The Importance Of Barbie

For well over fifty years now, Barbies have been at the disposal of young girls across the nation. Countless numbers of these young girls have treasured Barbies, so much so that some even collected dolls, clothes, houses and other items pertaining to Barbie. However, more and more of those young girls are beginning to perceive the Barbie doll to be the definition of beauty; craving to be blonde, tall, and skinny as well. Instead of striving to mold themselves, children should be shown that there are several different forms of beauty. For the sake of young girls and their developing confidence, Barbies should either be discontinued or made readily available in multiple shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. Barbie was the first of its kind; prior …show more content…
The influence of the Barbie cannot be put into words. Parents may tell their children that they’re beautiful and the perfect shape and size. However, such actions are not enough. Many young girls although hearing words of encouragement will still be pushed to eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders. Body dysmorphic disorder, also known as BDD is where someone is constantly thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance — a flaw that, to others, is either minor or not observable. Eating disorders, just like identity disorders come in many forms some of the most known or common being anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. The Alliance of Eating Disorders Awareness reported that 70 million people worldwide suffer from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, and 90 percent of those 70 million are young women between the ages of 12 and 25. Keeping in mind that many of these young women probably played with Barbie dolls, multiple Barbie dolls, shortly before developing their eating disorders (quoted in Barbie and Body Image). Out of all the mental illnesses, anorexia has the highest mortality rate. So it is important that an effort is made to if not stop then at least lessen the chance for such disorders to occur, even if there is no way of finding a direct correlation between Barbie and each …show more content…
By also giving different dolls different names and allowing the children to give the doll the job that they choose it will then enable the child to realize the importance of being unique and aspiring to follow your own dream or choice of career. By being able to pick the occupation of their preferred doll, it also gives young girls a feeling that they do not have to do it all. Instead of looking up to a Barbie that is not only a mother but a physician and an astronaut, adolescents can create their own image to wish to be. Depression and anxiety will be lessened simply due to the fact that young women and adolescents feel like they belong and comfortable in their own skin, unafraid to be who they choose. The new shapes and sizes will also result in an acceptance of all body types and a greater appreciation for the beauty that is held within each and every person of every form. Releving the pressure of the need to conform thus lessening the rate of both bulimia and