Barbie Dolls

I think that when it comes to Barbie Dolls that people do not think they are getting into anything that big. It's just a doll for your kid, right? However, the article on the site is saying that Barbie dolls are lowering self image of children everywhere and that Barbie is very materialistic because it just about clothes you can dress up your Barbie in and who has the best. The article also says that it affects boys as well because they think that girls are supposed to look exactly like Barbie dolls.  I think that while this message could be sent across, that people do not buy Barbie dolls to be materialistic or to mean anything untoward, I just think that there are so many clothes for the toy simply because they are trying to market it to all children as the years goes by, so do the styles change. Barbie's are not meant to have any actual impact on a child's psyche, it's just supposed to be a toy. That is it. Not a model for who everyone should be. People can say this and that about it not being realistic because of it being too thin or not true in size, but it is just a toy. If parents are worried about their daughters and think that Barbie dolls are sending a bad message to them of some unattainable body image goal - they should simply not buy it. The article talks about the clothes being indecent and not suitable for children, but that's only because that is what is being modeled to be 'cool'. If there is someone to blame, it is everyone else who decides to wear those clothes and make them the model for young adults. Barbie just reflects our society.

Comments

[Melissababesxox]

You make a very good point saying that "people do not buy Barbie dolls to be materialistic or to mean anything untoward." Many people buy children a Barbie doll because they had Barbie dolls themselves when they were kids, so they want to carry on the tradition. Barbie dolls are not meant to have an impact on a child's mind, but they do. They teach children that they need to look like her, have the things she has to really be happy. You mention that the article saying that the clothing is not suitable for children, then why should adults even buy them? or why should they even be put onto the market? Each toy is tested and considered over before a board before they are even put onto the toy market. Therefore each toy item is acceptable for the toy market, but they are still questionable for the child. It is therefore, the parent or guardians decision on if the toy is appropriate for a child. And also their responsibility to teach them that they do not need to look like a Barbie doll or have the fancy things to be happy.