1. The significance of Barbie in contemporary American culture would represent the idealistic icon of modern success in America. This means that to be deemed as successful, one would obtain all four of Motz’s attributes: “wealth, beauty, popularity, and leisure (Motz 3).” In real life, the closest figures mirroring Barbie would be famous celebrities. Celebrities wield all four of the attributes in society, which is why they became famous in the first place. They accumulated a plethora of wealth; society admires their beauty/handsomeness; being famous means they’re popular; they have leisure to play around and accumulate a heap of currency. That is also why some people own dolls of their idolized celebrity(ies). Playing with a Barbie or their …show more content…
The doll continues to sell more successfully every year because like Motz stated, “when a girl plays with a baby doll, she becomes in her fantasy the doll’s mother. She talks directly to the doll…and becomes Barbie, manipulating Barbie, speaking for her and moving other dolls around engaging in role-playing activities. She can imitate adult speech, dress, and behavior…(Motz 1).” When a little girl plays with Barbie, she becomes engrossed and mesmerized into the actions, acting as if the little girl was the one acting everything out like in real life and assuming all of the success, despite the fact that Barbie does corrupt the girl’s vision of real life by living in a world of success, fame, and fortune. The little girl would feel a surge of happiness manipulating the Barbie’s to her likings. Moreover, like any other products, playing with Barbie’s also develops camaraderie with other Barbie loving girls. Within women’s lives, it would establish “identity among women in the micro level (Kirk and Rey 2-3).” Girls are typically exposed to other people through places in society such as school. Upon meeting friends, her friends could have an addiction to Barbie and influence the girl to wanting Barbie as well. Because of this, the girl would stop at nothing to eventually wield and manipulate Barbie’s. This is also due to “our sense of comfort and solace and others with whom they feel they belong with whom they share common value and interests (Kirk and Rey
“If Barbie was designed by a man, suddenly a lot of things made sense to me,” says Emily Prager in her essay “Our Barbies, Ourselves” (Prager 354). Prager’s purpose for writing this essay is to explain the history of Barbie and how the doll itself has influenced and continue to influence our society today. Prager is appealing to the average girl, to those who can relate to the way she felt growing up with Barbie seen as the ideal woman. Emily Prager uses a constant shift between a formal and informal tone to effectively communicate her ideas that we view women today based upon the unrealistic expectations set forth by Barbie. By adopting this strategy she avoids making readers feel attacked and therefore
In the short story "Barbie-Q,” by Sandra Cisneros, the young girls didn't mind they did not receive other things such as new Barbie's or Ken Barbie's and the friends to go along with the dolls (206). These girls were just happy to play with their own dolls. The girls have bonded with each other and they enjoy playing with each other's dolls. A doll brings two or more children together for fun and social entertainment. Have you ever listened to a child frequently you will hear a child say " so what” that means the child really don't care, it don't matter; nothing else mattered to the two little girls. In the short story "Barbie-Q,” by Sandra Cisneros to purchase a brand new Barbie doll meant that the dolls are expensive in the store so the girls are very happy and pleased to own a second hand Barbie. When the parent places the dolls in the child's hands the dolls take on the character of the owner's beauty; culture; how girls see themselves and the future when the kids are all grown up. Barbie is a fun toy to dress up. Each child has her or his own imagination of a Barbie doll. I, too, myself, like watching all the different cultural background Barbie dolls in the malls or Macy's Department Store around Christmas times. Most large department stores dress
For starters the title, “Barbie Doll” holds a meaning. It symbolizes the ideal figure of a female body. Society creates this ideal that is embed into every century. It is never ending. It is intended that she must have the twig like arms and legs, the minuscule waist and nose,
Seeing a barbie makes me think about all the fun times I had playing with those little toy dolls and the memories of creating my own dream life through Barbie. Playing with Barbies is great and imaginative because the sky's the limit when you play. You can make your own family, a life of your own, and choose a dream career. Unfortunately not all people feel that way. Some people see barbies and think those tiny waisted dolls with large breasts are what influenced my insecurities about my body. The creator of barbie once said “I wanted little girls who were not
Consequences include a ceaseless desire to be perfect, perceived limitations on future careers, and overall lower rates of self-esteem. Since Barbie’s debut in 1959 she has been influencing young girls and swaying their perceptions of beauty when in reality her body, measuring 39-18-33 (bust, waist, hips) is unable to bear a child, she would be incapable of holding up her own back and neck and she is so disproportioned she would need to crawl on all fours (Slayen). Despite popular belief, it may be beginning to seem as if Barbie is not so perfect after all. However, that has not stopped young girls from admiring their Barbie Dolls perfection, and in turn establishing Barbie as a role model, and body inspiration in the early stages of their lives.... ... middle of paper ...
Martin, Melanie. “Negative Effects of Barbie on Girls.” eHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2014.
Margie Pearcy's "Barbie Doll" details the image that society projects upon and expects from its young female population. From an early age these young women struggle to conform to the standards that society has defined for them. The results often are disastrous, leading to emotional conflicts that are often difficult if not impossible to resolve.
News correspondent Pauline Frederick once commented When a man gets up to speak people listen then look. When a woman gets up people look; then if they like what they see they listen" (Women's Wit and Wisdom 10). Ironically, the harsh reality of this statement is given life by the ongoing controversy of America's most recognizable and sometimes notorious toy. Barbie. Barbie has become this nation's most beleaguered soldier of idolatry who has been to the front lines and back more times than the average "JOE." (Varney 161). This doll, a piece of plastic, a toy incurs both critique and praise spanning all ends of the ideological spectrum. Barbie's curveaous and basically unrealistic body piques the ire of both liberals and conservatives, each contending that Barbie stands for the distinct view of the other. One hundred and eighty degrees south, others praise Barbie's (curves and all) ability to unlock youthful imagination and potential. M. G. Lord explains Barbie best: To study Barbie, one sometimes has to hold seemingly contradictory ideas in one's head at the same time . . . The doll functions like a Rorschach test: people project wildly dissimilar and often opposing meanings on it. . And her meaning, like her face has not been static over time" (10). In spite of the extreme polarity, a sole unconscious consensus manifests itself about Barbie. Barbie is 'the icon" of womanhood and the twentieth century (Ducille 50). She is the American dream (Varney 161). Barbie is us" (Lord 17). The question is always the same: What message does Barbie send? Barbie is a toy. She is the image of what we see.
Barbie is the figurehead of a brand of Mattel dolls and accessories, including other family members and collectible dolls. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for over fifty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parody of the doll and her lifestyle.
One day, as Ruth Handler watched her daughter play with paper dolls, she noticed that often the dolls were put into adult scenarios, such as grocery shopping, working, et cetera (“The Creation of Barbie”). As most dolls in this era, the 1950’s, were either babies or small children, Handler got an idea: what if she created an adult doll (“The Creation of Barbie”)? So, she drew up a design for one, and she named her Barbie, after her daughter, Barbara (“The Creation of Barbie”). Then, in 1959, Mattel, a huge and very popular toy company, picked up the idea (“The Creation of Barbie”). Barbie made her first appearance in New York, at the annual toy fair (“The Creation of Barbie”). That year, 351,000 Barbie dolls were sold, which was a sales record in America (“The Creation of Barbie”). Today, Barbie continues to be the most popular doll in the world, with two sold every minute (“The Creation of Barbie”).
It may seem trivial and go unnoticed to most, but by assigning Barbie a real career, people are able to identify with and recognize her. The marketers also provide Barbie with a life other than modeling, such as friends and a home. The Ken doll, which is commonly known as Barbie’s boyfriend, makes her appear more real to the audience. Girls are able to identify with the idea of a boyfriend, which makes the notion of Barbie seem more realistic and desirable. The same idea is applied to the many friends Barbie has been accompanied by over the years. Lastly, and perhaps most famously, Barbie, like almost all of the girls who play with her, have a home. The Barbie Dream House is just another clever way her marketing team has presented her to society as a real person. Humanizing Barbie, and portraying her in such a manner makes her more attractive to potential buyers. The girls who engage in play with dolls do not want merely a doll; they desire something they can relate to and envision in the real world. Imaginative play is a large portion of childhood, and the ability for children to posses a doll like Barbie , who represents a real person in society, is extremely valuable. The use of social constructionism in the marketing of products such as Barbie is both brilliant and effective.
...th the times and with the latest technology. She has new electronic games where players can choose to discuss careers, shopping, dating, or parties with her, and her own web site. She has also been the proud recipient of a brain (“New Barbie” 1). “Talk with Me” Barbie was just recently unveiled who can actually hold a conversation with a real human being. Barbie can now even wish a girl happy birthday, but she just can’t seem to blow out the candles (“New Barbie” 1)-- yet. What does this mere eleven and one-half-inch beauty mean to Mattel? The company realized over $1.5 billion in sales in 1999 in more than 150 countries worldwide (“Barbie Overview”1). And considering all of the books and videos marketed to attract the adult collectors that have grown up with Barbie over the last four decades, it doesn’t look like her popularity is going to fade anytime soon.
Little girls are growing up play with barbie dolls that shape their idea of beauty.
With this incentives offered by the media, playing with Barbie’s would bring children an imaginary way of anticipating their future social roles as adults. “It’s true this ad is light on the pink,
Barbie represents the “perfect Aryan” woman with unrealistic physical appearances and characteristics. She is very skinny, busty, and has full hips. This reinforces to young girls what they must strive to look like and to shun people who do not look like Barbie. Young girls see Barbie as a pretty doll with nice clothes, a dream house, cars, friends, and other accessories and think that is all being a woman has to offer. Barbie’s boyfriend Ken also has blond hair and blue eyes.