Barbie and Me

Since we focused a lot on Barbie this week, I spent some time thinking about my own relationship with the blonde icon in my childhood. I was really into Barbie as a child. I had her entire house, all of her friends spanning all different races, I had many outfits for her that indicated various careers that she held. I don't think Barbie was ever more than a companion for me, though. I was an only child, I didn't have any friends. What I mean, though, is that I don't ever remember really aspiring to be a vet because Barbie was a vet or trying to emulate her life in any way. I just liked playing with the puppies and vet tools that came in the box. This may not be fair, however, because I was (still am) a skinny blonde girl so Barbie isn't much different from me. Obviously I would want any girl in the world to have a doll to identify with (but not those creepy American Girl dolls). I think a smart thing for the Barbie brand to do would be expand the market of their other dolls. Make all of Barbie's friends the main characters in their own stories. Give them houses, great jobs, cheesy movies, and hot boyfriends. Every little girl needs someone to look up to and admire, even if it has to be a doll. Why don't they all deserve one that looks like them and has the same background?

I think it is disappointing that Barbie's body measurements have not changed at all in the last decade or so with all of the uproar. If Barbie were to be real (think Lifesize, the movie starring Tyra Banks and Lindsey Lohan), she would not be able to stand up. Not only because of those slanted feet, but because her waist would be too small to sustain her unnatural breasts. She would literally be too top-heavy to stand upright. It is sad to me that Barbie hasn't put on a few pounds or at least gotten a breast reduction at some point.