Yesterday was Barbie's 50th birthday. A celebration of a half-century of obsession by young girls with a pencil-thin, wasp-waisted, pointy-breasted doll. It is estimated that more than 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in more than 150 countries since the doll was first introduced in 1959.
Mattel, which manufactures Barbie, claim three Barbies are sold every second.
In her 50 years on the planet, Barbie has enjoyed 100 different careers, had more than 40 pets including cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub and a zebra and 73 acres of clothes, furniture and other equipment and assessories.
Barbie was first of all a fashion statement (still is, mainly), but with the feminist movement, she did become a career woman. Doctor, cowgirl, astronaut, soldier, politician are just a few. In 1994, the Winter Sports Barbie was introduced, with skiis, poles, and of course, dressed in designer ski wear. In 1998 Nascar Barbie started to race cars, followed by WNBA Barbie and FIFA World Cup Barbie. Ultimate female soccer player Mia Hamm was selected as the Soccer Barbie. It was a short-lived trend.
Still, it looked for awhile like Barbie might join the ranks of real females, rather than keep the unnatural figure she was born (full-grown) with 50 years ago...5-ft-11 tall, 18 in. waist and 33 in. hips. When Mattel redesigned Barbie in 1974, she was given a marginally wider waist, but she still has legs up to here.
Child experts have decried the Barbie doll as a bad influence on young girls. They say she falls into (or perhaps leads) the stereotype of the skinny-is-beautiful ideal that has been foisted on a gullible public by clothing designers, Madison Avenue and the media. Ads for just about everything-from clothing to cars to cosmetics-feature reed-like, sunken-cheeked waifs.
But rather than rebel indignantly or laugh uproariously at this utter nonsense, many girls and women conclude they fall far short of the ideal. Some see themselves as overly plump Barbie dolls. They look in the mirror and what they see is like a trick mirror image...inaccurate and distorted. This dissatisfaction and distortion can lead to eating disorders.
Women who participate in sports or are otherwise physically active are less likely to buy the hype. They see their bodies in healthier ways. Their mirror reveals curves and muscles, strong shoulders and a straight, proud posture-a body prepared to work and play hard.
Where are the physically active-looking dolls that girls can emulate? Dolls that come with skates, bicycles and water skiis. They can have an ensemble of fashionable sports outfits, hair that can be braided or pulled into a pony tail or combed out for the party after the game and come with tennis racquets, volleyballs and hockey sticks. Other assessories might be headbands, sports sox and ace bandages.
Until Barbie shapes up, fills out and joins the softball team, perhaps she should be kicked off the playing field. Happy birthday, Barbie. Now, go away.
Journalist, publisher, author Penny Hastings lives in Santa Rosa, Author Bio: Penny Hastings is the co-author (along with her son Todd Caven) of How To Win A Sports Scholarship, 3rd edition (Redwood Creek Publishing, 2007, 192 pages, $24.95), a step-by-step guide for high school and 2-year college student-athletes who want to play their sport in college and help pay their college expenses, too. Hastings gives presentations and workshops to student-athletes and their parents, guidance counselors, coaches and others interested in helping kids learn about college sports and how to play the recruiting game successfully. Hastings can be reached at penny@winasportsscholarship.com or visit the website: www.winasportsscholarship.com. Hastings is also the author of Sports For Her, A Reference Guide for Teenage Girls (Greenwood Publishing, 1999), which is currently being revised for a softcover 2nd edition by Redwood Creek Publishing http://www.winasportsscholarship.com
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