What woman has occupied the position of teacher, doctor, model, dentist, ballerina, rock star, veterinarian, police officer, and astronaut as well as trying her hand in several other occupations through the years?  No one but Barbie could be successful at obtaining a whopping 46 different careers in only 54 years.  Although her full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, billions of little girls all over the world simply know her as Barbie.  She’s viewed as the ideal woman being smart, beautiful, and successful, but this perfection comes at a price.  Not everyone worships this plastic goddess, from her ever-present smile scaling down her unblemished figure to her made for high heels feet, Barbie has been criticized mercilessly through the years. 

            But is all of this controversy necessary?  Yes, Barbie is unrealistically molded, (it is estimated that if Barbie were human she would be 5 feet 9 inches tall and have the measurements of a 36 inch chest, 18 inch waist, and 33 inch hips.  She would weigh approximately 110 lbs.) however, since 1997 her waist has been modified to appear slightly more realistic.  I loved playing with my Barbie dolls as a little girl, and never once did I have thoughts of starving myself or throwing-up.  Never the less, some people feel that this image of the scantily clad, perfect looking woman sets a bad example for little impressionable girls.  From her on-again-off-again relationship with Ken Carson to her mini-skirts and “tramp stamps”, parents everywhere question the role model material of America’s plastic material girl.  On this website I will examine the pros and cons of this controversial doll.