Women's Studies. Barbie Doll as the Model for Little Girls - Essay Example

Module Module ID: Barbie Doll as the Model for Little Girls The present paper aims to identify the impact and influence of the Barbie dolls on the tastes and priorities of the young girls in their real and practical life. The main objective behind elucidating the topic under-consideration includes the significant increase in the trends among girls with regards to keeping the Barbie dolls and following them in appearance, dressing and manifestation not only during adolescence, but also in their grown years. Though the patterns of dolls cannot be adopted completely by the girls, yet an overwhelming majority of them observes the same in one way or the other. Hence, the movements launched by the Barbie dolls designers and developers go a long way in respect of introducing and modifying the physique and appearance fashion trends within the social establishment, predominantly for the women folk, which maintain higher level of inclinations regarding adopting and following the fashion patterns in the light of the material objects being introduced by the fashion designers. Introduction: It has pertinently been viewed that Nature has created men and women in two entirely different patterns, where the difference between the members of both the genders is not confined to physical appearance only; rather, the people of the two genders also appear to be divergent ones in thoughts, views and exposure with regards to life and society (Crenshaw 54). It is due to these differences that their liking and disliking, as well as tastes and flavors also witness dissimilarities since the early childhood of the individuals belonging to the two opposite genders. It is therefore it is aptly argued that the girls are more idealistic and less practical in comparison to their male counterparts, and develop role models for them to imitate the same up to they seek the perfection point (Crenshaw 19). It is particularly the case while girls’ adopting the prevailing fashion-styles and manners in order to look attractive, fascinating and dandy eventually. The same can also be witnessed by witnessing the love and passion of the girls for their Barbie dolls. The researchers demonstrate the very fact that girls generally keep Barbie dolls of various kinds with them by taking them to be an ideal play-mate as well as a beautiful object to imitate their features and characteristics; it is therefore, they look for reducing their weight to such a great extent so that they could grow as thin as they observe their dolls having the smartness and slenderness with regards to their physiques at large (Dittmar et al. 283). It is perhaps in the nature of the girls that they care the dolls in such a manner as their mothers take care of the children (Schwarz 296); it not only reflects their innate motherly sentiments and desire to play the role attributed to mothers, but also demonstrates their hidden longings for mating and having a companion that exclusively belongs to themselves only. Hence, some invisible and unconscious sexual desires also urge the girls to keep a smart and captivating mate in the form of Barbie doll with them (Kuther & McDonald 42). In addition, sense of security and escape from loneliness and being unprotected also force the girls for keeping the dolls with them. The girls’ imitating the Barbie actually reflects their passion for espousing the cultural traits that have been in vogue in their social and physical environment (Kuther & McDonald 40). One of the most imperative reasons behind establishing the Barbie to be a model for smartness and beauty includes the (mis)conception by viewing it to be the symbol of perfect attractiveness the smart and good-looking girls must contain. Consequently, the girls attempt to keep the physique of the dolls in view in order to maintain their smartness and remain under-weight in order to capture the attention of the public in general, and their lovers in particular. Somehow, the medical specialists and healthcare professionals declare following the smartness associated with the Barbie dolls to be harmful for the health and fitness of the young girls (Dittmar et al. 284-85). It is partly due to the very reality that the girls give up taking proper diet essential for keeping them healthy and vigorous, as well as necessary for performing various tasks, related to their studies as well as domestic and professional obligations. Nevertheless, the girls pay least heed to the concerns mentioned by their medical advisors, and keep on witnessing weight loss with the help of taking hard physical exercises on the one side, and remaining hungry for many hours on the other in order to look as smart as their dolls subsequently. Not only this that such efforts made in order to remain under weight keep them away from taking the specific amount of proteins, fats and calories, but also may create physical and mental deficiencies in them for the future years to come. One of the most astounding issues, somewhat hidden from the views of the young innocent minds, included the presentation of the Barbie dolls in an unhealthy and unattainable physique, height and figure (Dittmar et al. 284), which cannot be followed by the girls in real life. In addition, imitating the physical features attributed to the Barbie may deprive the girls of the ideal feminine figure that actually captures the attraction of male (and female) lovers in general. Since almost all girls between the age group 3-10 years possess at least one Barbie to play with, the doll certainly lays its impact on them in one way or the other (Kuther & McDonald 41). To conclude, it becomes evident that keeping the Barbie actually turns out to be the reflection of taste, style and elegance for girls (Carrington & Hodget 673-74), which they show and share with other girls and aunts in order to win their applause and admiration regarding having attractive dolls in their possession. Consequently, the Barbie dolls have obtained the central place in the life of the girls belonging to the American, Canadian and European cultures (Schwarz 297). However, keeping the Barbie dolls and playing with them is a phenomenon that is entirely in contrast with taking the dolls as an ideal role model to be imitated. The girls idealizing the Barbie and dreaming of growing as thin, skinny and lean as girls are not conscious of the reality that such an unwise attempt of turning similar to the lifeless dolls may eclipse all the beauties attributed to the girls. It is therefore, the socio-cultural and feminist theorists refutes the manufacturing and presentation of the Barbie dolls in traditional manner that contain thinnest possible arms and legs, and least attractive feminine figures (hooks 15). However, the trends are not confined to the common women only; rather, the same is being followed by the film heroines and female celebrities that are putting the health of the contemporary era women into grave jeopardy subsequent to the strong desire of becoming as thin as Barbie dolls. Works Cited Carrington, Victoria., and Hodgetts, Katherine. “Literacy-lite in BarbieGirls.” British Journal of Sociology of Education Volume 31 No. 6 November 2010 671-682 Crenshaw, Theresa L. The Alchemy of Love and Lust: Discovering Our Sex Hormones and How They Determine Who We Love, When We Love, and How Often We Love. New York: G.P. Putman’s Sons, 1996. Print. Dittmar, Helga., Halliwell, Emma., and Ive, Suzanne. “Does Barbie Make Girls Want to Be Thin? The Effect of Experimental Exposure to Images of Dolls on the Body Image of 5- to 8-Year-Old Girls.” Developmental Psychology Vol. 42, No. 2, 2006 283–292 hooks, B. Feminist Theory from Margin to Centre Boston, MA: South End Press 1984. Print. Kuther, Tara L., and McDonald, Erin. “Early Adolescents’ Experiences with, and Views of, Barbie.” Adolescence Volume 39, No. 153 2004 39-51. Schwarz, Maureen Trudelle “Native American Barbie: The Marketing of Euro-American Desires” American Studies Volume 46 No. ? Fall-Winter 2005 295-326 Read More