Not so perfect Barbie

Many if not all of us have played with Barbie or better say Barbies when we were little. 


I had 11 of them, together with a custom bathroom,car, house,horse and all the other accessories. But was this only a doll we played with and which made our childhood fun? Or was this a doll that tough us how the women should look like, dress and live? Does this doll determine how strong our confidence is and how feminine we feel?


Lets review some facts:


Poor Barbie, she may someday marry Ken, but chances are, they will never have children. 
Based on research done by Rader Programs, the percent of Barbie's body fat would be so low, she would have ceased to menstruate--that is if she ever started. She has been grossly underweight since the beginning.


If Barbie were a real person, she would be 6' 0", weigh 100 lbs., and wear a size 4. 
Her measurements would be 39"/19"/33". 


 The average woman is 5' 4", weighs 145 lbs., and wears between a size 11-14. Her measurements are approximately 36"/30"/41". There is a fifty-fifty chance that she is on a diet right now.


After spending her childhood playing with Barbie, watching models and actresses who stand 5' 11" and weight 117 lbs. sell them on the idea of the perfect body.


On top of that, since fairly recently there was no black Barbie and no fat Barbie...she is "perfect" ,white, skinny and blond. Has an expensive car and equally handsome boyfriend Ken and some babies (depending how many family members get you one of those as a Xmass present).


Bellow are the recently published photos of not so perfect Barbie:

     Not to be a hypocrite, I played with Barbie and it was my favorite doll when I was little and I have bought some to girls I babysat as I do not consider them being a bad influence to little girls - but I have also never had issues with weight and built my self-confidence through athletics and school success. The education and reflection to self esteem  part is on parents and teachers to do,more than on Mattel - the toy producer.


For more blog's on Barbie craze today: Fashion Gossip wrote a great piece as well.

Xoxo,

            Kat

"If Barbie is so perfect, why do we have to buy her friends? "