Perhaps, we are being overly ambitious at Life and Culture in tackling a topic of this nature. After all, our founder is an Xer male, and could not possibly know, firsthand, what is like to be a woman living in the 21st century. Even so, he suggested an article of this nature, since the date of this posting marks the 56th anniversary of the release of the iconic Barbie doll.
It has become somewhat popular to attack Barbie. Granted, some of these attacks are warranted. For example, the measurements of a Barbie doll would be impossible for a woman to attain in real life. Thus, a Barbie doll potentially contributes to other sources serving to compromise an adolescent female’s self-esteem.
Yet, that was not the intention of Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler. Prior to Barbie, girls played with dolls shaped like a child. However, Handler noted that her own daughter, Barbara, preferred to play with more mature paper dolls resembling teenaged and career women. She decided that a doll with an adult appearance (i.e., breasts) would market well to adolescent girls (Collins, “Creator of Barbie Doll…”, CBSnews.com).
Handler was not out to destroy the self-esteem of feminine youth when she pitched her idea to Mattel. She felt, rather, that Barbie could serve as a vehicle for a girl’s imagination. She could aspire to greater things. Handler stated in her autobiography that “Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices” (idid). In some ways, is the essence of Handler’s statement not consistent with the tenants of feminism?
Therefore, we at Life and Culture would ask why a tool, for the development of the mind and the rehearsal of future scenarios during the course of play, would be allowed to become denigrated? In other words, why was Barbie ultimately marketed as a fashion doll? Was that the fault of the male executives at Mattel who were not keen about the idea of Barbie to begin with? Or, could this problem ultimately extend from humanity’s vanity?
The Bible presents the ideal woman as one of industry who takes care of her own as well as others (cf. Proverbs 31:10ff). Her praise arises from her reverence for God instead of charm and beauty. We are not so naive as to believe that those unconcerned with such things as faith will understand this concept of true attractiveness. If anything, we would likely be accused of further demeaning women through the proclamation of the Christian Gospel, which is, itself, perceived as anti-woman.
Nevertheless, we would encourage others to see what unadulterated Christianity actually teaches about womanhood. It might just surprise you to see what a godly, Christian man sees as the ideal woman. The problem, therefore, does not stem from items like Barbie. The fault lies in the hearts of men and women (some of whom call themselves Christians also) teaching, in word or deed, that a woman’s worth is limited to her external appearance.
WORKS CITED
Collins, Dan. “Creator Of Barbie Doll Dead At 85.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 29 Apr. 2002. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.
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