Jezebel 
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New York, 5:56 PM
Sun Nov 22
23 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/22/09
I feel that people are putting to much power in the hands of Barbie as an external pressure to be a particular (unachievable) shape. I think she has just become a tangible symbol of unrealistic expectations without actually really doing any real damage. I am perfectly open to being corrected here.
Did any of you Jezzies feel like Barbie directly had a negative impact on your self-perception? I am genuinely curious to hear if anyone has had any personal experiences with Barbie impacting you negatively. I would appreciate you sharing your story too. #sis
10/23/09
Mine lived in her camper-van on the beach, by the way. American Girl ain't got nothin' on me for homeless dolls. #sis
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bnch f lsbns #ss</s
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Do you think after watching a Beyonce video or seeing airbrushed photos of Halle Berry in a Maybeline ad makes the average black girl feel great about herself and her hair, skin tone, features? What message does it send when she see's the RHOA out there and the dime a dozen skank shakin' it in a music video? These are the images that scare me, not some damn doll. #sis
10/22/09
I guess I don't quite understand where the dismissiveness is coming from. #sis
10/22/09
I'm sorry but I laughed at this until I cried! #sis
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10/22/09
No. Of course not. It's Barbie. #sis
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And there have been vocal pleas to make the world of Barbie more diverse beyond "AA"-ish dolls. But if you aren't hearing enough of them, perhaps that's an indication that you need to make one yourself and encourage others to do so as well. #sis
10/22/09
I'm also pretty sure that white makeup is not interchangeable with asian makeup, especially when you consider the diversity of Asian skin tones (how much do white Barbies represent South Asians?)
Yes, you did qualify your statement that you might have been wrong. I'm agreeing with you; you're wrong. #sis
10/22/09
Annnnnd that was probably too long of a response! Reminiscing time! #sis
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If you want authentic representations of physicality, DON'T look at a Barbie. ANY Barbie. For 50 years Mattel has managed to make dolls that represent NO ONE of ANY color realistically. #sis
10/22/09
I also understand how much the images in childrens media and in toys can damage young girls' (and boys) perceptions of themselves and what they need to look like to be validated. This is why we need to keep on hounding the toy companies about their failure to realize that what they create impacts kids negatively.
All this aside, I will tell you that I created (as I am certain many of you did) diversity with my Barbies all on my own. I had bisexual and transgender Steve, who was formed through the unholy union of a Skipper body and a Ken head, who was in a happy LTR with Totally Hair Ken, as well as many, many, lesbian barbies, some with shaved heads. I even had a schizophrenic Barbie, who was missing a piece of her skull from an errant missile during a Gulf War era scud attack (she had been in the Army). So, you know, the moral of that is not to let your seven year old watch the nightly news I guess.
PS--Latoya, I love you forever for the Living Single reference. That was my SHOW! #sis
10/22/09
My Barbies used to slut it up with Ken all the time, 'til I lost him. Then one of them took one for the team, got her hair cut and filled in for him. #sis
10/22/09
I will say, however, that my gaydar arrived well ahead of schedule Re: my ability to suss out the suspect nature of Totally Gay (I mean Hair) Ken's purple pleather vest and spectacular pompadour. I only wish Totally Hair Barbie hadn't been so blinded by her own Tonya Harding bangs to notice too... #sis
10/22/09
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a shame that we can't expect Mattel to be more responsible, but it's not like white girls had a fair experience with Barbie, either. Mattel SHOULD absolutely be held accountable for their decades of irresponsible contribution to materialistic culture and unattainable beauty standards.
The answer here is: QUIT BUYING CHILDREN OF ALL COLORS TOXIC PLASTIC CRAP THAT CONTRIBUTES TO UNREALISTIC BEAUTY STANDARDS. Just say no to consumerism and mass-produced self-esteem destroyers. #sis
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In some ways I feel like having the blond hair/blue eyes/big boobs on a tiny body-ideal be so unattainable has actually shielded some girls, in a way. It's a bit like how some women treat aging– some will use every cent they have and all their energy to try to stay looking young and hot, while others will know it's not going to happen and will shun society's need for them to be fuckable altogether, or embrace a brand new set of beauty standards.
Anyway, totally oversimplified.
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We should all be in the business of social responsibility because we share a planet.
And I know that's naive, wishful thinking, and I know that's not the way things really are. But it should be. #sis
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