Barbie has a new hubby in town, and he comes in three different, new and improved body types, seven different skin tones, and various new hair do’s! If I was a kid, I’d throw the biggest in-store tantrum of them all until I had my tiny, sticky fingers on at least four of those bad boys. Similarly, if I was a mom, my kids would have the entire Fashionistas collection.
Last year, Barbie had a similar revamp to her look, as well, including crazy-colored hair and even shorter-haired Barbies, along with all the new skin tones and body types. Barbie isn’t just for girls anymore, and she has always been a sort-of role model for us millennials growing up. No one could tell Barbie what she can or cannot do. And now, her bland, wallflower husband can be anyone he wants to be, too! Ken has so far been one of the better-dressed guys in my life and growing up, I kind of envied my friends who had female and male Barbies. Ken is the unrealistic man to our unrealistic female standards, and although Mattel has made a step in the right direction offering a more diverse and ethnically ambiguous line of dolls, there are still a lot of stereotypes being reinforced.
Some critics point out the craze over the new “man-bun” Ken in all his hipster glory, and questioned why it had to be called a MAN bun. Why can he not just have his hair in a bun? Ballerina Barbie’s hair is in a bun, not a WOMAN bun. This is a fine point, but also Mattel is just trying to be relatable toward a newer generation. I find it hard to believe that in 58 years, we are the first generation to demand a change regarding the depiction of our classically American, blonde couple. America is a gorgeous melting pot of all kinds of different cultures and skin types! We need a more representative ambiguous demographic.
Regarding the Fashionistas line as a whole, and being in a pique hormonal stage of my life, I wish that I could buy real, life-size Ken dolls at the store, because there is a serious lack of handsome IRL. Not that everyone isn't beautiful in their own special way, because you are! It’s just that if I were five years old and comparing guys to my dashing line of Ken dolls with their amazing eyebrows and great taste in clothing... Well, let’s just say growing up is a huge disappointment with only a few well-dressed men with nice eyebrows in your life – if you’re lucky.
As for taking off their clothes and making them bend to your every whim, well, that takes a few years and some serious leverage to pull off.
At the end of the day, Mattel’s heart is in the right place and children’s innate curiosity will end up decapitating or vandalizing the dolls within a few weeks either way.
