A lot of people hate the fact Barbie is supposedly modeled after a sexy German adult cartoon later turned sex doll, Bild Lilli.  The doll was based on a “gold digging prostitute” and some people believe that Barbie still represents that image.  And when you see Barbie looking like she does in front of The Palms Hotel, you can see their point.

This ad for the Barbie Shopping Boutique, demonstrates to young girls that as long as they look good in their skimpy outfits, they should just “Buy it!” because “You never run out of money!”

The left is a drawing of how Barbie would look compared to a real woman.  That unachievable image of perfection could be detrimental to a young girl’s self-esteem, and as living proof of what that obsession could build up to is Cindy Jackson on the right.

Barbie vs Average Woman
Real Barbie and Ken

It took 89 plastic surgeries, but eventually Miles Kendall and Cindy Jackson turned themselves into the “Real Life” Ken and Barbie.

Barbie and Her Other Controversies

Teen Talk
Pregnant Madge

        Mattel’s “Teen Talk Barbie”, which debuted in 1992, was revolutionary in the fact that she could say 4 out of 270 different phrases.  However, Barbie needed to think before she blurted out, “Math class is tough!” and “Will I ever have enough clothes?”  Poor math challenged Barbie got jumped on all over because it insinuated that girls were too math-impaired to excel in such classes.  Barbie must have gotten a math tutor, because three months later, the doll no longer lamented over the difficulties she had on that subject.

        In 2002 “Happy Family: Midge and Baby” hit the shelves, and parents everywhere were outraged.  The main concern was that despite Midge’s very visible wedding ring, the idea of a pregnant toy for children might promote teen pregnancy.  Midge’s depiction of pregnant life was also glamorized greatly.  From her intricate braids in her hair down to her high heel sculpted feet, she gave the appearance that despite being in her ninth month of pregnancy, she could still put out the effort to be stylish.  You can pry apart the magnets on her belly to reveal the signature hour glass figure that everyone expects to see right after someone gives birth.  Then kids could pull out the creepy baby from Midge’s belly shell, and welcome home the new member of the “Happy Family”.  Sense it was pulled off the shelves so quickly, Midge and her detachable baby bump are now collectables.

Oreo Barbie

        Mattel and Nabisco put their special talents together in 1997, and came out with “Oreo Fun Barbie”.  Just like the cookie, girls could share and play with their doll after class.  However, the African American version of the same doll struck-up controversy due to the derogatory nature of the term “Oreo” in the African American community.  Needless to say the doll was pulled from the shelves.
Barbie at The Palms

There’s no question as to why Barbie is waiting outside of a hotel in this picture.

Saudi Arabia’s “religious police” (aka Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) banned Barbie and stated that her and her risqué apparel offended Islam.  She is marketed as Jewish contraband.  The Razanne doll (whose name translates to “shyness and modesty”) was created in response to the ban of the slutty western doll.  She has a more teenage-like figure with fewer curves, and dons traditional Muslim garb.

One of the main reasons that people are so anti-Barbie is due to the fact that she reinforces the ideology that to be “beautiful” you need to look like a perfectly sculpted plastic doll.  (In 1965 Barbie was sold with a scale set to 110lbs. and a diet book titled "How to Lose Weight").  Parents are concerned that their little girls will become body image oriented and it could affect them long-term.  This fear becomes a reality for many who are afflicted with “Barbie Syndrome”(a desire to obtain an unrealistic body).  Another of Barbie's flaws is her less than modest example that she sets for children.

Tramp Stamp Barbie

Totally Stylin’ Tattoo Barbie

Totally Stylin'

Mattel is also criticized by the fact that until just recently, all the races of Barbie have been just one, white.  Sure the first African American doll (Colored Francie) debuted in 1967, but she had the same features as the white Francie with only a different skin color to differentiate to two.  African American girls didn’t have a Barbie that they could truly identify with.  In 2009, Mattel attempted to change that, and they came out with the “So in Style” line of Barbie’s new black friends.  Their fuller lips, wider noses, and varying skin tones are considered by many to be a step in the right direction; however, improvements can still be made.  The hair of most of the dolls are straight and long, and they are accompanied by straightening tools for their hair, which perpetuates the idea that natural, curly hair is an issue that needs to be fixed in order to be “beautiful”.

Colored Francie
African American Barbie
So in Style
 
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