Barbie. If there's one toy that can please children across generations while being ruthlessly criticized, it's Barbie. Despite her amazing collectibility, somehow staying fresh to kids for over 50 years, there are persistent concerns about her unrealistic physical shape. Some see her as a popular example of our obsession with idealized female bodies and, as a result, girls' shattered body images. So how might she influence eating disorders?
I looked for evidence of Barbie's negative effect on our culture and body image. I wanted to make the case that Barbie is "just another pretty face" that young girls hope to become, like the images we see from the fashion industry. I found some evidence. But I also found another side to the story. While Barbie's larger-than-life breasts and microscopic waist make her look like a cartoon, she's also marketed as an active, competent woman who can do just about anything.
Looking Like Barbie: An Impossible Body Image
Barbie really doesn't look like a woman. Her form is perhaps best described as "woman-like."
There are many opinions on what Barbie's chest-waist-hip measurements would be if she were a real adult woman. I've seen 32-18-29, 36-18-38, 42-18-32...you get the picture. Basically, Barbie looks as though someone squeezed her middle like a tube of toothpaste -- so tight that the "flesh" at her waist was forced to her breasts and hips (but not to her thighs, of course).
Some say that a seven-foot woman with Barbie's proportions would weigh only 110 pounds. With so much of that weight concentrated in her chest, it's common to suggest that Barbie wouldn't be able to walk without tipping over.
With girls under 10 (and sometimes as young as five or six) starting to diet to avoid getting "fat," Barbie wouldn't seem to be a good influence on body image. And a poor body image makes eating disorders more likely.
But Barbie's Strengths Help Guard Against Eating Disorders
Yet while it's easy (and justified) to shake a fist at Barbie, there's much more to the discussion. I found a wealth of thoughtful opinions on Barbie, from college students, researchers, and staunch feminists. It seems that many of Barbie's strengths would seem to curb the pull toward eating disorders.
Barbie is an adult. Most dolls look like babies or toddlers, encouraging the nurturer in those who play with them. Barbie focuses play on grown-up activities. Often, those with anorexia nervosa maintain a very low weight to avoid becoming adults -- delaying puberty due to lack of nutrition. Barbie makes adulthood look more desirable.
Barbie has lots of friends. Though Barbie's friends all share her body shape, good friends reduce the chance of eating disorders. Eating disorders tend to hurt friendships and cause isolation.
Barbie is not dependent on Ken. Doesn't Ken seem to be there just because the scene needs a guy? Barbie's value doesn't come from being with him. She seems to have a solid sense of self. Eating disorders feed on a distorted or shameful view of self: Harming the self through disordered eating fits with the shame and makes the world seem to make sense.
Barbie works. Lots of Barbies are job-oriented. Doing valuable work builds self-esteem.
Barbie is paid well. Look at all her stuff, after all. Barbie can make a financial place for herself in the world (again, without Ken's help).
Barbie has choices. Choices don't seem to exist for a person with an eating disorder. The disorder is in control. But Barbie has options (which grow with each new Barbie introduced) and makes the most of them.
The Bottom Line: How Barbie Influences Body Image
There are enough opinions on the issue to convince me that Barbie's influence on body image is not clear-cut. While her form is intimidating, her "life" doesn't seem to emphasize her body. That lessens the focus on needing a perfect body, which makes body acceptance easier.
One small caveat, though. Competition brings out the tendency to develop an eating disorder. I might worry about Barbie becoming "the person who's always better than you." She has the body (supposedly), the hair, the money, the friends, the toys and the great jobs. Is Barbie's world then the standard of success? It's a "perfect" world that's just as unrealistic as her shape.
Sounds familiar. Those with anorexia in particular seem to do everything well and smile while doing it, just like Barbie. The drive to succeed and the drive to be thin come from the same perfectionism.
So is Barbie's success too much of a good thing? This could be why many kids spend most of their Barbie time mutilating her! Maybe it's time for more vulnerable Barbies, like "Therapy Client Barbie" or "Lonely Barbie." How about "Fuming in Traffic Barbie"?
Not necessary: It will be enough to encourage a bit of play with Barbie in which not everything works out for her. It's easier to be friends with someone who has a rough day every now and then, and seeing Barbie as imperfect is probably more liberating than copying her lifestyle.
Sources:
Holley, Sarah. "Living in a Barbie world." Formerly at http://www.yaleherald.com/archive/xxvi/12.4.98/opinion/holley.html (link now defunct). Accessed 7 March 2008.
Matusheski, Zachary. "CURVES builds life-size Barbie." (link defunct) At dailytargum.com, 29 April 2003. Accessed 6 March 2008.
Moore-Henecke, Deb. "Rethinking Barbie." imagesjournal.com. Accessed 7 March 2008.
Radford, Benjamin: "Voice of Reason: Research Debunks 'Barbie Ideal.'" At livescience.com. Accessed 8 March 2008.
