Post by Layla Littlenymph on Jan 30, 2016 2:14:50 GMT -5
Has political correctness struck again, or am I just reacting to another cultural icon of my youth undergoing major changes? Things change with time, but change does not always come about for the right reasons, nor is change always a good thing. In the long run it is probably a good idea for Mattel to reach out to a larger market. I have little doubt that this particular change would have come about in its own time, and yet a part of me can not shake the feeling that the long running attacks on Barbie have prompted Mattel to alter their timeline, and in so doing, altering the manner in which they would have adapted to the changing market if left to their own devices.
On one hand I can understand where the opposition is coming from, but I always regarded the attacks on Barbie as an over reaction to a company that was simply producing an item for the entertainment of young girls. Collectors aside, dolls are for girls, girls are children, and fantasy plays an active role in child's play. Yes, it is true that Barbie was an exaggerated ideal of the American woman, but how many children fantasize about growing up to be average? Is being a Princess a realistic expectation of adult life? Of course not, but what I may ask is wrong with dreaming of being one? Children grow up fast enough and will have to deal with the realities of life soon enough. Must we force our adult realities into their harmless child's play? Can you really show me evidence that Barbie plays a negative role in a young girls future self esteem? Do I not have a say in what is or is not appropriate for my child's development?
One of my pet peeves is and always will be well intended adults that not only presume to know what is best for me, but presume to take action to force those decisions upon me. My child is mine, and despite what liberal ideology preaches, I am perfectly capable of raising one without a village. In the end, this change will wind up being a good thing, but change is best when it comes about naturally and embraced willingly. Perhaps in time the do-gooders of the world will find more meaningful and worthy things to focus on besides what toys I allow my children to play with, but somehow I doubt it. But this one thing I do know beyond any doubt. If people would stop looking so hard for things to be offended by, they would have a happier life, and my life would be happier without having to weather their constant offense. If you are easily offended, please take the time to find something more worthy to focus it upon than my Barbie doll. Barbie and I both would thank you most kindly for that.
Moving along, why don't I just post the majority of the article I linked here in order to save you the time and trouble of going elsewhere... with proper credit of course. The article posted below was written by Harper Bazaar's News Editor, Megan Friedman, and appeared in Harpers Bazaar
on 01-28-2016.
Barbie Just Got a Major Makeover
And landed the cover of 'TIME'
In the past few years, Barbie dolls have taken tiny steps toward becoming more inclusive. First, they introduced dolls that could (gasp!) wear flats, and then they featured a boy in a commercial for the very first time to promote Moschino Barbie. You can even buy a Barbie that looks like director Ava DuVernay. But now, the company has made one of its biggest moves yet, creating three new body types for its dolls to reflect real-life girls and women.
The new Fashionista dolls will have four body types: the original, plus tall, curvy, and petite. They also feature seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 30 hair colors, 24 hair styles, and 14 face sculpts. The new body types also mean that not every piece of Barbie clothing will fit every doll, and that includes shoes. Mattel has anticipated this will be such an issue that they've set up a separate complaint line for these dolls.
According to Time, the move is meant to cater to millenial moms, who are the future of their consumer base. Plus, it's an attempt to fix the bad reputation that comes with selling a super-skinny doll to girls; an exec told the magazine that she even gets death threats about Barbie's body. It even took months to decide on the terms tall, petite, and curvy, and figure out how to translate those terms into different languages without offending people.
"We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty," Evelyn Mazzocco, the brand's senior vice president and global brand manager, said in a statement. "These new dolls represent a line that is more reflective of the world girls see around them – the variety in body type, skin tones and style allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them."
The dolls are on sale starting today at Barbie.com and Shop.Mattel.com, and will hit stores this spring.
My original response to this when I saw it on Facebook was a bit candid; perhaps too candid to repeat in full, but I had a few suggestions I shared with Mattel at that time, so I will share the bulk of them with you as well.
I suppose it's a start, but we have a long ways to go before doll equality can be reached.
While you have managed to come up with four body types, to include the original, you seem to be missing the boat here. Regular Barbie is still Barbie. Petite Barby is cute. Curvy Barbie is curvy in a good way (hubba-hubba). Tall Barbie is rather svelte, and all Barbies are good looking. This does not satisfy we, the politically correct, and we demand you produce accurate Barbies without delay. I am calling for an immediate Barbie boycott unless at least three more body types are generated in time for the Christmas.... <excuse me> Winter Holiday gift giving period. We believe in the freedom of American business concerns to determine the desires of its customers, so do not feel obligated to include everything from the following list... this year. We fully understand that it takes time to tool up for production, which is why we only insist on three. Once you demonstrate a willingness to conform to progressive values, we will post a more extensive list of demands. Have no fear. we fully intend to allow you an appropriate amount of time to profit monger before we eventually bankrupt your sexist, capitalist, exploitive industry.
* Wannabe Barbie, Barbie: First in the "Call me Caitlyn Collection" to foster non-gender specific equality. An unmodified Ken doll with removable hair and boobies in a nice party dress because sometimes even a man likes to feel like a lady.
* Used to be Ken Barbie: Second in the "Call Me Caitlyn Collection". How hard can this one be? Just mold some boobs onto a Ken doll. Add hair and sand down the pelvis area.
* Butch Barbie: A smaller but heavier set version of Used to be Ken Barbie for Tom-boys that like girls, because there is nothing wrong with that.
* Big Barbie: Because big is beautiful.
* Bigger Barbie: For the psychological well being and positive self esteem of girls that are not fat but probably just suffering from a glandular disorder.
* Anorexic Barbie: For the self esteem of girls with eating disorders.
* Apple Cheeks Barbie: Baby got Back edition. She ain't fat, she phat like that.
* Cankle Barbie: Basically a Curvy Barbie with near zero delineation for ankles and wrists.
* Board Barbie: A standard Barbie with a 2/3 reduction in boobie mass and a 1/3 reduction in butt mass, because we are not all curvy now, are we? hmmm? Board Barbie could be sold with a padded bra and butt pads that allow a transformation to Curvy Barbie for girls that want a Board Barbie but have not yet developed an acceptable level of comfort with an underdeveloped (according to sexist male standard) look.
* Awkwardly Adolescent Barbie: Basically a Board Barbie but gangly, with longer arms and legs, one boob slightly larger than the other, and perhaps marketed with freckles, glasses, and a set of braces or retainer. A girl needs someone to identify with at this awkward stage of life.
* Beautiful Inside Barbie: Not an actual body style, but rather a new set of facial molds that can be applied to existing body styles to more accurately reflect the fact that beauty is only skin deep. I would suggest such popular features as Chinless Barbie, Double Chin Barbie Big Nose Barbie, Unibrow Barbie, and even though I find them attractive, not everyone agrees, so toss in a Ginger Barbie for good measure. These are sure to be a hit among girls that suffer from low self esteem most likely caused by shallow boys (and men in general) that objectify women through visual oriented evaluation alone.
Thank you for reading these deman... ummm... suggestions. We look forward to seeing these models in production, and will be sending you further ideas in the near future. Just remember that when any one among us is offended, we are all offended, so quit offending us with these unrealistic, sexist, male inspired stereotypes of feminine form...
Or else!
~LL
Well, that's my take on the new and improved Fat Barbie.
I think it's pretty clear at this point what I think. What do YOU think?
~LL
Edit to Add:
A brief look at the various sizes, shapes, and colors of the new line of Barbies.
And... just to be fair... How about a look at why all the fuss
Okay, I get it, but I already knew Barbie was an impossible standard and by no means average. The point that I think the politically correct crowd is missing though is this; How many little girls do you know that want to grow up and be average? The "average" little girl wants to grow up and be a Princess, which is in no way average. It's called fantasy. Does fantasy ruin self esteem, or is it just... fantasy?
With all the problems women face around the world, it staggers the imagination that women (or men too for that matter) would have the time to worry about this. That's just me though. I'm a live and let live kinda pixie. How about we let kids have their pretend time. They will have more than enough time to deal with reality later, and I simply fail to understand how Barbie handicaps a young girls future reality. Childhood is but a fleeting moment in our lives that should be enjoyed in the fullness of what it is. It is a time of dreams and fantasies. Who are we to take that away?
Barbie Just Got a Major Makeover
And landed the cover of 'TIME'
In the past few years, Barbie dolls have taken tiny steps toward becoming more inclusive. First, they introduced dolls that could (gasp!) wear flats, and then they featured a boy in a commercial for the very first time to promote Moschino Barbie. You can even buy a Barbie that looks like director Ava DuVernay. But now, the company has made one of its biggest moves yet, creating three new body types for its dolls to reflect real-life girls and women.
The new Fashionista dolls will have four body types: the original, plus tall, curvy, and petite. They also feature seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 30 hair colors, 24 hair styles, and 14 face sculpts. The new body types also mean that not every piece of Barbie clothing will fit every doll, and that includes shoes. Mattel has anticipated this will be such an issue that they've set up a separate complaint line for these dolls.
According to Time, the move is meant to cater to millenial moms, who are the future of their consumer base. Plus, it's an attempt to fix the bad reputation that comes with selling a super-skinny doll to girls; an exec told the magazine that she even gets death threats about Barbie's body. It even took months to decide on the terms tall, petite, and curvy, and figure out how to translate those terms into different languages without offending people.
"We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty," Evelyn Mazzocco, the brand's senior vice president and global brand manager, said in a statement. "These new dolls represent a line that is more reflective of the world girls see around them – the variety in body type, skin tones and style allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them."
The dolls are on sale starting today at Barbie.com and Shop.Mattel.com, and will hit stores this spring.
My original response to this when I saw it on Facebook was a bit candid; perhaps too candid to repeat in full, but I had a few suggestions I shared with Mattel at that time, so I will share the bulk of them with you as well.
I suppose it's a start, but we have a long ways to go before doll equality can be reached.
While you have managed to come up with four body types, to include the original, you seem to be missing the boat here. Regular Barbie is still Barbie. Petite Barby is cute. Curvy Barbie is curvy in a good way (hubba-hubba). Tall Barbie is rather svelte, and all Barbies are good looking. This does not satisfy we, the politically correct, and we demand you produce accurate Barbies without delay. I am calling for an immediate Barbie boycott unless at least three more body types are generated in time for the Christmas.... <excuse me> Winter Holiday gift giving period. We believe in the freedom of American business concerns to determine the desires of its customers, so do not feel obligated to include everything from the following list... this year. We fully understand that it takes time to tool up for production, which is why we only insist on three. Once you demonstrate a willingness to conform to progressive values, we will post a more extensive list of demands. Have no fear. we fully intend to allow you an appropriate amount of time to profit monger before we eventually bankrupt your sexist, capitalist, exploitive industry.
* Wannabe Barbie, Barbie: First in the "Call me Caitlyn Collection" to foster non-gender specific equality. An unmodified Ken doll with removable hair and boobies in a nice party dress because sometimes even a man likes to feel like a lady.
* Used to be Ken Barbie: Second in the "Call Me Caitlyn Collection". How hard can this one be? Just mold some boobs onto a Ken doll. Add hair and sand down the pelvis area.
* Butch Barbie: A smaller but heavier set version of Used to be Ken Barbie for Tom-boys that like girls, because there is nothing wrong with that.
* Big Barbie: Because big is beautiful.
* Bigger Barbie: For the psychological well being and positive self esteem of girls that are not fat but probably just suffering from a glandular disorder.
* Anorexic Barbie: For the self esteem of girls with eating disorders.
* Apple Cheeks Barbie: Baby got Back edition. She ain't fat, she phat like that.
* Cankle Barbie: Basically a Curvy Barbie with near zero delineation for ankles and wrists.
* Board Barbie: A standard Barbie with a 2/3 reduction in boobie mass and a 1/3 reduction in butt mass, because we are not all curvy now, are we? hmmm? Board Barbie could be sold with a padded bra and butt pads that allow a transformation to Curvy Barbie for girls that want a Board Barbie but have not yet developed an acceptable level of comfort with an underdeveloped (according to sexist male standard) look.
* Awkwardly Adolescent Barbie: Basically a Board Barbie but gangly, with longer arms and legs, one boob slightly larger than the other, and perhaps marketed with freckles, glasses, and a set of braces or retainer. A girl needs someone to identify with at this awkward stage of life.
* Beautiful Inside Barbie: Not an actual body style, but rather a new set of facial molds that can be applied to existing body styles to more accurately reflect the fact that beauty is only skin deep. I would suggest such popular features as Chinless Barbie, Double Chin Barbie Big Nose Barbie, Unibrow Barbie, and even though I find them attractive, not everyone agrees, so toss in a Ginger Barbie for good measure. These are sure to be a hit among girls that suffer from low self esteem most likely caused by shallow boys (and men in general) that objectify women through visual oriented evaluation alone.
Thank you for reading these deman... ummm... suggestions. We look forward to seeing these models in production, and will be sending you further ideas in the near future. Just remember that when any one among us is offended, we are all offended, so quit offending us with these unrealistic, sexist, male inspired stereotypes of feminine form...
Or else!
~LL
Well, that's my take on the new and improved Fat Barbie.
I think it's pretty clear at this point what I think. What do YOU think?
~LL
Edit to Add:
A brief look at the various sizes, shapes, and colors of the new line of Barbies.
And... just to be fair... How about a look at why all the fuss
Okay, I get it, but I already knew Barbie was an impossible standard and by no means average. The point that I think the politically correct crowd is missing though is this; How many little girls do you know that want to grow up and be average? The "average" little girl wants to grow up and be a Princess, which is in no way average. It's called fantasy. Does fantasy ruin self esteem, or is it just... fantasy?
With all the problems women face around the world, it staggers the imagination that women (or men too for that matter) would have the time to worry about this. That's just me though. I'm a live and let live kinda pixie. How about we let kids have their pretend time. They will have more than enough time to deal with reality later, and I simply fail to understand how Barbie handicaps a young girls future reality. Childhood is but a fleeting moment in our lives that should be enjoyed in the fullness of what it is. It is a time of dreams and fantasies. Who are we to take that away?