Wow, see I had Barbies growing up but my mom did not buy me Barbie herself. She bought me her teenage sister Skipper and bought Barbie sized clothes for her so the fit better ;-) A slick one my mother. Explains my love of baggy clothes...esp if stolen from my guy. In theory I see nothing wrong with Barbie but I wish the focus was like it was when I was growing up, teacher Barbie, astronaut Barbie. She was heading into the professional world and it was great even with her impossible body. Now its degraded back to skimpy clothes.
Collector's Item or no, this is kinda ridiculous. When will they drop the charade and just make the Barbie they *really* want to make: Perfect Woman Barbie. She will be a torso, with huge boobs and a nice rump. Her face will be coated with makeup and she'll have long, blond extensions. Arms and legs? No, because they just add unwanted weight. Psh. Alert me when that one finally comes out.
I read about this before; for this kind of doll they use the "Model Muse" body, which is skinnier and long-leggier than the regular body. The Next-Top-Model or whatever it is dolls are also in this mould. It's pretty fucking terrifying.
@laurasaurus: Because the already impossible body of Barbie was not what the models try to look like anyway? I guess I wouldn't hate so much but whats going to happen when they make the mold of a plus size model, does she get Barbies old figure?
@Miss Carrie Nation: I don't think its that serious, its a doll, so what do you expect? Dolls are supposed to look unreal. I was a barbie fanatic growing up and I NEVER wanted to be her in the slightest, or have plastic parts like her no matter how perfect they looked. I honeslty don't remember any of my friends having body issues because of a doll growing up either. I think kids are more impressionable when it comes to whats on TV, magazines, movies, not a doll.
@babydoll83: I don't think it's that serious either. I loved Barbies, and it has in no way adversely affected my body image (which I learned from my parents, not my toys).
It is a really peculiar choice to make on behalf of Mattel though, I don't see why they wouldn't have used the original Barbie body shape. They would never have gotten this backlash if they had.
@babydoll83: I agree, I never thought of my barbie as a model human, or as anything more to me than a piece of plastic that I could dress up and dismember and reassemble. I was far from a normal kid, but I don't imagine that most girls think that their dolls are meant to be intructive.
Am I crazy for not seeing how this is any worse then any other barbie?
Cheerleaders work as hard as any dancer/gymnast, and i don't see how the outfit is more provocative then the "Aerobics Barbie" or even the "Balerina Barbie" that i grew up with.
@Miss Carrie Nation: Yeah, I want to say I spent a lot of time burning off my Barbies' hair, throwing them onto the roof ("Barbie Olympics"), and smashing their limbs to make them fit into my model cars, but not really any time considering the sexist implications their objectified bodies represented.
@meg9: Not saying Barbie isn't sexist, just saying if you're a conscientious, intelligent woman (as you are, because you're thinking about this), your kids will probably be creative, vivacious, and full of self-confidence and piss and vinegar that no lame doll can destroy or subvert.
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Still, though, marketed at children or not, this is a fucked representation of a human for anyone to dream up.
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It is a really peculiar choice to make on behalf of Mattel though, I don't see why they wouldn't have used the original Barbie body shape. They would never have gotten this backlash if they had.
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When i was a kid they had an Irish dancer with red hair. seriously.
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Gimme' An O
Gimme' AN O
What Does It Spell? BOO!
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Barefoot and Pregnant Barbie
The Girls Next Door Barbies (boxed set with Hugh Hefner action figure)
Plastic Surgery Barbie, complete with interchangeable body and face parts
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The Rock of Love Bus Barbies
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*Warning: Small Parts May Pose a Choking Hazard.
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Barbie: The Dr. Rey Collection
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Cheerleaders work as hard as any dancer/gymnast, and i don't see how the outfit is more provocative then the "Aerobics Barbie" or even the "Balerina Barbie" that i grew up with.
maybe i am missing something?
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Oh, no, wait...that was a lollipop.
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As for Barbie's body, I loved it... because it was great to chew on and ping the limbs off of.
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@meg9: Not saying Barbie isn't sexist, just saying if you're a conscientious, intelligent woman (as you are, because you're thinking about this), your kids will probably be creative, vivacious, and full of self-confidence and piss and vinegar that no lame doll can destroy or subvert.