Looking back on my childhood, Barbie was more of a favorite toy than a role model, but thinking about it now provokes more thought than I had as that little girl. When manufacturers create any type of popular toy that millions of children play with, there is always that desire for it to be influential in their lives. As for Barbie, she represents a beautiful young woman featured in many different races, showing children the unique differences in every human being. Barbie also features many different outfits and accessories, giving children a fun toy to play with and keeping them away from bad things that they could be involving themselves with instead. In addition, Barbie represents a successful career woman, which every person should naturally strive for.
As for the cons of Barbie, she is stick thin and looked upon as “perfect”, “beautiful”, and something every girl should strive to be. This connotation associated with Barbie is both negative and encourages young children to do anything to be thin and beautiful leading to behaviors involved with bulimia, anorexia, and plastic surgery through the teen years and into the adult years of their lives. Nothing in this world is perfect. Every person you know have their imperfections and flaws both inside and out. It is a natural thing involved in every person’s life and accepting them holds much more importance than doing everything in your power to get “rid” of them or do things to change your body. Yes, it is important to stay healthy and lead a happy life, but getting to that place does not involve hurting or altering your self image. While it may be indirect, Barbie ultimately encourages this behavior by being such an important figure for young girls in the most influential years of their lives.
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