When I was four, and we were on a train to the Alps to go skiing, I was given my first Barbie. She was an Aerobics Barbie, just like the one pictured, except her outfit was purple and pink. This year I am turning 29, and Barbie is turning 50.
I know that feminists are divided on the issue of whether or not barbies are bad. I had a barbie when I was growing up, but I’m not necessarily a model of great self esteem. On the other hand as I said when I entered a (really great) discussion about raising feminists on Deborah’s site In A Strange Land:
“I also sewed my own Barbie clothes, and because I was so obsessed with American history (see: my love of Sunfire romance novels) she had Revolutionary War outfits, Civil War hoop skirts, prairie pioneer bonnets and many other periods as well. So I think I’m okay with barbies for girls (and boys too) if they can be used to encourage any kind of off-the-rack thinking.”
And today, BabyAssFace had a post about Time.com’s Barbie Retrospective,which reminded me of some cool things about her hundred different careers like:
- Becoming an astronaut before anyone even landed on the moon
- Running for US President in 1992
- Driving for Nascar in 1995 seven years before the first woman driver
- In 1972, in response to the growing Feminist movement, Barbie’s eyes were changed from looking coyly off to the side to staring straight on, far more confrontational and strong. This is not a career fact, but I think it’s interesting and awesome so I’m sneaking it in to this bullet-point list.
Yes, you can say that it’s tokenism, and an unhealthy body image, and that Malibu Stacey says that maths is hard, but I think if kids believe that a Barbie’s body reflects reality, then you have more serious issues at hand. I think providing a platform for imagination is kind of an awesome thing, and writing this post makes me want to go to my parents’ house and dig out my big box of barbie clothes. Of course, when I gave them elaborate Marie Antoinette hairstyles, I did it with the aid of sticking pearl-headed pins directly into their heads, and I don’t want to give Amy any ideas…
I used to make clothes for my Barbie. In fact, I’d even remix the standard issue Barbie clothes to make them better. I also used insulation tape to make fake plaster casts (“OMG, Barbie’s husband tried to kill her but she survived and once her injuries have healed, she’ll seek revenge on him!!!”). I never remember comparing Barbie’s triangle tits to mine or wondering why I didn’t have crazy long legs because, duh, Barbie is a doll not a girl.
I know my mother worried that Barbie would somehow mar me, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t happen. Barbie inspired much creativity in me!
My barbies lived interesting and fascinating lives. They had great jobs and interesting friends (including Elizabeth Sara Diana Stephanie Wegan, who didn’t have a job, but liked very much to sit around a drink tea). That they had great legs and long blond hair was never something I thought about, as far as I remember. If I had daughters, I’d be much more worried about the influence of Miley/Hannah/Britney/various plastic looking Disney girls than Barbie, who only ever made me want to dress her up.
Off-topic: have you considered setting up a mobile version of your blog? It’s a pain in the behind to read it from my phone
Thanks in advance!