Barbie: 50 Years of Controversy
“PLANTATION BELLE BARBIE”, 1959
As schools desegregated during the American Civil Rights movement, Mattel fashioned their doll as a slave-owning southerner.
“SLEEPYTIME GAL BARBIE”, 1965
During the surge of feminism in the 1960’s, Mattel released this doll with a pink bathroom scale that read 110lbs, and a book entitled How To Lose Weight. The book only had one page, advising “Don’t eat.”
“COLORED FRANCIE”, 1967
Even though “colored” was the politically correct term during the Civil Rights movement, people questioned whether specifying the doll’s race within her name was counter-productive for equality.
Similarly, her blonde hair and very Caucasian features came under fire, until Mattel admitted that Francie dolls were actually “regular” Barbies dyed brown. With so much negative attention, the company quickly regrouped and released a second edition Francie with modified facial features and hair color.
“GROWING UP SKIPPER”, 1975
Barbie’s little sister “grows up” by rotating a dial that pops out plastic breasts. Critics feared this over-simplified the maturation process and equated female “adulthood” with breast size.
“ORIENTAL BARBIE”, 1981
Asian American girls felt what African American girls did in 1967 with “Colored Francie”. Even though Mattel and Barbie finally acknowledged diversity, the doll’s ethnicity was her only defining quality.
“HEART FAMILY MIDGE”, 1985
Barbie’s pregnant best friend came with a removable stomach containing a fully formed fetus. Parents were upset because it misinformed children of the childbirth process, and in such a graphic manner.
“NATIVE AMERICAN BARBIE”, 1993
As with “Colored Francie” and “Oriental Barbie”, here was another non-Caucasian doll whose persona was based entirely on a racial stereotype.
“TEEN TALK BARBIE”, 1994
Shouting “Math is hard!”, Teen Talk Barbie sparked a national discussion about girls’ education, and critics accused Mattel of predisposing girls to act ditzy.
“OREO FUN BARBIE”, 1997
With this odd cross-promotion of products, critics wondered if Mattel implied African American girls should be “black on the outside, white on the inside.”
“COOL SHOPPIN’ BARBIE”, 1997
This Barbie loved to shop, but had no career and never paid bills. She came equipped with name-brand credit cards, the same ones children see their parents use. People speculated this doll promoted an irresponsible and unrealistic perception of money and consumerism.
“HAPPY FAMILY MIDGE”, 2002
This recreation of the 1985 doll was now a teenage version of Barbie’s pregnant friend. Parents said this glamorized and trivialized teen pregnancy. Many stores pulled it from their shelves.
VEGAS “SHOWGIRL BARBIE”, 2008
With a career based entirely upon her appearance and sex appeal, some say that Showgirl Barbie is only a step away from having Stripper Barbie or Playboy Bunny Barbie.
“BLACK CANARY BARBIE”, 2008
Giving Barbie a makeover as the DC Comics heroine “Black Canary” was Mattel’s attempt to cash in on the growing comic book craze. She was unofficially deemed “Dominatrix Barbie”.
“TOTALLY STYLIN’ TATTOOS BARBIE”, 2009
While some parents objected to Barbie having any kind of tattoo, others were simply mad it was a lower back tattoo (a.k.a. the “tramp stamp”) with her boyfriend’s name on it. In fact, Mattel announced in 2004 that Barbie and Ken were “no longer dating but remained friends,” so to be more specific, it’s a tramp stamp with her ex-boyfriend’s name on it.
Sources:
Mattel’s “Barbie Collector Official Site” / Barbie’s History
Fashion Doll Guide (Suzanne Prochaska) 2006-2009
“Barbie and Ken: It’s Over” (Catherine Donaldson-Evans) FOX News, 2004
Nice article. Never was a Barbie fan.
And for the record, it has been scientifically proven that Barbie as a human being would be physically impossible. Apparently according to her specifications, there wouldn’t be enough strength in her lower back, to support her ample upper frame! So much for wanting to look like Barbie. Stupid sexist doll!
Oh well, while we’re on the topic of sexism, here’s a link to an article I found lately that might be of interest (it is a bit dated but an interesting read nonetheless)
http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX5089-GroceryLineMisogyny.htm
You say that Barbie “distorts the norms of body image, intellect, and what it means to be a woman.” What is the norm? I’ve always been curious about that.
Women just seem to have a natural hatred for each other. There are a lot of women who really look like Barbie. That’s how they were born. Why is that unnatural? Because you’re jealous? If a woman is fat, then sites like this say “you’re beautiful just the way you are.” even though she really wasn’t born that way. She just overeats.
On the other hand, if a woman has perfectly spherical double D cup breasts, you say she should get a breast reduction, even though that is how she was born.
So what’s normal? Feminists always accuse the world of trying to force women into a mold, but how are you any different?
The Light runs a Christian website. Just thought everyone should know.
Tell me, Light, would you tell your congregation that “women just seem to have a natural hatred for eachother”? oh and feminists don’t go around telling women to get breast reductions, now you’re just making things up.
I remember my mom passed down her barbies to me, and in there was a Colored Francie, and I was like “whaaa?” and she said it wasn’t racist at the time- but pleeeease, if they had to point out her skin color, then they were still racist. It’s like “here’s all the normal dolls. and oh there’s the black one.” not cool
[...] http://stilettorevolt.com/2009/03/barbie-50-years-of-controversy-2/ [...]
I played with Barbie dolls as a child and I do not recall any desire to look like Barbie. However, I distinctly remember a good friend saying something to the effect of wanting to have a “waist as small as Barbie” in about the 3rd grade. I remember thinking it sounded so silly to me, yet was clearly an important goal to my friend. On the other hand, I do not recall thinking, “I want to be like Barbie” in any positive way. I do not believe that I ever saw Barbie as any kind of role model. However, I grew up surrounded by realistic, strong women for role-models who placed high value on trying your best and being yourself and I believe those women had a much greater influence on me than a Barbie doll ever did.
Love your posts Keep em coming you’ve got a fan:)
I love Barbie, she is my hero