For anyone born after the creation of the plastic friend in 1959, I am certain they would agree with me that Barbie was an essential element to help every little girl's (or a boy if he was brave enough) world go round by playing nothing but endless hours of dressing-up, cooking and impressing the king of all hunks- Ken.
However, has anyone realised that perhaps Barbie was the one that may have manipulated the culture of fussing over one's appearance? I am not being pessimistic here, but there surely must be a close link between the Utopian Barbie and the devastating dimension of stressing over body image.
Primary socialisation is vital, they are the first few years of every one's life where they develop the basic understanding of norms and values to society. Parents are the major key roles to subtly teachin
g their offspring about how big the world is out there, to saying thank you. Until, that is the entire population of vulnerable young girls were introduced to a plastic, slender, blue-eyed, tanned, so-called-innocent Blond. I believe that the constant presence of being with Barbie had socialised many into believing one should be like Barbie, after all she is pretty perfect- has hundreds of successful careers, tonnes of friends, a million action men and kens running after her, an amazingly maintained figure, a stunning face, ....the list is endless. What kind of girl would not like to have at least one of Barbie's incredible attributes? Therefore, it brings me to believe that the Barbie industry had sculpted the image of what is perfect...when really, it is far more fun to develop our own persona's and appearances that seem perfectly perfect to ourselves.
g their offspring about how big the world is out there, to saying thank you. Until, that is the entire population of vulnerable young girls were introduced to a plastic, slender, blue-eyed, tanned, so-called-innocent Blond. I believe that the constant presence of being with Barbie had socialised many into believing one should be like Barbie, after all she is pretty perfect- has hundreds of successful careers, tonnes of friends, a million action men and kens running after her, an amazingly maintained figure, a stunning face, ....the list is endless. What kind of girl would not like to have at least one of Barbie's incredible attributes? Therefore, it brings me to believe that the Barbie industry had sculpted the image of what is perfect...when really, it is far more fun to develop our own persona's and appearances that seem perfectly perfect to ourselves.I feel that it hasn't been emphasized enough about the hazards of trying to transform your image into what is the optimum to the majority. Yes, recently there have been many shocking headlines from the media about supermodels dying and the new size double zero, etc. However, did you really know that it is physically impossible to actually have the body of Barbie? Scientists have researched that Barbie's proportions of 36-18-33 is inconceivable for the human species, her tiny feet are impossible for a human to walk in, and with a body frame of Barbie it would enable a human to carry just half a kidney!
I do have my days of fantasising over a figure that I would be happy to have once and for all, no longer stressing over my flaws. However, I think this is the one obstacle in life that can only be solved by: GET OVER IT. This is YOUR body, not Barbie's nor any other femme who looks like she is one Hitler's perfect girl of white-blond hair and piercingly blue eyes, still maintaining her innocence. It is yours. Love it. Live it.
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