Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, was initially inspired by her daughter’s playing habits.  In the 1950s, the decade Barbie was created, the only dolls available were baby dolls.  There were no dolls that filled an adult role. Realizing that there was huge potential in creating an adult doll that was not just a stay-at-home mom, Ruth Handler went on to create the Barbie that society knows today.

Over the years, Barbie has been subject to all kinds of controversy, mainly because of her “unrealistic” body type that critics claim can hurt the self esteem of young girls and influence them in a negative way.  However, these critics are ONLY basing their criticism on Barbie’s looks, which ironically, is something that we are taught not to do.  “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” is a common saying, yet critics of Barbie are doing just that.  They totally disregard everything that Barbie stands for, focusing strictly on her plastic NOT REAL body.

The first thing that I would like to address is that Barbie is not the source of body issues.  In fact, body stereotypes are what created Barbie in the first place.  As can be seen in these fashion ads from the 1950s, Barbie was designed after the body images that already existed: trim waist, long legs, etc.  Don’t blame Barbie for causing self esteem issues; she merely reflects what is popular and idealized in society.  She did not cause the problem in the first place.

Before Barbie, there had never been an adult doll with a career.  When the first doll given to girls is a baby doll, what message does that send?  Barbie broke the glass ceiling and became the ultimate career woman.  She has had over 150 careers throughout the years.  Pretty much anything you can think of, Barbie has been it.  This not only includes stereotypical “feminine” jobs. 

She was an astronaut in the 1960s, when she went to the moon four years before Neil Armstrong.  She was already a CEO in the 1980s, just as women were starting to gain leverage in the workplace.  Not to mention that she has already been president a couple times, and America has yet to have a female candidate on the ballot. 

Barbie shows young girls that they really can be anything that they want to be.  In the 1980s and 1990s, Mattel’s slogan was, “We girls can do anything, right Barbie?”  Many readers may be familiar with the Barbie “I Can Be” campaign, showing girls that anything is possible.  Barbie is the ultimate feminist, and no doubt she has had a role in empowering women around the world.

Many people also criticize Barbie’s dream lifestyle, filled with the color pink, clothes, shoes, and convertibles.  Honestly, what is wrong with living the Barbie lifestyle? It is perfectly okay to strive to be successful, feminine, and fabulous.  Where do you think Barbie got all the money for that stuff?  From her successful career, obviously!

Barbie never lets men control her life.  Many people forget that the Ken doll was made to compliment the Barbie doll, not the other way around.  Ken has never held Barbie back in her career.  In fact, he often fades into the background, letting Barbie be the center of attention, something that radical feminists are striving for.  They want to be recognized for their accomplishments and their work alone, and that is exactly what Barbie does.

No matter how many positives I explain about Barbie, the argument will always circle back to her body shape.  It is important to remember that Barbie was NEVER created to be anatomically correct.  She cannot be some chunky doll, she has to be easy to maneuver and dress quickly.  Her figure has to be smaller and leaner to look normal in the clothes. 

Justina Sharp, fashion blogger, puts it perfectly, “I’ve heard the main argument against her before: that she’s too perfect, with her tiny waist and itty-bitty feet, and she’s bad for little girls’ self-esteem. But this is not how little girls see Barbie; rather this is how adults with issues of their own perceive Barbie. I played with Barbies as a little girl (I’ll admit it,still play with Barbies), and guess what? I have never wanted to look like her. Still don’t. She’s beautiful, but she’s a plastic doll. Any 5-year-old can see that. Barbie’s got a charmed life, but it’s not a real one. Adult issues should not be put upon a toy or a little girl.”

There is nothing wrong with Barbie’s slim physique.  Childhood obesity rates have skyrocketed in the United States.  Barbie helps contradict that.  Not only is she healthy looking, but she is always on the move.  She is never sitting around on the couch watching television; she is always out doing some sort of activity, something which a lot of couch potatoes would benefit from.  There is nothing wrong with striving to be healthier and a better version of yourself.

Finally, it is important to remember that Barbie is nothing more than a toy.  Feminists and other critics constantly blame her for the woes of the world, self-esteem issues, and the view of the female body in general.  Now, that is fine, but honestly, it is pretty pathetic.  There is SO much more that goes into a girl’s worldview than toys.  Her parents, friends, TV shows, magazines, media, and society in general play a much bigger role than toys in her world view.  Barbie’s body is only a mirror of what society perceives as “the perfect woman”.  People need to step back and take a look at the bigger picture here, and stop blaming a toy for the low self esteem epidemic.

Through the years, Barbie has accepted the criticisms thrown at her, and continued to be her own successful person, something that I think many women can learn from in today’s world.