Barbie: Don't Hate Her Because She's Beautiful

Barbie’s 50th birthday filled me with nostalgia. I remember exactly when I got my first Barbie. Of course, since I was very young when she was “born” – I first learned of her when my older sister’s best friend Judy got one. Judy was an only child and always got anything new that was on the market way before anyone else did. I still remember seeing her princess phone and thinking “Wow, maybe she is really a princess.” Apparently her mother had a habit of sneaking things to her before breaking it to her dad – because one day she led us to her attic room and said, soto voce, “I have to show you something.” And she went into her closet and revealed – gasp! – Barbie. My sister was pissed and I was awed. At the dinner table that night, the campaign began.
“Can we get Barbies?” she asked. “Judy has a Barbie.”
My parents, however, enthusiastic Democrats were engaged in a lively discussion about the upcoming election…and finally my mom said “OK – if Kennedy wins the election, you girls can both get Barbie dolls.”
This was in mid-September, so of course it made me far more aware of the election than I would have otherwise been, and because all I could think of was the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, I didn’t balk one bit when my mother dragged us to Roosevelt Field Shopping Center (way before it was a mall) to see Kennedy on the campaign trail.
And of course, when he won the election – my parents – in a rare display of affection – hugged! Ten seconds later, the chant began.
“When can we get Barbie?” The optimism of the new era reigned supreme, so we actually went to the local toy store the next night! I got a blonde Barbie and my sister chose brunette because it reminded her of the new first lady.
Ah Barbie. A latter-day Isadora Duncan…a precursor of a Stepford Wife…has ever a plastic temptress been in the center of more controversy? She’s been accused of everything from cheating on Ken with GI Joe to influencing body images leading young girls to anorexia. Of course, no one really gives her props for the courage she exhibited staying with a man for 43 years who clearly had gender-confusion issues; while she was endowed with breasts that were so large she later needed a reduction to stand upright…Ken was…well…all I’ll say is Mattel wasn’t as generous with his …parts.
So, despite the controversy and all that’s been said about her – I agree with her fans who point out that she’s a wonderful role model for young girls; she has a career – she’s not dependent on a man to support her (in any way – see the discussion of Ken, supra) – she has a lot of friends – and she’s always perky. Don’t hate her because she’s beautiful…

Comments

[Jessica Levin]

And just remember, if she were a real woman, she would be over 7' tall with her propotions.