Barbie
By: Elena Hadnot
More to it than just a pretty face
Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler in the late 1950's. She got the name "Barbie" after Barbara Handler, Ruth's daughter. Ruth was inspired to create the first Barbie doll from a German doll named, "lilli." Barbie was deputed in 1959 through Mattel Toy company. It all began when Barbara wanted a doll that she could look up to as a role model. Ruth was interguted by this and decided to invent a Barbie doll. This happens to be the most selling doll of all time. Many yuong girls are wanting a Barbie to be able to have a role model.
Ruth Handler
Barbara Handler
"Lilli"-German Doll
Purpose and Defintion
Ruth's main purpose was to create a doll that her daughter, Barbara, could look up to as a role model. Barbie dolls are Feminine adults that have unique features. A Barbie doll is a plastic representation of a young adult women. Also a person, especially a young woman, perceived as blandly attractive and vacuous.
Negative Aspects of Barbie
Some negative Aspects of Barbie is that it portrays an unrealistic image throughout body measurements. The Barbie effect gives young men and women the impression that this is a lifestyle they can have. But in reality, life is a lot more complicated and unique. This does not mean that anything the young individuals have is any less perfect. Barbie displays a false perspective that young men and women simply cannot always achieve. The negative effects of the Barbie effect then harm the young men and women’s body image and ideals. It is also known as a "sexual idol." It also allows girls to believe they can do anything, only to be let down later in life.
Positive Barbie
Some positive aspects of Barbie is that she is in some cases a role model to some girls as well as she is an inspiration for the younger girls as they are growing up and decide wether or not they want to be just like their favorite Barbie. It also gets them to believe they can do anything as long as they are able to achieve it. Barbie represents changes taking place in the world and it shows girls a glimpse of their future values. Girls are often looking up to the Barbie world and think of ways to be just like their favorite Barbie's.
Cindy Jackson
Cindy Jackson at the age of 33 decided to do several cosmetic surgery procedures to look like a Barbie. When she was younger, her favorite Barbie was Teresa Barbie. She thought she had the same features as her, but really she didn't. She thought she was just like her and how they shared the same qualities. Cindy received 31 operations over the course of 14 years to become a real life Barbie. Her operations included laser surgery on her forhead, upper and lower eye modification, cheek, plants, two nmose jobs, and eyebrows, eyeliner, implants, and full lipstick tatooed to her face. This cost over 100,00 dollars. At the time, she held the world record for the most cosmetic surgeries procedures.
Facts
- Barbie has been created in hundreds of different nationalities
- Careers range anywhere a doctor to a babysitter
- Two Barbie dolls are sold around the world every second
- Influenced the "Baby Boomers"
Connection to today and solution for the future
Today, barbie continues to find new ways to inspire and encourage the next generation of girls. In today's society, more girls rely on Barbie as the world has become a whole different society than it was in the late 50's. Girls are worried too much of what they can do to be perfect and popular rather than focusing on their own qualities that they have, but it's good to dream and to have Barbie as a role model.
The impact of the decade
The average girl from ages 3-11 owns at least 10 Barbie dolls and spends hours playing with them and dressing them up. And the more time anyone spends time with anything, the more influence it has on them. So this perfect doll has not had the best impact on young girls. A super skinny teenage fashion model, and no matter what the job, she’s kept that look that makes most every girl jealous. There are more pressures on girls then ever before about the proper way to look and act and dress. And they feel the need to fit in and that the only way that they can fit in is by looking, acting and dressing that certain way. Impacts of the decade has lead to some positive and negative aspects of Barbie.
Sources
"Life in Plastic... Not So Fantastic." : October 2009. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Mar. 2016.
(2015, September 20). Artificially Yours. New York Times Magazine, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com