I know I’m a bit late to the party, as a lot has already
been written about Mattel’s recent introduction of three new body types and a
variety of skin shades for Barbie. But still, I wanted to add my two penny’s
worth to the debate, as this is actually a subject close to my heart.
Like many mothers, I’ve had an ambiguous attitude towards
Becky playing with Barbies. The little girl in me, who remembers the joy
Barbies brought to her own childhood and the hours spent dressing, undressing,
combing and grooming my Barbies, wants Becky to have the same; to just enjoy
the dolls for what they are - just dolls - and have fun with them.
But the grown-up, the mother, the feminist in me, has always
shuddered a little at everything that Barbie represents – the “perfect”,
unachievable body, the blond cliché, the slightly dull and overly pink Barbie
world, and a lifestyle that is far from desirable and just too one dimensional
in my book.
Suffice to say that Barbie has never been my choice role
model for Becky.
It’s the fake body ideal in particular that Barbie projects
which has always been the main crux of the problem for me. As someone who has
struggled with body image all my life, from early teens or even prior, I worry
about what it teaches my daughter. What she will grow up to believe is
“normal”. I dread to think that Becky’s body image and sense of self could be
influenced by this tiny-waisted and big-boobed blond creature that has so little
resemblance to real life women.
So I for one am actually really glad that Mattel has taken
this – long overdue – step and launched a tall, petite and curvy Barbie, as
well as skin shades that represent a bigger ethnic diversity. I know that the
majority of news coverage on this topic has been rather cynical, insinuating
that Mattel has only done this as a desperate and final step to help safe its
declining sales; a last ditch attempt to be seen as being in touch with its
ever shrinking audience, the “Millennial Mum”.
This may well be the case. In fact, I tend to agree with
this. However, whether it was an actual sense of responsibility or plain corporate
greed that has fueled the decision, it doesn’t change the end result and the
fact that this is a welcome evolution of a somewhat iconic toy which has been
every little girls’ favourite for generations – and therefore Mattel has a duty
to be “more in touch”. To represent diversity, and not just an outdated, superficial female stereotype.
It might be a small step, and Barbie certainly still has way
to go before everything she represents has any bearing on reality, but it’s a
start.
* Linking up with #ShareWithMe
I agree, I really do not care as care as much about the reasons behind the change, but more about the fact that the girls of today have a better choice. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOh yes I have read lots of blog posts on the barbie debate. I like to stay out of debates but I agree it's lovely to see diversity now. Although I grew up with barbies all my life and I still wanted to be more like my mother with her dark black hair and dark brown eyes and hated having blonde hair and blue eyes. haha Who would have thought? lol Great post. Good to stand up for something close to your heart. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
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