Living in a Barbie World :: social issues

Living in a Barbie WorldShe took the world by push with her luxurious blond hair, blue eyes, and long legs. Soon, little girls all oer the world were emulating and praising this eleven-and-a-half-inch-tall plastic fowl (Napier). Throughout the decades, she has become an word picture to little girls, so much that some be wondering whether the uninventive ideals for women exemplified by Barbie have affected females in regards to body image. When Barbie first appeared, she sap her trademark black and white swimsuit and swirling ponytail. Over the years as formulate and teenage lifestyle trends have shifted, so has Barbie. She has evolved from having bendable legs, a twisting waist, long hair, and sophisticated look in the 1960s to the athletically given Barbie with bendable wrists, elbows, and ankles in the 1970s. In the 1980s, a new friendlier, open-mouthed smiling, and bright-eyed Barbie emerged on the guesswork (Riddick). Her wardrobe took on a bit of pizzazz in the ninetie s when she started sporting clothes created by famous fashion designers such as Calvin Klein and Vera Wang (Fashion). Not only has this gentlewoman transformed into an internationally known fashion savvy doll, she has left psychologists and parents wondering if she may be at brand for many female body image problems because of her overly slender stature. It is fantastically amazing that anyone could consider the body measurements of 56, 110 pounds, and 39-18-33 attainable or at all a realistic womanly figure (Napier). These are Barbies measurements in proportion to the size of a real woman and also the coruscation that started the fire of line concerning gender stereotyping in the nation. The accusations by feminists and doctors alike are that Mattel, the manufacturer of the doll, has projected harmful body images onto our female youth by subtly placing these stereotypes into the media and into little girls hands. The psychologists insist that the young girls notice the body sha pes of the doll and translate them into what a female should physically look like then creating a problem down the road such as down in the mouth self-esteem or an eating disorder (Langley). Although the Barbie manufacturers prime intention for the doll was to inspire self-esteem, glamour, and friendship, societys stereotypes have caused her much media strife. There has been so much controversy that in 1998 she underwent plastic surgery to reduce her breast size, liposuction her hips, and inject the plonk into her waist.