I find it frustrating that this article, like almost every article about Barbie dolls, starts off with something along the lines of, "While she's still white and blonde." In later paragraphs, we again read that "the dolls may have contributed to unrealistic body standards for young girls."
Oh, and, it was a terrible thing that "It also took the brand until 1969 to launch its first black Barbie." And now, even with curvy dolls and dolls with every skin tone under the sun, this article claims there is "backlash" against Barbie for not offering a greater diversity in
hair textures.
Give me a freakin' break.
Oh, and, apparently "Fat Barbie" isn't fat enough, because the "curvy" line "still feature(s) a doll with some slim features, and a more robust torso and hip area."
The people who write these articles must really have some serious low self-esteem issues to get so hung up on what they perceive as "negatives" about Barbie. Never a mention about how many billions of Barbies have been sold. Never a mention of the millions or billions of children who played with Barbie over the years. No discussion of Barbie and her extended family inspiring and stimulating imagination and creativity.
Barbie was an astronaut in 1965, nearly 20 years before an American woman went in to space (Russia sent a female cosmonaut into space in 1963, but did not send another until 1982). Barbie has been an explorer and a scientist and a doctor and a veterinarian and... you guys know the drill. She's done a lot more stuff than GI Joe, Poor ol' Joe isn't even around anymore. His company, Hasbro, focuses almost exclusively on Disney Princesses today. Where's the "hate" for Disney Princesses? No, the princesses get a pass, while Barbie gets the smack.
But ya know what? Barbie keeps on smiling. She's smiling from her wheelchair. She's smiling with her prosthetic limbs. She's smiling from space, from the jungle, from the operating room, and from the Dream House. Black, white, Asian, Hindu, or Malibu tan, Barbie adapts, Barbie smiles, and Barbie continues to inspire generation after generation of kids.
I think the reporters are jealous because
this Barbie reporter doll set is inaccurate. You
know that in real life the roles would be reversed.
(And now I want that set, because camera operator Barbie is what Barbie is
supposed to look like!
)