The Barbie Ban: American Law Gone Stupid

Posted by admin on March 9, 2009

Earlier today I read an article about a West Virginia lawmaker who wants to ban the sale of Barbie. Why? In his opinion Barbie’s looks gives girls the wrong impression about beauty. Instead of teaching girls how to appreciate their inner-talents, Barbie puts too much emphasis on the physical; something people can’t help.

Now, on one hand I have to applaud this senator for trying to find ways to address body image issues. But banning Barbie? That’s WAY too extreme. Not only would it make millions of little girls unhappy, but it would also be horrendous for the economy, since anything related to the brand would have to be banned as well. This would result in hundreds of layoffs, (something that the American public doesn’t need right now).

Besides, this solution does not really get at the heart of the problem. True, Barbie is expected to be beautiful. But she is also seen as a figure of fantasy, even among preschool girls. And, unless the girl has a serious psychological problem, she will not want to emulate Barbie when she grows up.

However, I will tell you who she will want to emulate– size 0 models who strut the runways. Or, actresses who are so skinny that you can see their ribs through their clothing. These are the people running around having cosmetic surgery done, there is no “cosmetic surgery barbie” as far as I know. They will want to emulate these women because they are real-life figures who society says is beautiful– figures who are MORE unrealistic than Barbie. That’s right, I said it– the models DON’T look like Barbie because even she has curves and breasts.

In fact, with the exception of Barbie’s long legs, the doll does have a more natural-looking shape. She has a clearly-defined bosom, small waist and big hips. In real life she would probably be a size 6, which can still be healthy depending on a person’s height. But what is the average size of a model? Zero– a size that is rarely healthy for grown women, (unless they have a really fast metabolism or are extremely short).

So, in my opinion, Barbie is probably a better role-model for girls because at least she has a real body. Ultimately, if the senator REALLY wants to do something, he needs to analyze the deeper crux of the problem– the American media.