Essay about Barbara Millicent Roberts Barbie - 948 Words

We may know the most controversial piece of molded plastic formed into the shape of an out of proportion woman with blonde hair. Her name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, or as we know her, Barbie. With her odd portrayal of a woman, many believe that Barbie should be banned for suggesting to young girls that a woman only has one image to strive for. But Barbie is no more than a â€Å"piece of plastic† molded into something that looks nothing like a woman at all; she is a simply innocent child’s toy that should never be used as a tool for feminists. The Barbie controversy started in 1959 when she was introduced to a toy fair in New York after becoming popular overseas. The controversies went from her being too lewd to being too thin, both reasons†¦show more content†¦She’s typically blonde, always thin, owns everything from princess gowns to runway clothes, a pink convertible, and a dream house, which makes her nothing like the average woman at all. So what does it say to children who believe Barbie is their role-model? Barbie has had many jobs, but Barbie is more focused on the glamour aspect of a woman’s life to truly show interest in a career. Dr. Eileen Zurbriggen, a professor of psychology at University of California, comments on the effects that playing with Barbie has on girls’ ideas on careers: Playing with the Barbie suppresses their ideas about their own possible futures, but their ideas about the boys didnt change† (qtd. in Alter). It is true that Barbie has all of these fancy things, but Barbie is a hard-working girl who has had a collection of different careers. Another reason why people believe that Barbie isn’t good for children to own is that Barbie has a bad image, an overly sexualized and unhealthy image that subconsciously promotes girls to match her. In a study done by the University of Phoenix, it was suggested that the image that Barbie gave could lead children to eating disorders (Stamp ler). Studies have shown that if Barbie were a real woman, she would have to stand on all fours and only have half a liver. The overly sexualized image has always been a problem from the first Bikini Barbie, to the newest Sports Illustrated Barbie.Show MoreRelatedBarbie. history Essay1679 Words   |  7 PagesBarbie Purpose statement: The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience about Barbie. INTRODUCTION: I. Did you know in every second of everyday, two Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world? A. Barbie was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler. B. She was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City. II. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for fifty years. A. She has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuitsRead MoreBarbie Based : A Barbaric Culture2099 Words   |  9 PagesBarbie-Based: A Barbaric Culture Perfectly perky and popular, slim waisted and long legged, silky plastic hair and a flashy smile frozen in time, Barbie has been lining toy store shelves and influencing young girls’ dreams since 1959. The teenage fashion model has managed to secure close to 150 careers, represent 40 different nations and cultures, and has collaborated with more than 75 different fashion designers, all amounting to an impressive resume theoretically thicker than a phone book. A culturalRead More The Creation of Barbie as an American Icon Essay examples2452 Words   |  10 PagesThe Creation of Barbie as an American Icon Barbie, at the age of 41, is one of the longest living toys in America. Analyzing her early history can give a person a look into the societal trends and culture of the late 1950s and early 1960s. There is evidence of fashion innovations in Barbies wardrobe. Also, one can see the perception of females by society, such as what they should look like, how they should act and dress, as well as what their future goals could be. The following essay follows