Barbie is Role Model Material
Barbie is a doll in which does not possess any human characteristics. Although this plastic doll is not real, it is causing a lot of controversy over the human race acquainted with Barbies. Some people say that Barbie is not an appropriate role model for young children... However, regardless of what adults say about Barbies, children love playing with them. There is no reason to believe that a piece of plastic with hair is not a good role model. Barbie teaches responsibility and ambition, teaches children to be what they want to be, and also brings joy to children and friends in her Barbie world.
Barbie is definitely considered very independent when it comes to getting what she wants. She is portrayed as very responsible, mature, and classy. Barbie lives life how she wants, because she got herself to the point where she is stable in her career and income. She had a variety of jobs, ranging from working as a football
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For example, Barbie worked as a NASCAR driver and an army officer which would usually be considered occupations for men. Barbie is trying to portray a message saying that no matter your gender or race, you can do exactly what you want because you have potential. Barbie is putting aside the gender roles and focusing on her personal wants. Bridget Seelinger, a student columnist from The Duquesne Duke, says ““You can be anything you want to be,” is a message that resonates with both sexes, but with young girls today, is especially needed” (Seelinger). The fact that she participated in a lot of the so called “jobs for men,” has made a lot of girls and boys realize that they can do those jobs too regardless of what society says. Barbie does not necessarily identify as a feminist, but does indeed believe people should have equal rights, especially when coming down to a certain
This website article provides the history of Barbie and her newly inspiring images for young women. Barbie was the new popular doll during World War 2 because she provided something inspiring for young girls and something that mothers felt strong about, independence. Barbie helped with what was being told to women, that they didn’t have to settle for being just a housewife or a stay at home mother. Women around the country could have a variety, a choice to work and have a career. “Barbie’s early professions were limited
Students are often required to submit essays throughout the school year, however, many are not able to write an effective essay. After extensively reading and analyzing This I Believe narratives, I came across many essays that are great examples for students to use as a template for effective writing. One essay that stood out amongst the rest was, “A Grown-Up Barbie” by Jane Hamill; I recommend this short narrative for students that strive to achieve an effective essay because it provides useful rhetorical devices such as: anecdote, imagery and diction.
"Barbie Doll" offers a sad but realistic view of the drastic consequences that can occur from living in a society that judges young women by unrealistic, false, and superficial values. Too often society fails young women by refusing to recognize, appreciate, and value true beauty, that which lies in young girls' hearts, spirits, and characters. These are the only true things that make a young lady beautiful, and the only qualities that can provide lasting happiness.
Not many arguments or tests are done on the positive effects of Barbie. Sure, she is a role model but what about when girls set goals for themselves and later in life do not meet these expectations? Unlike Barbie, most of these goals are unrealistic and cannot be met. Barbie provies alternatives to the female stereotype of a mother and wife, but marriage isn’t perfect like the way it is portrayed. She goes through absolutely no struggles.
The Barbie doll, a toy significant of many childhoods, made her first debut in 1959. Often representing the latest fashion trends, Barbie could be seen as a symbol for the evolution of pop culture and its many different phases. Her clothing represented that of the times that she lived in, constantly changing as the years went on. Barbie was also used as a symbol that depicted certain beliefs and interests. As society developed and women’s careers changed from that of housewives to women in the work force, Barbie would also would pick up work related interests and outfits.
Barbie’s human body size characteristic may be unrealistic, but the doll isn’t a human shrunk down to play size. For instance, in the movie “Life-Sized” a girl’s doll comes to life. While it may be that in this movie the doll had a hard time adapting to life as a human, she eventually got the gist of having a career and living life the way everyone wanted
In the poem, "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is about how a young woman’s closest companion the ‘Barbie’ could likewise be the motivation behind why some young women have low self-regards. When a young woman plays with Barbie, she envisions all that she can become. During the adolescent years, some girls start to feel as if they‘re not good enough to be included in society. Women face constant pressure from media, peers and family to live up to their superficial expectation of resembling the perfect ‘Barbie Doll’. In my opinion, dolls should be age suitable and distinctive as related to a girl’s personality and body type.
Since her arrival in 1959, Mattel has sold over 1 billion Barbie dolls, making her the most successfully sold doll of all time. 1 billion girls since her inception have pretended to be flight attendants, cheerleaders, re-enacted marriages to Ken, cut her hair off, painted her face with magic markers, took clothes on and off, and exhausted every possibility of performative play. Feminists, Scholars, Artists, Psychologist, and Journalist, have contributed to the discourse about her detriment with the universal message that Barbie gives conflicting messages about body image and how a girl should take space in the world. In like manner, many have come to her defense. She’s just a doll, right? No, she is a brand, indestructible, until 2001,
The company explained that the new dolls will be a better reflection of what girls see in the world around them. Not only will they better represent the diversity seen in real women, they may also help girls develop a more realistic body image. Mattel believes they have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty. Parents should make informed decisions about which toys they give to their children and consider carefully how those toys might affect them. The new Barbie dolls offer increased options for parents. Parents can introduce their children to a range of body shapes, sizes, and colors through these new dolls. Parents can choose to give their children dolls that do not promote an unrealistic or even unhealthy body image, such as the new Barbie’s offered by Mattel. Parents can give their children toys other than dolls. Parents can also discuss the messages toys convey with their children. Even young children can begin to develop a critical eye towards these things if provided with some guidance in that
America has always been a country that strives for equality. With a recent question of equality rising in the wage system, feminism has taken on a life of its own. With women becoming the primary source of income in homes and with a woman now running for President, attention is drawn to the things in society that might be considered unequal. One of those things, targeted since their creation, is Barbie Dolls. In “The Controversy behind Barbie” author Prisna Virasin attempts to qualify the existence of Barbie Dolls to her readers. While she succeeds with a personal story to tie her readers into her argument, she fails to provide an initial thesis statement to guide the reader, she fails to thoroughly address the positive perspectives of Barbie, and doesn’t provide sufficient evidence to back her claims on the positive and neutral perspectives. Virasin uses a pathos style and
Those perfect days as a child when your countless days were filled with playtime. The time to set up those houses and dress the dolls up, and act out the future. “Through their play Barbara imagined their lives as adults. They used the dolls to reflect the adult world around them. They would sit and carry on conversations, making the dolls real people” (Ruth Handler). As a young child, it is all you look forward to in your future: being successful and confident, loved and cherished. Many dolls were used to project this. Specifically, the Barbie. Barbie is a positive role model girl should look up to for confidence and inspiration. She is a talented and educated career woman, self-sufficient in every aspect of her life, and a stunning example to young girls the body that is healthy and fit.
According to Lisa Belkin, Barbie is good for society because she’s fun to play with and she encourages little girls to use their imagination and dream big. Many young girls who play with Barbie dolls have realized that she is just a doll. Some of these little girls don’t have the desire to look like Barbie; they just think Barbie is just a doll that they play with and leave them everywhere. At a young age girls are given their first Barbie doll and thought what “perfect” should be. Barbie portrays the perfect image and life. Not only is Barbie tall, skinny, and beautiful, she has all the luxurious accessories to match her perfect life. To go along with her perfect life she is accompanied with the perfect boyfriend, family and dream house.At a young age girls are also being influenced by this doll, what they should look like, and what kind of life they sgould lead. Young girls strive to achieve this look which is life threatening to obtain. Regardless to the changes they made to Barbie, she is still far from real. Little girls that are mature enough don’t strive to look like Barbie because she’s just a plastic doll.(Debate.org, 9). According to “The Intentions behind the creation of Barbie”, Barbie dolls ...
When I was very young, I owned very many Barbie dolls. To me, they were just so beautiful, and flawless, and I loved them very much. But the Barbie that said the most to me was the President Barbie. This spoke to me. It said that anyone, anywhere, of any gender, socioeconomic status, background, sexuality, ethnicity, race, or belief system could be anything they ever wanted to be, as long as they worked hard enough to achieve it. And this is a very important message, and it is a message that Barbie sends to people every day, all over the world.
... not be capable of walking around or holding her head up. However, this has not stopped women from trying to emulate her, leading to eating disorders and plastic surgeries. Barbie is also an icon of racial insensitivity. Mattel, Inc. has produced at least two Barbies with negative connotations in their name, such as “Colored” and “Oreo.” Additionally, their new “ethnic” line consists of Barbies from across the globe that fulfills a number of stereotypes. Lastly, Barbie encourages goals that are, for the most part, unobtainable. She is a doctor, surgeon, and jet pilot among many other professions, but also encourages stereotypical domestic activities like baking and cleaning. Barbie, a doll manufactured by Mattel, Inc., encourages an unrealistic body image, racial insensitivity, and contradictive goals, and it is having a negative influence on young girls everywhere.
It may seem trivial and go unnoticed to most, but by assigning Barbie a real career, people are able to identify with and recognize her. The marketers also provide Barbie with a life other than modeling, such as friends and a home. The Ken doll, which is commonly known as Barbie’s boyfriend, makes her appear more real to the audience. Girls are able to identify with the idea of a boyfriend, which makes the notion of Barbie seem more realistic and desirable. The same idea is applied to the many friends Barbie has been accompanied by over the years. Lastly, and perhaps most famously, Barbie, like almost all of the girls who play with her, have a home. The Barbie Dream House is just another clever way her marketing team has presented her to society as a real person. Humanizing Barbie, and portraying her in such a manner makes her more attractive to potential buyers. The girls who engage in play with dolls do not want merely a doll; they desire something they can relate to and envision in the real world. Imaginative play is a large portion of childhood, and the ability for children to posses a doll like Barbie , who represents a real person in society, is extremely valuable. The use of social constructionism in the marketing of products such as Barbie is both brilliant and effective.