While Barbie came out in the very fixed and structured year of 1959: White, blonde hair, blue eyed, and a skinny hourglass figure that was seen as the beauty standard at the time. However, over the years, she became incredibly diversified with different body types, ethnicities, and professional roles that gave young and older women to look up to. Barbie is not this "fixed" one track mind doll anymore. She is quite literally meant to represent every single women and that's why she's popular with every person who is feminine. She is described as representation of female intelligence, capability, and independence.
Now, when you think of Barbie you think of the stereotypical blonde bimbo that was created from misrepresentation and downright misogyny used to make fun of women and infantilize them for their expression of femininity. It's a complete misrepresentation of her character and its really telling to see how such a very influential female figure can be easily misconstrued within a patriarchal society.
For my final take on Barbie as a whole, I'd like to say that when people call a person of color "(insert race here) Barbie" should just be taken from an descriptive and adjectival standpoint because that simply does not exist. Barbie is just Barbie and anyone who is feminine presenting can be her because she's meant to represent every single women or feminine presenting person. For example, An "Asian Barbie" is just Barbie but I inserted "Asian" to describe her ethnic background.
I hope this makes sense lol.
Comments
Displaying 4 of 4 comments ( View all | Add Comment )
!! Ariadne
i agree with this!! barbie is just barbie, she is you, me, my grandma and every woman
Cysper04
Good point.....
And you said it very well.
"and professional roles"
I have yet to see Barbie as a Professional Wrestler. LOL XD
Nathaniel
Furthermore, in the series Dream House, she's a regional landmark of Malibu, even receiving the key to the city that doesn't open anything. She's badass
Yes! She's incredible.
by B4RBIE; ; Report