Barbie is not Bad

For this week’s blog, I decided to look into some of the aspects of why many people find Barbie to have negative impact on children. So to start I think I will look at what researchers claim to be the fault of Barbie. Vicki Zaitz a child therapist and licensed clinical social worker stated claims that “Barbie reinforces the idea that all bodies look the same, that there is one perfect way to look. And if you don’t look that way, there is something wrong with you.” This image that young girls look up leaves room for debate that girls are pressured to strive for unrealistic body types. Some claim that girls today as young as 8 years old are already dieting and trying to achieve the body types that the media has recognized as acceptable. However, although I agree that the media has forced some negative implications on body image among girls at a young age, I do not think that you can consider Barbie a leading factor in this debate. I will admit Barbie used to be portrayed solely as America’s blonde-haired, blue-eyed sweetheart standing only 11 ½ inches tall, I do not agree with the fact that Barbie can force girls into wanting to change their own body image. Looking at other dolls, they too in fact have a general body type that is consistent, while their looks change through their clothes and make-up as well as Barbie. I think Mattel is taking great steps in trying to portray Barbie as a better image for young girls. They are now changing the appearance to accommodate the different aspects of different cultures and races. This I believe will allow debates to be lessened in regards to Barbie as being bad for young girls. I think the most important think that Barbie still consistently portrays is the idea of the girl population in general to be able to accomplish anything they put their mind to. In the past women were not able to hold certain jobs, but it is clear that we are just as capable as men are within the workforce. And I think Barbie continually allows little girls to, at a young age, formulate different dreams and wishes inside their head as to what they want to become in the future. I don’t think we are looking at what Barbie looks like anymore, but what she can do, and in the end what we can do!