Ahh, Mattel. They’ve created multiple new bodies for this beloved toy after facing years of criticism for unrealistic body images and physically impossible proportions. I can hear moms clamoring around the country screaming, “It’s about time!”. On a recent TIME magazine cover, the curvier Barbie is displayed with the bolded words, “Now can we stop talking about my body?” TIME states, “92% of American girls ages three to twelve have owned a Barbie, thanks in part to her affordable $10 price tag.” With a doll that is so widely known and coveted, one would think that this leap that Mattel is taking is only be positive. Right?
Wrong. While I applaud Mattel for their efforts to diversify their line of Barbies (starting with skin tone and hair texture, and now to body type) I see a very clear flaw that could lead to even more negativity in your house surrounding the topic of body image. Sure, buy all three dolls for your daughters. However, I think they will gravitate towards the familiar and play with the original–so be it, change is hard, girls. But, say they pick up curvier Barbie. Little Georgia picks up the curvier Barbie and tries to slide the totally cute mini skirt that her friend Samantha let her borrow from her own new “tall” Barbie. Whoops, the Velcro doesn’t quite come together on this one. Temper tantrum ensues. While this may seem like a minor setback, who do you think the kids will play with?
Even in focus groups the new Barbie’s difference in waist size was mentioned by children in elementary school. TIME mentions that a shy seven year old refuses to say the word fat to describe the doll, instead spelling it out, “F-a-t.” While I would imagine the ultimate goal would be for these dolls not to be seen as F-a-t and instead as just another doll on the shelf, it will take awhile. However, buying the different body types of Barbie can also be seen as a way to spark conversation with your younger children. Why did you say she wasn’t pretty, sweetie? Why don’t you like the tall one as much, hun? Questions can certainly spark thinking.
While Mattel argues that their Barbie doll has no effect on the body images of young children, TIME Magazine said, “A 2006 study published in the Journal of Developmental Psychology found that girls exposed to Barbie at a young age expressed greater concern with being thin, compared with those exposed to other dolls.”
It is also interesting to think how Mattel arrived at the new dimensions of the Barbie. When were her hips too wide? Her butt too big? Her calves too thick? Where was the line drawn? When was curvy seen as too curvy? Or tall as too tall? In all honesty, Mattel had to do it: their sales were plummeting (Barbie sales dropped 20% from 2012 to 2014). But will this change be what rocks a generation out of it’s obsession of skinny? I guess only time will tell.
