Rosalind Wiseman

Mattel's 50th Anniversary Barbie

Happy Belated Birthday, Barbie!

I am a few weeks behind reading my magazines.  I had some time to catch up yesterday and from TIME Magazine to celebrity gossip, everyone wished Barbie a happy 50th birthday.

On March 9, 1959, Barbie was expelled from the factory womb as a teenage fashion model and quickly became a worldwide hit. We’ve all heard the staggering and relentless claims about how Barbie negatively influences body image. She is disproportioned; if she were a real woman she would be unable to walk; she gives children unrealistic expectations, etc. I have also read plenty of counter-arguments, including: Barbie teaches girls they can do anything; she is independent, not overly materialistic (she apparently packs pretty lightly); and she is, in fact, just a doll.

One might say Barbie contributes to the stereotype that women are indecisive. Her extensive resume suggests she may be in dire need of a career counselor. A few of her past career interests have been teaching (elementary school, swimming, sign language, Spanish), medicine (dentist, doctor, veterinarian, surgeon, nurse), military (Marine, Air Force, Army, Navy), political (president, diplomat, ambassador), service (lifeguard, police officer, firefighter), transportation (NASCAR driver, pilot, astronaut), and she has an long miscellaneous hit list (cowgirl, chef, McDonalds cashier, ballerina, hair stylist, photographer, paleontologist.) In addition to her impressive resume, she is a world-class traveler, has a keen ability for cultural adaptation and still manages to find time to spend with Ken. All without aging one bit.  Way to go Barbie.  I want some of what she is drinking – or injecting.

I admit, I don’t really enjoy Barbie. It’s not so much her but the ridiculous controversy surrounding her. I’d rather waste my energy detesting the Barbie Halloween costumes designed to hyper-sexualize young girls. And Bratz dolls. And Paris Hilton. What about the boys who cut Barbie heads off and collect them in a shoebox? Is Barbie decapitation a precursor to antisocial psychopathic behavior? Perhaps, but I am not interested.