I don't think it really matters. Women have body image issues for numerous reasons and whilst dolls may contribute to them I don't believe for a second they're the root cause of those issues. I think the root cause of such issues lie within the media. You only need to look at the recent Kim Kardashian photoshopped picture to see how skinny her waist was made and of course, when some younger women see this, they think they can achieve this naturally when in reality its all done through image manipulation.
Exactly. Targeting dolls is kind of missing the problem. The issue is mostly with the media and how women are portrayed in the media, with things like photoshopped photos of models everywhere that can lead to insecurity in some young women and teenagers.
Exactly. Targeting dolls is kind of missing the problem. The issue is mostly with the media and how women are portrayed in the media, with things like photoshopped photos of models everywhere that can lead to insecurity in some young women and teenagers.
Amputee Barbie already exists, that's what boys are supposed to do with their sister's regular Barbie.
1) Media's a big issue, but well um, Barbie's a media icon
Most 5 year old girls are going to be allowed to see Barbie's stick-thin waist before they see photoshopped Kim Kardashian's huge ass going 'Break the Internet'. That is a big big problem, but it comes around when they're about 12 in my generation (so I guess now when they're 10, kids are becoming more in-the-know of sex before they've even matured which is frightening). So IMO Barbie is the first most prolific (albeit dated) body image aspiration coming from the media.
2) Although I will concede that dolls are becoming less popular with young girls presumably due to feminism (whoop!) which MAY make the media more responsible. But again, I doubt that kids will see any extreme body types sexualised before they are…say 8? And if they do and understand it thoroughly that's sloppy parenting (again imo).
3) Does that mean Ken's no longer going to be tall and dark with that chiseled square jaw line and plastic six-pack? Boys get bad body image too can we tackle that media problem too pls???
1) Media's a big issue, but well um, Barbie's a media icon
Most 5 year old girls are going to be allowed to see Barbie's stick-thin waist before they see photoshopped Kim Kardashian's huge ass going 'Break the Internet'. That is a big big problem, but it comes around when they're about 12 in my generation (so I guess now when they're 10, kids are becoming more in-the-know of sex before they've even matured which is frightening). So IMO Barbie is the first most prolific (albeit dated) body image aspiration
2) Does that mean Ken's no longer going to be tall and dark with that chiseled square jaw line and plastic six-pack???
…yeah thought not.
UKIP voter Ken doll doesn't like them foreign dolls coming here and taking his jobs.
Stretch marks, freckles and tattoo (yes, I did name them ) look like Shailene Woodley.
Fat Barbie is still thin. Normal basically means flabby/sticking out belly possibly with back rolls and thighs that touch. Fat Barbie doesn't have flabs or back rolls - horizontally she's just a little wider than thin Barbie. And although her thighs are a little bigger, they still have the thinspirational thigh gap. That doesn't make her "normal".
If I had to choose between Barbie and freckles/stretch marks/tattoo I'd probably go for Barbie. I'm a little vain. Yay for "normal women" and "normal looking" dolls, but I think people are taking it a little too far. These dolls are a good educational tool to show that bodily abnormalities/differences are acceptable, but I personally wouldn't go out of my way to make my child to play with them. Although, if my child dares to bring a doll home, I'll be the first to burn that ****. After watching the Chucky movies I can't have dolls in my house.
Speaking from personal experience, when I was 10 years old I was bullied for my weight. I had stretch marks and I just about fit into women's size 12/14 clothes. I know for certain that having a "relatable" doll wouldn't have helped me accept myself because it's just a toy. My Barbie dolls were *just* toys. I developed body dysmorphia when I was about 10 or 11 (and at 16, anorexia which was diagnosed as EDNOS) but my Barbie dolls had nothing to do with it. When playing with them I didn't think "wow Barbie is so perfect, I need to look like her". The only thing that was on my mind was "how should I do Barbie's hair? Should I do a pony tail or... a pony tail?" My skills were only limited to pony tails. When you're a kid you don't think twice about the specific features of what you're playing with. The only people who think of Barbie as a negative influence are insecure women - not children.