ADIOS BARBIE
Let’s just put it out there. Barbie used to be my nemesis. As a child, I found her thin, plastic limbs too angular to play with. She seemed cold and unfeeling, unlike my menagerie of soft, squishy, baby dolls and furry stuffed animals. I wanted nothing to do with Barbie or her dream house. Fast forward to my post-college, finding myself, feminist years and Barbie became a symbol of all that was wrong with the world as it related to the impossible standards of beauty, perfection and whiteness of the American woman. The book Adios Barbie (which is now called Body Outlaws) became my bible and I told anyone who would listen that I would cut off my left toe before I would ever let a future child of mine play with Barbie.
And then I had two sons. So, the Barbie question never came up. Truth be told, I pretty much forget about Barbie and became an expert on all things Lego’s and Hot Wheels.
BABYGIRL WANTS A BARBIE
Ten years later, the good Lord saw fit to bless me with my bonus baby, my babygirl. And Barbie re-entered my world. The requests for a Barbie didn’t start until recently, when babygirl turned six. I forbade her to watch Barbie cartoons and I made it clear that I wasn’t a fan of Barbie. But suddenly, my daughter could argue a point and her point was that she wanted a Barbie because Barbie was amazing and she could do anything. She didn’t want a Barbie because she wanted to play with her hair, she wanted the Barbie who was a scientist because she wants to be a scientist herself. So, I had to rethink my Barbie ban. If I could find a brown-skinned Barbie who was a scientist, who could inspire my daughter’s imaginative play, where was the harm in that? In fact, wouldn’t it be good to get her a non-electronic toy that would allow her to fantasize about her own future as a scientist?
As it turned out, babygirl lost the desire for scientist Barbie before I could go out and find one, so we put that conversation to bed. But now, Mattel has gone and made ME want to buy a Barbie for myself with all of their new multi-culti, inspirational Barbies. It’s like Mattel has finally realized the power and potential of making Barbie dolls that inspire and engage across cultures, as well as careers. The range of Barbie’s now available actually look like the diverse American – actually that should be global – population. And I’m not just talking about the size of their thighs. I’m talking about race, religion, class, occupation and claim to fame. There is true diversity here. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t seem like this is the end of the line for Mattel’s offerings, but rather, just the beginning.
GOODBYE BARBIE BAN!
Here are the six Barbies that had me 100 percent retire my Barbie ban. Let’s be honest, I’d buy each and every one of these if I didn’t have bills to pay and a kid trying to go to college.
1. Frida Kahlo Barbie: Because I love Frida. I would buy Frida Kahlo toilet paper if they made it. I don’t think I need to say anything else.
2. Nicola Adams Obe Barbie: She is the most famous female boxer in Britain. I want her because of her hair. Seriously, whoever got the cornrows and the bouffant right gets an A++. Plus, she’s Black. I literally just want her to put on the shelf in my office so she can watch over me.
3. Chloe Kim: I have never seen an Asian Barbie doll before and this has always been a pet peeve of mine. Asian children rarely see themselves represented in the doll aisle and if they do, it’s in some traditional costume, not in the cool urban gear that this Chloe Kim doll sports. Plus, she’s just so cute!
So, dear readers. Where do you stand on Barbie? Did you play with them as a kid? Would you buy them for your kids today? Is anybody else like me, a late-stage, Barbie convert? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m listening.
Peace!
