We love to hear those words but today they are dedicated to Barbie! For today marks the anniversary that the first Barbie went on display at the American Toy Fair in NYC.
With her fancy hair and body features, Barbie was the first mass produced toy doll in the U.S. with adult features.
A brief history of the beginning of Barbie: Ruth Handler and her husband co-founded Mattel in 1945 after Ruth watched her daughters playing with paper dolls over baby dolls. Ruth knew there was a market for a toy that girls could identify with easily. Barbie's appearance was molded after a doll named Lili, based on a German comic strip. Originally Lili was a racy gag gift for adult men sold in smoke shops. AWESOME!!! Thank goodness Mattel bought the rights and made their own sparkling version of Lili. Who knows where we would be today if we grew up playing with racy gag gifts made for dirty old men.
So this is where it gets tricky....over the next 5 decades Barbie has made lots of money and many a headlines. She has been everything you can imagine. Scientist to Mother. Baker to Astronaut. Doctor to Olympic Athlete. Presidential Candidate to Fashion Designer and everything in between yet her boobs have remained perky as hell and her waist the size of a crouton. Which is what she only has ever eaten, ever. Her entire life....
I'm just kidding. Well not really. Those words are all true but I don't care about her body size. I don't think you should either. I can promise you that any negative body issues that I have...DID NOT COME FROM A BARBIE! Chances are if you have ill feelings for Barbie and her un-proportioned body, you are blaming the wrong person...or doll.
Yep. I'm not afraid to say it but your body image did not come from a doll. It came from your Mom and Dad. Either you owe your Mom and Dad a "thank you" or an "eff you" because that's where you got your angels or demons. I'm not blaming anyone. I am simply saying your parents are the role models that shape your beliefs, NOT a doll.
Poor Barbie has spent so many years climbing the professional ladder all while getting trashed in the media yet she marches on. She is a semi feminist with a killer chest. And that's ok. She can take on the world and have a smashing date that evening all while being HBC wearing a size 0 dress....because she is a damn doll, people!
Fantasy. Role Playing. This is how kids learn to dream and interact. Be the parent that says "you know...not everyone looks like Barbie and that's ok. She is a doll and a toy that you are supposed to dream and have fun with." "And if you want to wear 6 inch stilettos while performing open heart surgery when you are grown....go for it!!!"
I love Barbie and I always will. She was my bestie for years and I only have positive things to say about her. I believe she is a toy and you as a parent should take the role model lead, not Mattel.
So for now... let's celebrate this day. If it had never happened we may have never had that doll in our lives! Oh and Hey Barbie, nice chest!!!
All the love,
Jenn
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