Why We Shouldn't Have A Problem With Barbie | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why We Shouldn't Have A Problem With Barbie

Barbie is a doll. We are not.

304
Why We Shouldn't Have A Problem With Barbie

We've all heard of Barbie, right?


I've been a fan of Barbie dolls my whole life. I had way too many to count, a couple of houses, cars, and the little airplane. Barbies were my favorite dolls to play with when I was little because, honestly, every other doll freaked me out.

How much do we know about Barbie dolls? Here's a mini history lesson:

  • Barbie made her debut on March 9, 1959.
  • She is named after the creator's daughter: Barbara.
  • Barbie's real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
  • This doll's image has been changed throughout the years.
  • Here's a picture of the first Barbie ever:

Here's a picture of a recent Barbie doll:

Yeah, they've changed.

There has been a problem with Barbies for the last... I don't know how many years. First they were only Caucasian, then, the first "colored" Barbie came out in 1967. The word "colored" is in quotation marks because, according to many people, this doll didn't have African-American features. Now Barbie has different looking dolls, including the ones that are from different countries around the world.

There's another big problem, which is the one I want to address. According to many people, including body image expert Marci Warhaft-Nadler, “Barbie sends our girls one message, and it’s this: ‘You can do anything and you can be anything—as long as you look like this: very tall, very thin, very Caucasian, and very beautiful.'”

Do I agree with her? No. 

Let's look at the typical Barbie doll next to the "normal" Barbie doll:

We can all see that the typical Barbie doll is very skinny, very tall, has a big head, etc. She is a doll. She looks like a typical doll.

And then, we see the "normal" Barbie and she looks like people do in real life. I think the one in the picture is suppose to look like an average 19-year old does.

This is my problem with the "normal" Barbie and people that think that Barbies are not good dolls for children:

Barbie dolls have always looked unrealistic. We're not supposed to look like Barbie dolls. When I was little, I didn't think about the way I was supposed to look like when I grew up because I was too busy thinking if Barbie and Ken should get back together because Kelly, Barbie's little sister, was sad! I understand that the media today can suck because they set expectations for women and the world is different than it was in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But dear ladies of the world, we should not, I repeat, SHOULD NOT let the media, ESPECIALLY BARBIE DOLLS, get to us! We are stronger than that. We look however we want to look. Barbie's big thing was "be who you want to be", meaning you can have any job in the world. Equality in the work place! Yeah, feminism! Barbie was everything! She was a doctor, a teacher (I had this one!), a chef, and many other things. I believe that what Marci Warhaft-Nadler said in her book, is not 100% correct. Yes, you can be whoever you want to be, but you don't have to look like the tall, skinny, Caucasian doll. There are plenty of different looking Barbie dolls out in the world right now, so calm down, Marci.

Let's take a look at famous women with Barbie doll proportions to prove my point that NOBODY should think that they should look like Barbies.

Creepy. Unnatural.

I believe that if parents are scared that their children will want to look like Barbie dolls, let them know! Go ahead and tell them that Barbie is a doll and that we are humans and are not supposed to look like a doll. I also believe half of the kids playing with dolls don't think "hmm, I need or should look like my doll" because they're busy trying to make up a story with their toys. Trust me, I remember what it was like to play with Barbies. It was fun. Never in my life did I think that women are supposed to look like the "perfect Barbie doll".

Let's not take our anger out on Barbie.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

163049
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

49644
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

44323
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments