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Barbie turns 50 years old this week. For some young girls, Barbie represents an ideal of perfection. However, for some social critics, Barbie has a toxic influence on female children because the doll sends the wrong message to female children who mistake the anatomically fantastic Barbie dolls as the true ideal of beauty. In Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll," the girl tried to change her appearance to fit the commercialized notion of body image and ended up in a tragedy. In West Virginia, a state lawmaker proposed a bill last Tuesday to ban the sales of Barbie dolls. The following news article comes from msnbc.com:
The Barbie Ban Bill, proposed by Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge (D) Lincoln County, says such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development.
"I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart," Eldridge told West Virginia news station WOWK.
The delegate concedes that the chances of getting the bill passed are slim, but adds that he stands behind it.
"I knew a lot of people were going to joke about it and poke fun at me," Eldridge said. "I couldn't get anybody to sign on the bill with me but I said I'm still going to introduce it."
A Mattel spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The Barbie doll officially turns 50 on March 9, and the toy maker has made big plans this year to mark the anniversary.
Barbie has had her foes over that half-century. Critics say the doll promotes materialism and an unnatural body image.
The bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
What do you think? Do you agree with Jeff Eldridge? or do you think it goes overboard in the issue of body image?
41 comments:
I think delegate Eldridge has taken this issue too seriously,I don't really think it's necessary to ban the Barbie doll,for there are other crucial things that need to be solve.However,it is understandable his concerns about the mental development of young girls,it is possible for them to misunderstood and build a wrong notion towards beauty,a kind of beauty which may not be achieved.Nevertheless,it is just a toy.Take myself as an example,I've played with similar toys before which also possess perfect body figures.I didn't end up being obssessed on pursuing body perfection.My point is,we can educate our children by ourselves,it's also our decision to simplify or complicate the matter.It is us who gives the definition to each and every toy.
I don't think barbie dolls have such a huge effect on little girls. The figure of a barbie doll surely will make people want to be like that; let me put in this way, make people imagine themselves are as beautiful as the barbie dolls. After all, being a pretty, thoughtful princess is every girls' dream. However, if the perfect image sent by barbie dolls truely affect girls, then nowadays there would no overweight females. That's because people can tell the reality from illusions. Besides, barbie dolls usually exist only for a small period of a person's life. The conception of body image and perfection will change as time goes by, as people grow older.
I think there is no need to ban barbie dolls like Eldridge does,although barbies really bring some negative influence to the society;for example,many girls pursue the figure like barnies-4.6inch,3.5inch,5inch-and cause many physical and psychological problems.I saw the new regarding to the barbie doll,and the title is "Want to have the figure like the barbie doll? Never!"The scholar say that if someone's figure like the barbie doll,she even could not stand stably;moreover,her period would ruduce 17~22 percentage compared with normal women.Seldom or no one can have the figure like the barbie doll.However,not everyone pursue that kind of ideal body;some of collectors of barbie dolls like them just because barbie dolls are beautiful and fantastic.So I think Eldridge actually take this issue too serious.The company that produces barbie dolls also claims that they does not use real person's propotion to design barbie dolls.
I think that Eldridge take this too seriously. The image of perfect woman is changing by time. I mean that little girls would have the dream to become beautiful; however, after they attend the education, they would know something is more important than appearances. Also, I think that parents have to educate their children. Let they know Barbie is just toy not the reality girl as we are and teach them many things are more appealing than the body image such as kindness, friendly, clever, and so on. If people take this issue serious, I want to say that there are still so many ridiculous cartoons and toys in the world. So, should we destroy all the imagination and let our children read literature all day?
Well, in my opinion, Barbie doll does have a bad influence on girls; however, not that serious. I did heard some of the sayings said that girls nowadays pursue the "Bardie figure." They thought Bardie is so beautiful and is like dream, therefore, made them desired to become like barbie. At that time, I was always wondering that, don't the girls know that how horrible it would be if they look like Barbie and what it would be like if Barbies walking everywhere? I can't even imagine if a girl who has that kind of big eyes and that slender standing in front of me. I was relieved then after I found not every girl, not as many as I thought there was, were pursuing that kind of figure. In fact, I've asked the girls around me if they want to be like Barbie too and most of the answers I got were no. Consequently, I think, this is not a "that serious" problem.
In my opinion, childhood means fantasy and dreams. Every child should have their own fantasy despite the fact that they're imaginations or not logical. That's why we all watch Disney Cartoons when we were young, isn't it?
It's not right to ban Barbie dolls. We know that when girls are young, they want to be like Barbie, big eyes, long legs, slim waist. However, most girls won't be effected by Barbie so much. I mean, almost every girl around me have all played Barbie before, do they end up being very strict about their body image just because their body don't look as perfect as Barbie's? The answer is NO. I think Eldridge takes the issue too seriously.
“Oh! She is Barbie.” When I say this sentence to identify a toy’s name, I regard her only as a symbol of beauty. However, from my point of view, she is just a doll. To be frank, I am really surprised while I know Barbie turns 50 years old this month, because she looks like 15 years old. I wonder why her count of years doesn’t reveal upon her outward appearance. Then I think Barbie represents kind of deception due to her abnormal exterior, but “she is just a doll without life” I also think this way with a smile on my face. No matter how old she is, she always stands for exquisite and pretty figure in every little girl’s mind. In my opinion, because Barbie is an inert object, she can be endowed with life only by people’s imagination. I disagree with Jeff Eldridge, yet I won’t poke fun at him. He hates the image that people give to kids that if they're beautiful, they don't have to be smart. It’s right that Barbie is beautiful, but it doesn’t show that she lacks of wisdom. Nevertheless, how can we criticize a doll which is always too gorgeous? Barbie symbolizes a toy but nothing. For me, she doesn’t have such immense power to harm my intellectual and emotional development. Like other toys, they give me more colorful entertainments when I was a child; nonetheless, I throw them away little by little when I grow up. Yeah~ She’s just a doll.
As far as I’m concerned, most young girls have the valuable memory of playing with Barbie dolls. When I was a little child, I once had Barbie toys. It can not deny that I would expect that I could be like Barbie dolls, who have a perfect body shape and beautiful appearance; nevertheless, as I grown up, I gradually realized that it’s an impossible imagine for me to make it. From this article, I agree that some critics’ viewpoints which suggests about Barbie dolls might have bad influence on girls’ mental and physical development. But, as for Jeff Eldridge’s attitude toward this issue, I think he takes too serious on it. Being pretty like Barbie dolls doesn’t mean that you would think be smart isn’t important. I don’t think that girls will just focus on how to make them beautiful but ignore make them knowledgeable also is a vital matter. For me , Barbie dolls are the toys which can company with little kids growing up.
I don't think Barbie dolls should be banned because it is just a toy which a lot of children's favor.I have to agree that Barbie dolls do convey some thoughts that can't be gererally accepted in our current society.Girls may recieve wrong messages of body image, but I regard Barbie dolls as a classical toy just like Teddy bears. What Barbie dolls present is the value or the expection of what women should act or the ideal figures of women in the last century. I think maybe Barbie dolls should change her figure to cater to public. More and more models are not skinny anymore because the fashion industery has changed thier attitude toward the defition of beauty in recent years.
Barbie has played a huge role in millions of people's lives as they were growing up, including mine
I think it is a little bit too serious to ban Barbie dolls, because it is really just a toy. I consider the problem of people's thoughts of beauty is come from the whole society. There are so many things influence we every day. For example, some commercials, advertisement, TVs, magazines and so on are always put some stereotype in our mind. Because they all express and contain some image that thin and white are real beauty. If we want to solve this problem, we must need to change those things. It couldn't be solved by prohibit the Barbie doll.
i agree with the conception that barbie doll is foe to little girls. But i think he don't have to ban barbie doll because it is a toy. I played barbie doll when i was a little girl. I felt happy because she is like my friend. I confess thst i have been influenced by her shape and dreamed that one day i would be as beautiful as her. After i grown up, i understand that the thinking is childish because i figure out everyone has his beauty. I think the barbie doll shouldn't take the whole responsibility. We should think about what commercialize the barbie doll and how does commercialization work. We cannot judge the entire thing according to only small part like just banning the barbie doll.
I never have a Barbie doll but I still very care about my appearance; that is, I don’t think Barbie doll has to be blamed in this issue. It is nothing but a toy which accompany with little girls. Just as we have discussed in the contemporary class, there are too many outside influences affect our conception of beauty. People should distinguish between right and wrong by themselves, and they’ll gradually understand that there are many things more important than appearance.
I agree with Jeff Eldridge’s idea to ban the sale of Barbie dolls. They do send a false image to young female children, which is the perfect body shape that is very difficult for most females to reach. As a result, many females have the craze on being on diet for almost their whole life. This craze does lead to so much anxiety and self-distrust of females, especially in the western countries. What’s worse, it even causes many diseases resulting from the bad dietary habits. However, Barbie dolls are not the only thing to be blamed for the unhealthy craze; what I mean is that there are also so many ads, products, and other visions transmitting the ideal body image which keeps influencing one’s idea of beauty. For example, you would never expect to see a movie starring an obese female. It seems inevitable to get rid of this craze for pursuing the perfect figure. Nonetheless, I think it could be a good try to start with children. I mean – perhaps females would not be too crazily enthusiastic about the perfect body shape without those “perfect toys.”
I think Eldridge takes it too serious. What’s wrong with the Barbie dolls? I know someone will regard Barbie as an ideal of perfection that undermines girls’ body image. However, can’t Barbie just be a Barbie? When I was a little girl, I had a lot of Barbie dolls which were a part of my childhood, and made my childhood more colorful. I had never thought that I should become as thin as Barbie. Believe me, to children they are just a doll. They won’t think that much. The real problem is adults that label Barbie dolls as bad things, and had a preoccupation with their body and beauty. In the interview, Eldridge said that he hated Barbie dolls gave the image that “if they are beautiful, they don’t have to be smart. “ I don’t agree with him. Why did he think Barbie dolls are not smart? In the Barbie series, there are many beautiful Barbie lawyer, excellent business woman …etc. They can be smart as well as beautiful. So, does it mean that he have a stereotype that a beautiful girl must have a hollow brain? Yes! I think he does.
Yes, I agree with Jeff Eldridge. I think Barbie dolls send a wrong concept to the litter girl. I believe that each American girl at least has one Barbie doll. The reason why they are so attractive is they are always wearing the beautiful and gorgeous clothes with good match of color. It makes them perfectly beautiful and charming. For girls Barbie maybe is the pronoun of beauty. So girls think that if they want to become pretty they must have the body shape like Barbie. I think Barbie is one of the elements make the moderns think thin is good-looking.
I probably agree with Jeff Eldridge; however, I think the big effect to girls is not the Barbie but the media and communication. In our society, we knew that the definition of beauty is white, thin, blond hair, and so on. In fact, most of audience or readers had never thought the real definition of beauty. They just follow the popularity crazily. Media and communication set a frame to influence most of readers and audiences’ thinking. People forget to use their determination to judge what is good for them.
I think they are a little bit overreacting. Barbie may cause some negative effects to young children, but I don’t think we need to ban it. Barbie does give children a beautiful dream, and children may want to become Barbie with a perfect life. However, it is like all kinds of fairy tales and they will wake up someday. The most important thing we should do is to tell children how to differ real lives from fairy tales. I don’t mean to ruin their dream but to tell them the truth like we can’t be as thin as Barbie or we can’t be as strong as superman. One of my friends wants to be a designer, and I think he was influenced by Barbie more or less. Now he is studying in a design school. I think Barbie can also give positive influence, and It depend on what are we looking at it.
I think that Jeff Eldridge’s idea is quite reasonable, but I can’t agree with him completely. I think he misjudge that the main reason of this phenomenon is not because of the Barbie doll but the increasing of vulgar advertisements and TV programs which is broadcast in everywhere and at any time. In fact, Barbie doll has less influence than the widespread coarse ads, for me, it is only a toy for children to play in childhood. But these advertisements, which is usually watched by teenager, youth, even adolescence in their free time, and it is an important time for child to construct their character and concept of values. Maybe the politics should consider specific and deeper on this subject, not just shirk the problem to a Barbie doll.
In my opinion, I don’t think the image of Barbie doll will have such a strong influence to little girl. Take myself for example, when I was a little girl, my parents often bought me a beautiful Barbie doll to be my birthday presents. I loved them very much. I played with them all the time and changed their clothes frequently. I thought Barbie dolls are very beautiful, but I never thought that I had to be like them. I appreciate their beauty, but I wouldn’t force myself to be like them. I thought that appreciation and practice are the different matters. Even though the dolls I played with were so pretty, I knew I didn’t need to be them. I had my own beauty.
I think that Eldridge takes this issue too serious. There is no need to set the ban bill of barbie. Though I can not deny totally that barbie has no influence on the little girls’ opinions to their body figures, I also don’t think that barbie is the main reason that make litter girls think that smart is not important. In the Age that before Barbie is invented, women have had the the concept and request to their body figure. What’s more, in my experiences, some of my cousins, who also liked to play barbie dolls when they were little, still very smart and even have high achievements in their works. I think the parental education has much more influence on children’s mental development.
I think that Barbie dolls have apparent images in several aspects, such as a pretty appearance, a slim body, or elegant temperament, and these features may influence girls either more or less. However, I don't agree with Jeff Eldridge's pointt of view that if one is beautiful, she doesn't have to be smart. Though barbie dolls may seem so, it can't represent the whole reasons of Jeff's saying. What I mean is that girls can pursuit the outside appearance but they should know they can't be too extreme and should know inner characteristic is more important. However, this society makes beauty commercialized. I think that playing barbie dolls is ok, but parents should tell their kids not to indugle in what barbie doll, a fanciful toy, bring to them.
I don't think Barbie doll influences little girls so much, for I think Barbie is just a toy. I never played Barbie doll when I was little because I don't like it. I don't judge myself by a doll, and I think it is different between Barbie and real person. As far as i am concerned, the reason why some girls keep fit all day because they are care about others' opinion; it has nothing to do with Barbie dolls. Maybe the Barbie doll's body figure is too exaggerate, but I believe people don't regard Barbie doll as a role modal.
Barbie has played an important role in many girls' childhood. I think it has influence to girls, more or less. However, I think Eldridge take it too seriously. Take me for an example, when I was a child, I like to play Barbie dolls, just like most little girls do. At that time, I desired to become beautiful as them. However, when I gradually grow up, I realize that not every person can be like those perfect dolls and those dolls are just dummies for child's play. Besides, we will know that there are many thing more important than being perfact in shape.
I think I can understand why Jeff Eldridge comes up with this kind of idea; however, I won’t totally agree with his statement. Barbie doll is simply a kind of toys which gives child a hope or an image of beauty. It might be wrong to set the Barbie doll in some categories-blond hair with big eyes and long legs (perfect body). Nevertheless, I do not think that children will have the bad influence when they grow older. Their standard to define beauty would be different or you can say that become more mature when they get to know more about body image. It is wrong to give to kids that if they're beautiful, they don't have to be smart. To sum up, the Barbie doll should not be the scapegoat which is blamed due to the phenomenon I mentioned above.
I think I can understand why Jeff Eldridge comes up with this kind of idea; however, I won’t totally agree with his statement. Barbie doll is simply a kind of toys which gives child a hope or an image of beauty. It might be wrong to set the Barbie doll in some categories-blond hair with big eyes and long legs (perfect body). Nevertheless, I do not think that children will have the bad influence when they grow older. Their standard to define beauty would be different or you can say that become more mature when they get to know more about body image. It is wrong to give to kids that if they're beautiful, they don't have to be smart. To sum up, the Barbie doll should not be the scapegoat which is blamed due to the phenomenon I mentioned above.
In my opinion, I think Jeff Eldridge's starting point is good, but he just too overreacting towards Barbie doll. In the video, he mentioned that some girls think if they are beautiful, they don't have to study or to be intelligent. But Barbie doll didn't give us image of that. I think there are many other things would affect the image of beauty such as fashion magazine or mass media's definition of beauty.
Maybe it has some ambiguous influences on girls. As we know, girls want to have a good figure for themselves because the good figure makes a girl look more beautiful and graceful. This is a stereotype for girls: good figure makes good relationship and reputation, including models. This kind of stereotype may trace back to Barbie dolls which is over- skinny, and maybe girls think it is the common figure they need to have. However, I agree with some of above that Jeff Eldridge takes too serious on this issue; Barbie dolls maybe give girls images of body figure, but it did not influence so directly or hardly effective. I agree that maybe it can one issue of body image, but I agree to take it easy.
It is the society tell us "have a good-look, then life will be wonderful", the Barbie dolls just give girls fantasies of beautiful things. Everyone appreciates beauty, having a nice outlook may make you to get a job easier than others; or giving a good impression to someone you first met. Kids do not know these things, they are taught by grownups and the media but not Barbie to attach importance to appearance. Most people pay too much attention on how they look, even they are bothering by it they still have to. Those TV shows we watch everyday say fashion is an indispensable art, and the glamorous models tell us to be thin. That’s why a lot of women go to Korea to do plastic surgeries, no matter they have had a Barbie or not.
I think Barbie dolls do have some kind of bad influence on children, who might take the wrong message that Barbie dolls represent the true beauty. However, I think Jeff Eldridge is a little bit overreacted. We cannot deny that Barbie dolls are girls’ favorite toys, and by banning the sales of Barbie dolls, we are actually taking something away from those little girls. Plus, I don’t really think that simply by banning the sales, we can prevent the girls from being obsessed with body image. However, I do believe that this issue can be prevented in some other ways; for example, parents should teach their children when they are still young, schools and teachers are also take responsibilities.
Take me for example , I hate Barbie dolls when I am a little girl . I can’t figure out why everybody thinks that all girls ought to have Barbie dolls as their toys . I totally disagree with this basic percept . But I also disagree with Eldridge , he is too serious on it . Everything has its value for the existence . Since Barbie is going to have her fifty’s birthday , there must have some important meaning to people . The main problem is not the Barbie doll . The people who give the uncorrect thinking on Barbie dolls and spread it around are the vital factor . We should rectify the wrong definition about beauty not to make a new rule of banning Barbie dolls’ selling . And I think most people nowadays have already renew the point of view on it . In conclusion , Barbie is not a bad influence on girls . She just turns to be the same pronoun of beauty .
If you ban something, usually it is because that "someting" has a significant influence on people. Why can't we just try to turn what people think instead of banning things that we think might be harm to them? I am not much agree with Eldridge, for I believe that there is scarcely nothing too bad to be banned. Moreover, I can not deny the importance of body image among people. Sometimes we just need twisted beauty in our life.
I think it is a bad influence for girls. It make the image of women too perfect that girls may try everything they can,no matter what it cost,to become that kind of perfect women. Recently,it has reported that human with a little bit fat body shape, compare to normal body shape, lives longer. But despite this fact, girls still chase slim body shape and beautiful make-ups. It's the currency of our society.
worried so much about what influence body image on girls? Then don't get to Barbie! What about the media and multibillion doallar beauty industry that shows flawless and size zero models? DO you know how this much affects real women? because the models are not any dolls but abtual modified human!
Jeff Eldridge's perspective is extremist.. I can agree on each individual point in a way, however, the idea of banning Barbie is preposterous. Over-governing to that extreme would be more damaging the the world these girls are growing up in than Barbie. If these young girls have other positive influences in their lives , then there is no reason their ability to value learning and relationships would be hindered by a doll. She doesn't promote an unrealistic image of beauty, especially not any worse than Brats or any other ill-proportioned doll on the market. In fact, the messages sent out by the people at Barbie are actually quite noble if you read between the lines, much like a child. Watch a Barbie film. She teaches children that they can accomplish anything. (and with a big smile on their faces).
listen i have never heard any litle girl ones my age or older ones say "I wish i was Barbie!". No body want's to be a artifictall doll. banning it is a really extreem measure donn't you think. If barbies are "selling oh-so-well" we don't need to take a major supply and demand away with this economy. AND I'M ONLY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL! but this is just for fact to get things right, I do not play barbie, and i do not like them!
It's me that anonymous erson who posted earlier I say barbiea ar eok because if you teach a kid right they will know not to try to follow a doll's looks and that brains beets beauty. i am saying barbies arn't really anything bad.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR, TO INCLUDE A VARIETY OF OTHER FOR EXAMPLE PROFESSIONAL BARBIES WOULD BE A POSITIVE STEP. (WE ALL KNOW WHY WHAT SELLS CARS, RIGHT?)
I BELIEVE TOYS CAN BE TOOLS, MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE.
ANSWER THIS QUESTION:
TOOLS FOR INSTRUCTION? OR
TOOLS FOR DESTRUCTION.
THE TIME TO TEACH IS WHEN THEY ARE YOUNG. DOES NOT HOLLYWOOD DO THE SAME? IF YA WANT THEM WHEN THEY ARE OLD, INFLUENCE THEM WHEY THEY ARE YOUNG. IN MY OPINION, GIVE KIDS A FIGHTING CHANCE, PUT SOMETHING IN THEIR TRUTH BOX THAT CHALLENGES WHAT IS IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM. TEACH THEM TO SAY NO.
TEACH THEM WITH TOYS. OR ELSE TAKE A OSTRICH APPROACH AND CLOSE YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU FIRE A GUN, OR LIGHT A MATCH, OR STEP OFF THE CURB AS IF NOT BEING CAREFUL DOESN'T MATTER. DOES THIS SOUND TO RADICAL? DOES TEACHING OUR KIDS SOUND TO RADICAL --- OR DOES IT JUST SOUND LIKE IT TAKES TO MUCH OF OUR TIME.
I agree with Jeff Eldridge. Barbie is an unrealistic fashion icon. I find it unfair that Barbie is the only girl who has a pant size double zero and a D-cup bra size. In 1965, Mattel released a "slumber party Barbie" doll that came complete with a bathroom scale perminantly set at 110 pounds and a book entitled "Hoe to Lose Weight" with instructions stating "Don't eat". The Ken doll of this "Slumber Paty" collection came with milk and cookies. Is this telling us that ken is allowed to eat, while Barbie starves to death? Ban Barbie!
Well I think it takes a lot for parents and officials to say Barbie doesn’t have a influence on young women, when the evidence is constantly surrounding us. I am a 17 year old girl and loved Barbie, why, because she’s so beautiful and has a perfect life, and happily ever afters with ken. Girls are sent messages to only believe through her whole life this can be true. But in reality its not, therefore creating a fake reality for girls to mentally put themselves in.
Personally, I think it really is a serious problem. We are doing a debate over whether or not Barbie is a bad influence on girls. And this article doesn't even touch on many of the problems with Barbie and young girls. In the 1960's, a Barbie 'Sleep Over Set' was introduced into the Barbie world. Although it wasn't a cute set with bunny slippers and popcorn. No, instead the set came with a scale permanently set at 110 pounds, and a little doll sized book about how to lose wait. And the only words written in this book were; don't eat. So in my opinion, yes, yes Barbie does need a second look.
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