to be done to be inclusive and show young girls that they are beautiful, no matter what size, race, or assigned gender they are.
It is so important for girls to feel that they are being represented by the toys they are playing with. As a cis white girl, I never really had a problem finding myself in television, movies and even the toys I played with. Other girls are not so lucky.
To not see yourself reflected in popular culture makes is to feel that you are not important or significant enough to deserve to be represented. Having girls grow up with that attitude is extremely damaging.
So, while the Barbie change is a step in the right direction, much more still needs to be done. Curvy Barbie is still pretty thin, and there are definitely way more than just three different body types. And there are definitely more than two genders.
Girls need to be taught that it is okay to be different, it is okay to have a body type that does not include a 20 inch waist and stomach so flat it looks like it can't support organs. Girls need to be taught that just because they aren't white doesn't mean they are worthless. Girls need to be taught self-love, and sometimes that begins with something as simple as a doll.
