It's a Barbie World after all

Barbie is someone every girl knows. They all received their first barbie doll on their birthday, another holiday or that visiting great-aunt. I was no exception, I had numerous barbies (most of who were decapitated by younger brother).

I had baywatch barbie, texas longhorn cheerleader barbie, teacher barbie, wedding barbie (and ken) and all the barbie books to match. I can thank my aunt for signing me up for the barbie book club, in which Barbie, and her siblings/friends, went on all kinds of adventures. Barbie had numerous jobs in these books, to match her doll personalities. She was a vet, a doctor, nurse, pre-school teacher and a fashion designer.

Every girl under the age of ten knows what a Barbie is. She’s the first toy super star. She made headlines for breaking up with Ken, songs about her and Jeep and Mercedes even make custom cars to match her. Girls are told that Barbie can do everything.


Yet there was never a real-world barbie. Barbie is distorting the way girls think about themselves. Barbie never shows real world problems, she’s never been abused, drank too much, been sexually assaulted, never ages, doesn’t gain weight, commit crime and doesn’t fall into depression. Barbie doesn’t have an eating disorder. depression or anxiety. She’s perfect and many girls try to be her. Recently a woman spent 80,000 dollars on plastic surgery to look like Barbie and she’s absolutely terrifying. Isn’t it time that Barbie begins to look more like the rest of the world’s female population?
Just for Women posts these stats on their website:

• 90% of all women want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance.
• 81% of 10 year old girls are afraid of being fat.
• Every 15 seconds a woman is battered.
• 57% of rock music videos portray women as a sex object, a victim, as unintelligent, or in a condescending way.
• 1 in 3 girls who have been in a serious relationship say they’ve been concerned about being physically hurt by their partner.
• Women are devalued in the workplace, making only 76% of their male peers’ salaries.
• One out of four college-age women have an eating disorder.
• Women make up nearly 51% of the population, but hold just 16% of the seats in Congress.
• Three-fourths of girls with low self-esteem engage in negative activities, such as disordered eating, bullying, smoking or drinking.
• Only 2% of women think they are beautiful.
• 1 in 3 girls between the ages of 16 and 18 say sex is expected for people their age if they’re in a relationship.

 If Barbie is the norm, why aren't there Abused Barbie, Eating Disorder Barbie and Real Curves Barbie? If Barbie is supposed to represent what any girl can be, why is there no real world Barbie?

Girls around the world have barbies and they all grow up, wanting to have that platinum blonde hair, bleach white skin and large breasts. It's time to change the image women have of themselves. A first step is passing CEDAW, which means telling girls everywhere they are equal to men and deserve not to be discriminated about. Another is changing the culture around women. Women should be able to go to school just as men do. They should not have to worry about carrying water, being raped on the side of the road or if there is a bathroom for them to use. Women and girls deserve everything that men deserve. Help us change the message about women, help us show girls that they can be themselves and do not need to embody a plastic doll.