In the dazzling realm of fashion dolls, one name shines brighter than the rest - Barbie. Since her debut in 1959, this iconic doll has captured the hearts and minds of millions, embarking on a journey that has both inspired millions and sparked controversy in its wake. In light of the release of recent release of the Barbie movie, Glass Bone Media is delving into the history of Barbie and embarking on an exploration of the positive and negative impact she has had on society. Tiptoeing through time, this post hopes to show how Barbie has gone from dreams, to shadows, to dreams again.
Barbie's inception was arguably a stroke of visionary genius by Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, Inc. Inspired by her daughter's imaginative play with paper dolls, Handler sought to create a three-dimensional doll that could empower young girls to dream beyond conventional boundaries. Forget the overwalked path of giving young girls baby dolls with which to play out motherhood. Barbie's debut marked a significant shift in the toy industry, offering girls a chance to envision themselves in various careers and adventures. At the time, Barbie appeared to be a huge step in the market for feminist toys. But was this really the case? Or was Barbie invented to reel in the market of women as consumers, and persuade them that buying power and autonomy were the same thing? I'm sure you can tell my thoughts on that one...
On the plus side, Barbie's diverse range of professions, from astronauts to veterinarians, has ignited the spark of ambition in hundreds of young minds, encouraging them to explore their dreams fearlessly. She has become a catalyst for embracing ambition and shattering societal gender stereotypes. Equally, although slow on the uptake and definitely still not perfect, over the years, Barbie has evolved to embrace cultural diversity, celebrating different ethnicities, body types, and backgrounds. By reflecting the true beauty of the world, it can be argued that Barbie fosters acceptance and appreciation of individual uniqueness.
Personally, I think the biggest success of the Barbie franchise has been its ability to act as a bridge between play and learning. Barbie can introduce young minds to history, culture, and the marvels of the world through themed dolls, playsets, and educational materials. This is quite a rose-tinted view of what it means to play with Barbies, but I guess it's possible. I'll pretend I didn't spend my childhood chopping her hair and throwing her around my bedroom - I can't say that was particularly education for me.
Now, despite the list of things that can be said in Barbie's favour, it is undeniable that Mattel and the Barbie franchise have hugely contributed to a whole lot of pain and toxicity in society too. The most obvious of these is the portrayal of Barbie as 'perfect', giving not only unrealistic beauty standards to us all but also an incredibly narrow image of beauty in a diversity sense. Like, I cannot stress that part enough. Unless you're white, blonde, tall, with a slim figure and impeccable beauty, then let's be honest Mattel don't want much to do with you. Obviously, this has had a huge impact on the self-esteem of young girls across the world since Barbie's release.
Not only is Barbie encouraging toxic beauty standards, she is also living an entirely consumerist lifestyle that shows a glamourous lifestyle full of all the latest things is the only real way to live happily. Whether it's her new handbags and shoes, or her horrendously outrageous Barbie Dream House (brought to life seamlessly in the 2023 Barbie movie), Barbie is always wanting more, more, more. The problem is, living like that is not realistic for the majority of people, and those levels of disposable consumerism should definitely not be encouraged - especially to children. The lavish lifestyle is fun to imagine, but shouldn't be shoved down our throats as the only option to attain and kind of happiness and life satisfaction. There, I went there, I will die on this hill.
There are so many discussions about the pros and cons of Barbie plastered all across the internet, especially at the moment in conjunction with the release of Greta Gerwig's controversial Barbie movie, staring Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and many others. Honestly, I feel like we've all heard these discussions before. I thought we had all got tired of them. But I am fascinated - and also slightly terrified - to see these same issues discussed by a whole new wave of passionate cinema-goers. Don't get me wrong, I think anything that encourages people to go to the cinema is a plus, but Barbie seems to have morphed into this empowering and passionate yet deeply flawed and toxic role model. I really don't know how to feel about it, but I do love the drama!
It's true, Barbie is still toxic on so many levels, and don't even get me started on the topic of Mattel sponsoring a film that is literally about taking themselves down - and no, it's no self-awareness, I think it's money grabbing and image-saving. Who really is Barbie anymore? Is she a positive role model? Is she a toxic image of success? Ironically, considering she is a plastic figurine with no soul or personality, I think there is an interesting duality to Barbie. How fascinating that through time she has survived every criticism of her and still now, in 2023, is trending in sales through her latest revival. All I can do is clap. Slow clap, but still.
As Barbie tiptoes through time, we see a journey which reflects both a rose tinted dreamlike odyssey and a figure being chased by shadows. Maybe somehow Barbie is the most human of us all for this. Her positive impact definitely exists and in many ways is commendable. But I don't think she will ever shake her own negative influence on societal beauty standards, promoting needless consumption, and encouraging outdated and unnecessary gender norms.
As we reflect on Barbie's legacy, it is essential to acknowledge her role as a symbol. But simultaneously we must recognise the responsibility we (I'm looking at you Mattel) bear to redefine beauty ideals, encourage mindful consumerism, and break away from limiting gender norms. Just as Barbie began as a miraculously light to the one-stop baby toys that young girls of the 60s and 70s were lumped with, perhaps the Barbie of today can step out of her own shadow sometime. I'm not sure she's there yet, but as they say - a girl can dream.
Until next time,
Alice xoxo
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