Barbies And Their Dolls

[FriendOfZeus]

Since their inception, Barbies have had a profound effect on western society. Mainly on women; becoming a driving force in shaping them and molding their perception on things. We can catergorize the change into two different and opposite sets: "Barbies proppelled women to be independent" or "Barbies propelled women to be submissive". Identifying the real end result would unlock Barbies true purpose.

These dolls have certainly had a controversial past; something that was supposedly made for little girls was the brainchild of a U.S army weapon designer. This fact urges us to bypass the portrayed innocense in these dolls to somehow figure out the real purpose behind their existence.

In no way has this doll made women more independent, as obvious evidence tells of various and numerous lawsuits filled by women oganisations in the U.S against the values adopted by these dolls. Like when its manufacturing company "Mattel, Inc" released a version in which Barbie would say "Math class is tough!" which led to criticism from the "American Association Of University Women". Also, the word Barbie has come to be used as a a derogatory slang term for a girl or woman who is considered shallow, most notably in the 1997 pop song "Barbie Girl".

Barbies are aimed at keeping women locked in their millenia aged cage. A cage of the mind; where women would seem to perseve that man are better and are more honourable, this show when we see their male doll counterparts dont have any sexual parts, when the female version can be stripped naked.

An emotional cage, where the doll would make women always strive for an unrealistic physical image and body, thus leading to a risk of anorexia for women who attempt to emulate her. A standard Barbie doll is 11.5 inches tall, giving a height of 5 feet 9 inches at 1/6 scale. Barbie's vital statistics have been estimated at 36 inches (chest), 18 inches (waist) and 33 inches (hips). According to research by the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland. she would lack the 17 to 22 percent of body fat required for a woman to menstruate. In 1965 "Slumber Party Barbie" came with a book entitled "How To Lose Weight" which advised: "Don't Eat." The doll also came with pink bathroom scales reading 110 pounds, which would be around 35 pounds underweight for a woman 5 feet 9 inches tall.

These ever influencial dolls have wrecked havoc upon women and their self esteem, not only have they held back on concentrating on the real issues facing women today, but they have added several negative effects on their lifes. Barbies should be hanged....By Their Curls.



By Mohamad Sleiman Haidar

[Josee]

Originally Posted by FriendOfZeus

Barbies should be hanged....By Their Curls.

I already did this 9 years ago

[Gilgamesh]

I don't think that there was as you made it sound, a conscious plan to create these dolls so that they will have that effect....it is a chain reaction that starts with the male conception of what perfect woman is like and ends up with a female obsession with reaching that ideal...Hollywood, the media in general, and marketing devils (as you mentioned) make the effect of already existing ideas worse by preaching it to millions of masses...

[pink]

This semester i tuk that as a subject in english! but it was the 1st time 2 think it that way...
Well intentions related 2 dolls movies songs and every other released thng, r made after releasin mainly! wen ppl who have any advantage of that thng released they try 2 develop it more and more....
For barbies, based on those articles, nd maybe 4 some ppl it is true.. that it is kind of a weapon 4 a man agnst women havin the barbies as a perfect example of a satisfying outlook of a woman!
other sides that may take a huge advantage is the market place maybe...
But 2 wut concerns to women immitating or trying to look like barbies ..i guess it is not Barbies fault nor its founder... bcz women allover the world try 2 immitate the look of any female that seems to be attractive for males!.... an example is hayfa! looking just in the arab world, we see loaaaaaaaaaaads of women tryin 2 take her image wether they admit it or no...! the blak hair, the same eye colors , body scales! ....i see minimum 5 similar faces in univ daily! then we wud accuse hayfa 4 lukin nice or God 4 makin her seductive or lukin like so....

[FriendOfZeus]

I don't think that there was as you made it sound, a conscious plan to create these dolls so that they will have that effect....it is a chain reaction that starts with the male conception of what perfect woman is like and ends up with a female obsession with reaching that ideal...Hollywood, the media in general, and marketing devils (as you mentioned) make the effect of already existing ideas worse by preaching it to millions of masses...

Barbies i just part of the plan to keep the american economy moving. Their goverment doesnt give a flying horses ass as to wether women have self esteem or not, when talking about the barbie issue, about hollywood, make up products or plastic surgeries, women are of secondary importance and qualification. As to the real reason for evoking such importance on good looks (to be like barbie) is to spend money on beautification products. Tens of billions get spend in the U.S.A each each on these products, barbies are just the marketing ploy to help sustain that great big wheel turning.

Further evidence giving weight to my claim is the consomatrice nature of the american society and the economy's dependance on the american citizens going about spending mindlessly.

Barbies are a marketing ploy, that have damaged women on the long run, and have played a role in the greedy and vicious economic plan of the U.S.A.

My 2 cents.