Barbie, in my opinion, is not a symbol of female liberty; rather, it represents a norm established by a male, white, heterosexual, middle-class American. This norm has been applied to the feminine imagination, influencing society’s expectations of beauty, gender roles, and other parts of society. According to (Taber et al.) Barbie, far from being a symbol of female liberation, was a standard imagined by a male, white, heterosexual, middle-class America that socially imposed Barbie’s “norm” on the female imagination. To better grasp the term “standard,” consider it an idealized image or a collection of features that belong to a specific civilization and are seen as usual or excellent. In the instance of Barbie, this criterion considers a wide range of factors, including the individual’s physical appearance, lifestyle, and even social standing (Xie-Carson et al.). The word “imposed” implies that these values are coercively forced on the feminine imagination, meaning the impact is all-encompassing and extends beyond individual choices or decisions. Barbie, far from being a symbol of female liberty, represents a standard established by a male, white, heterosexual, middle-class America. This socially imposed norm not only influences but also shapes the female mind, showing beauty and gender roles. Through examining the historical backdrop, the formation of cultural standards, and proof of societal impact, this article will investigate how Barbie’s influence extends beyond toys, influencing and reinforcing society’s expectations, particularly about female identity.
Clarifying Terms and Supporting the Meaning
Understanding the significance of female liberation is essential to unraveling the complexities of Barbie’s evolution and the construction of cultural standards. Female emancipation is the pursuit of women’s independence, autonomy, and equality in all aspects of life. It is a constant battle in a societal milieu against enforced traditions that limit women’s agency and promote restricted ideas of femininity. This search is necessary not only for individual empowerment but also for confronting and modifying cultural expectations.
Barbie was created during the Affluent Society in the United States of America, as were the cultural ideals surrounding it (Keyla Gonzalez Diaz). This time saw the rise of consumer culture and the reinforcement of traditional gender ideals following World War II. It is crucial to explore when and how this creation of standards occurred since it provides a historical context for understanding the roots of Barbie’s effect. Barbie became a cultural symbol in the mid-twentieth century, enforcing unattainable beauty and femininity ideals. Barbie’s physical characteristics, which frequently adhered to commonly recognized beauty standards of the time, and the firm’s marketing techniques support this thesis. The male-dominated industry and business behind Barbie had a significant impact on the establishment and transmission of these beliefs, which reinforced a specific image of the “typical” American woman depicted in the media. Barbie, far from being a symbol of female liberty, represents a standard established by a male, white, heterosexual, middle-class America. This socially enforced standard not only impacts but also molds the female mind, establishing rules for beauty and gender roles. This article will examine how Barbie’s influence goes beyond the domain of toys, altering and reinforcing society’s expectations, particularly about female identity, through an assessment of historical context, the establishment of cultural standards, and evidence of societal impact.
Defining the Context and Timeframe
The rise of Barbie’s fame corresponded with the sociological upheavals that occurred in the United States after World War II. This period was characterized by economic prosperity and a flourishing consumer culture (Jones). During the 1950s and 1960s, when Barbie was first introduced to the public, the United States was in the midst of a time of profound change that was referred to as the Affluent Society. A significant amount of economic success, the growth of the middle class, and an increased emphasis on consumption were all characteristics of this period of experience. During these advancements, the landscape of societal expectations, particularly about gender roles and beauty standards, underwent a significant transformation.
Evidence of Imposed Standards
As evidence for the assertion that Barbie reflects imposed ideals on the female imagination, it is necessary to investigate how the doll promotes preexisting conceptions about age, race, socioeconomic class, and educational accomplishment (Noa-Guzman). The Barbie brand’s portrayal of a narrow and skewed view of what it means to be an American woman underlines the implications of a male-dominated sector molding perceptions of femininity, mirroring the prejudices inherent in the societal standards of the time. Notably, the doll has been hailed as the embodiment of feminine beauty and desire, a concept fostered by Barbie’s designers’ clever marketing and promotional methods. Early advertising featured Barbie engaging in activities typical of the time for women, filmed in lovely locations and provided an ideal that young girls were encouraged to aim for (Peng et al.). These planned images were built throughout time to sustain and perpetuate a socially acceptable idea.
Furthermore, the physical evolution of the Barbie doll itself is a striking testimonial to the fluid nature of beauty standards. Barbie’s attributes, which go back to her 1959 debut, were her huge breasts, long legs, and tiny waist—all considered beauty standards at the time. The doll’s dimensions were periodically altered to conform to evolving beauty ideals. For many young girls, unknowingly, using Barbie’s idealized and exaggerated features as the benchmark for beauty has had a severe and detrimental impact on their body image and self-esteem. Barbie has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the creation and spread of distorted beauty standards, as evidenced by an analysis of the historical variances in the doll’s physical attributes and the commercial ideals promoted through advertising.
Works Cited
Jones, E. (2022). Crisis and Couture: The Commercial and Cultural Influence of Fashion Dolls During Sociopolitical and Economic Strife Period – ProQuest. (n.d.). Www.proquest.com. https://www.proquest.com/openview/18b70ba06a48ee158dbd67f354c5d402/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Keyla Gonzalez Diaz. “Aguiló-Pérez, Emily R. An American Icon in Puerto Rico: Barbie, Girlhood, and Colonialism at Play. Berghahn Books, 2022.” Women’s Studies, Taylor & Francis, May 2023, pp. 1–3, https://doi.org/10.1080/00497878.2023.2214829.
Noa-Guzman, Dayrielis. “Construction of Identity in Diasporic Communities: Musical Artists Performance of Caribbeanness & Latinidad.” Honors Theses, June 2020, digitalworks.union.edu/theses/2391/.
Peng, Bo, et al. “Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity for Young Adult Women: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Literature.” International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, vol. 20, no. 1, Feb. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01411-7.
Taber, Nancy, et al. “Performing Gender in a Barbie Expo: White Passivity, Exotic Otherness, and Tradition in a Fashionista Bow.” Review of Education, Pedagogy, and Cultural Studies, vol. 41, no. 1, Jan. 2019, pp. 1–25, https://doi.org/10.1080/10714413.2019.1608743.
Xie-Carson, Li, et al. “Not so Different after All? A Netnographic Exploration of User Engagement with Non-Human Influencers on Social Media.” Journal of Business Research, vol. 167, Nov. 2023, p. 114149, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114149.
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