Does America Need a Plus-Size Barbie?
Replies
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They should just leave it alone, it is just a toy.
If they are concerned about what girls think about their bodies then make it mandatory PT every day at school.0 -
ITT:
barbie should be shorter than average (4'5)
barbie should be purple not to offend any race
barbie should have muffin tops
barbie should have a toy house that includes a 2 bedrooms 2 bath and a Toyota Prius
barbie should have a life partner that has no gender
barbie should have a baby that is no gender
barbie should have no hair not to offend those who have Alopecia areata
what am I missing?0 -
ITT:
barbie should be shorter than average (4'5)
barbie should be purple not to offend any race
barbie should have muffin tops
barbie should have a toy house that includes a 2 bedrooms 2 bath and a Toyota Prius
barbie should have a life partner that has no gender
barbie should have a baby that is no gender
barbie should have no hair not to offend those who have Propecia
what am I missing?
Sounds good to me0 -
I do not believe that a short haired, pansexual, feminist Barbie as another poster suggested would be successful in the marketplace.
The person that said that was obviously not being serious.0 -
Has anyone here actually played with a Barbie?
She's basically a hanger for clothes. The reason she is so oddly long and slick is so little kids can play dress-up with her.
You guys also know her Corvette doesn't have an actual engine right?0 -
But, in case I didn't say it, I'm not in favor of a plus sized Barbie. If they wanted to make the Barbie stronger or slightly more realistic that's fine. But, it's not something that is important to me.0
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Nope, leave Barbie alone.0
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Average Barbie:
Thanks for posting this! I found this picture months ago and saved it on my phone because it is inspirational to me.
Perhaps I am swayed a bit too much by our culture (I try not to be, and I certainly am better now at age 46 than as a young girl), but I believe that our media, and other images of popular culture including Barbie, do influence our values. How can we not think that media influences us when advertisers pay millions of dollars for ads. They wouldn't be paying all that money if it didn't influence consumers.
On to my real life example. In my household growing up, a woman's appearance was very important. My mother and grandmother imprinted upon me early that the way you look matters, and I translated that into "the way you look is what you are worth". This certainly became a struggle for me. Because of unrealistic media images, of course I would never measure up. So as a teen, at 100 lbs. (5'2.5"), I thought I was fat. It didn't help that 80's fashions were especially unflattering to anyone who didn't look like Barbie. Even winning a Beauty pageant or two didn't convince me that I was attractive. Luckily I like food too much to end up with an eating disorder! Anyway, it took me until I was well past 30 to appreciate what a realistic healthy body image should be. Finally at well past 40 I actually like my healthy-weight but certainly not perfect body. I think it took my being actually really fat for several years for this to happen. Now I am continuing to strive for better strength and fitness for the right reasons, which include but are not limited to looking good.
In looking through family photos after my mother's death, it made me sad to realize that she spent her entire life trying to be pretty, and never came to that place where she accepted herself. Very, very sad.
Now, I know that on these forums, I have just opened myself up for all kinds of criticism and put downs. Bring it on. I am strong enough (both physically and emotionally) to handle it. (No thanks to Barbie! BTW, I like the average sized Barbie pictured above. She looks a lot like me!)0 -
tag0
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My two favorite men.
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barbie should have a life partner that has no gender
You've probably never undressed a Ken or Mitch doll, but at least as early back as the 1980's, Barbie already has this in her life.0 -
but, for the record they set some other pretty unrealistic standards too. There are lawyer barbies and doctor barbies (careers which only a select few people succeed in) and in 2012 there was actually "President of the United States" barbie. Shouldn't we be concerned about that? It's an ideal that is totally unrealistic and practically impossible for girls to achieve because, like their dolls, they will be judged solely on their appearance.
What? Becoming a lawyer or doctor is not nearly impossible for women. Becoming president is not either (still harder than for men though I believe that's changing; you're right that it's almost impossible in terms that it's almost impossible for any person, though.) Children eventually realize that not everyone will get to be president. It doesn't ruin their lives; if they are still interested, they go into politics and do their best.
Of all the things to criticize Barbie for, achieving a career?
Not to mention that the Barbie dolls have a wide range of careers, which is pretty realistic. (A quick google leads to the Barbie website on her careers, which mentions registered nurse, CEO, veterinarian, astronaut, aerobics instructor, pilot, rock star.)0 -
but, for the record they set some other pretty unrealistic standards too. There are lawyer barbies and doctor barbies (careers which only a select few people succeed in) and in 2012 there was actually "President of the United States" barbie. Shouldn't we be concerned about that? It's an ideal that is totally unrealistic and practically impossible for girls to achieve because, like their dolls, they will be judged solely on their appearance.
What? Becoming a lawyer or doctor is not nearly impossible for women. Becoming president is not either (still harder than for men though I believe that's changing; you're right that it's almost impossible in terms that it's almost impossible for any person, though.) Children eventually realize that not everyone will get to be president. It doesn't ruin their lives; if they are still interested, they go into politics and do their best.
Of all the things to criticize Barbie for, achieving a career?
Not to mention that the Barbie dolls have a wide range of careers, which is pretty realistic. (A quick google leads to the Barbie website on her careers, which mentions registered nurse, CEO, veterinarian, astronaut, aerobics instructor, pilot, rock star.)
I was also very surprised and perplexed (maybe even a little concerned) by that career comment also.0 -
You misunderstood me. My point was that we should stop focusing on or judging women's (or female dolls) appearance above all else. If young girls never heard comments about how one woman's body is "unrealistic" or another one is "unhealthy" than maybe they wouldn't worry about their weight at all or buy into the $170 billion cosmetics industry when they get older.
My point was that discussions LIKE THIS ONE don't help anything.
I'd agree with you if Barbie's body was not physically impossible, or if her appearance wasn't such a huge part of her appeal. Whether or not it should be, it is. If it weren't, we wouldn't have discussions like these not because they don't help, but because they'd already have a Barbie with acne and a belly that could accommodate a uterus, and she wouldn't be named something like, "Real Girl Barbie!" She'd just be one to choose from. But to say that we shouldn't talk about a doll's appearance who comes painted on with makeup and has twinkly starry eyes is just unrealistic. Even little girls who are not negatively influenced get that Barbie is supposed to be hot.
At the very least, would it hurt Barbie and Ken to have areolas?0 -
I was also very surprised and perplexed (maybe even a little concerned) by that career comment also.
That was my exact reaction, though I missed her original follow up comment that the meaning behind that post was misconstrued. I hope so!0 -
How about a Barbie based on a normal healthy weight woman. That is where we should be going. Either the current Barbie or the plus sized Barbie teaches lessons we don't want to teach our kids. I saw pictures of a Barbie created using healthy BMI statistics and she was slim and attractive without being unrealistic. Now that is what I am talking about.
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Perhaps I am swayed a bit too much by our culture (I try not to be, and I certainly am better now at age 46 than as a young girl), but I believe that our media, and other images of popular culture including Barbie, do influence our values. How can we not think that media influences us when advertisers pay millions of dollars for ads. They wouldn't be paying all that money if it didn't influence consumers.
turn off the tv and read a book0 -
Perhaps I am swayed a bit too much by our culture (I try not to be, and I certainly am better now at age 46 than as a young girl), but I believe that our media, and other images of popular culture including Barbie, do influence our values. How can we not think that media influences us when advertisers pay millions of dollars for ads. They wouldn't be paying all that money if it didn't influence consumers.
turn off the tv and read a book
Point is, for women the unrealistic body image is everywhere. Magazines, newspapers, catalogs, and yes, sometimes even on the covers of books! And, other than Nancy Drew's sidekick Beth, who was always described as plump, is the heroine of any book ever anything but attractive and sexy? Not usually.
Women, and especially young girls, really do have to fight an uphill battle to create a healthy body image.
So back to original thread. Say no to a fat Barbie, but say no to an unrealistic ally shaped Barbie as well.0 -
is this the OP's way of confessing here on MFP that he plays with Barbie dolls? :huh:0
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That is not a "plus sized" Barbie... that is a morbidly obese Barbie... and while I'm all for accepting who a person is... being unhealthy in either direction should not be accepted... and really a triple chin? I'm technically plus sized and I don't even have a double chin...0
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No it's only further distorting the view of what is healthy and acceptable. I'm all for pushing the healthy looking barbie. Instead of finding a healthy medium, they went from impossible proportions to obesity. Give me a barbie with achievable proportions and muscle tone.0
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show me disabled barbie first. then elderly barbie. then jew barbie. THEN fat barbie. kthx.0
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Does America honestly model itself on Barbie? If so, that is sad....0
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NO!0
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Yes of course we need a plus size barbie... If you want to encourage obesity!
I won't buy my daughter one, nor will I allow her to play with one if she was given it either. How mentally unhealthy.
I'm all for 'real sizes' as it makes the rest of us feel better, and it's healthier for kids, I think (uk) size 0-4 models should be banned (as the majority of people (I recognise not the case for everyone) cannot look healthy at this size. We should encourage more of sizes 10 and 12.
Obviously including Barbies and other dolls as well as the models.0 -
I wouldn't want to see a fat barbie, but why not a "normal" sized one? a size 6-12 body type? not a zero. I don't think we need to send the message that being obese is okay. We need to send the message to young girls that everyone has a different body and we are all different sizes and being a size zero is okay, just as being a plus size is okay.
If I had a daughter I'd teach her to take care of herself and enjoy food. Not to over indulge and not to starve herself. The media makes it seem like normal sized girls are fat when that isn't true at all.0 -
but, for the record they set some other pretty unrealistic standards too. There are lawyer barbies and doctor barbies (careers which only a select few people succeed in) and in 2012 there was actually "President of the United States" barbie. Shouldn't we be concerned about that? It's an ideal that is totally unrealistic and practically impossible for girls to achieve because, like their dolls, they will be judged solely on their appearance.
What? Becoming a lawyer or doctor is not nearly impossible for women. Becoming president is not either (still harder than for men though I believe that's changing; you're right that it's almost impossible in terms that it's almost impossible for any person, though.) Children eventually realize that not everyone will get to be president. It doesn't ruin their lives; if they are still interested, they go into politics and do their best.
Of all the things to criticize Barbie for, achieving a career?
Not to mention that the Barbie dolls have a wide range of careers, which is pretty realistic. (A quick google leads to the Barbie website on her careers, which mentions registered nurse, CEO, veterinarian, astronaut, aerobics instructor, pilot, rock star.)
I was also very surprised and perplexed (maybe even a little concerned) by that career comment also.
Agreed. It is worrying of someone thinks like this! Yes it is unlikely that someone will become a president, but it's a nice and positive aim, and I would be proud if my daughter came out with something like that, especially considering the growing numbers in people who just don't want to work!0 -
No.
Barbie is a fracking DOLL. I played with Barbie when I was a child and I wasn't emotionally scarred nor did I have body issues from looking at my "perfect little DOLL" because I knew that she was (wait for it) A DOLL!
If a child is looking to their doll as a role model then there are bigger issues that need addressing.0
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