New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | May 16, 2005

Holiday Dimitri explores how an anatomically-incorrect icon was a fertile source of economic growth in the developing world.

Comments

|5.16.05 @ 1:03PM|#

You know, I have to say that her article really brings a new perspective to everything. Funny how something as insignificant as a toy that my little sister played with as a child could help to change so many people's lives for the better.

|5.16.05 @ 1:28PM|#

My girlfriend may be stacked, but I am still frustrated beyond belief.

|5.16.05 @ 2:27PM|#

"Barbie's cross-continental popularity derives from one particular quality: Her ability to embody infinite possibility."

Yeah, uh-huh, as long as that possibility exists within the realm of

"...youth, marriages, first home purchases, and child rearing."

|5.16.05 @ 2:38PM|#

the famous doll with the golden tresses and torpedo breasts

They must be referring to me! (*chuckle*)

|5.16.05 @ 3:15PM|#

While reading that article, I kept picturing that Simpson's episode about the Malibu Stacy factory.

"I'll see you at Stacycon '94"
- Weyland Smithers

|5.16.05 @ 3:33PM|#

Minette:

What-- bitter that there's no 'radical lesbian activist Andrea Dworkin edition' Barbie? That gazillions of girls CHOOSE this plastic princess?

Like Lloyd Kaufman says, "Make your own damn movie."

|5.16.05 @ 4:39PM|#

Lurker:

No, not at all. If you'll re-read what I wrote, you'll see that all I was doing was doubting the truth of the statement that Barbie embodies "infinite possibility." There's nothing wrong with choosing to get married or have blue eyeshadow tattooed on your upper eyelids or whatever else Barbie inspires you to do.

Also, I can't say I have a particularly profound expertise in purchasing habits of 8-12 year old girls (and, hell, some 8-12 year old boys), but I'm pretty sure the demand for Barbie alternatives is already met. Thanks for the inspired suggestion, tho.

|5.16.05 @ 5:16PM|#

Actually, minette, Barbie could do darn near anything and choose from a wide variety of careers. There was President Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, etc.

|5.16.05 @ 5:17PM|#

Damn the torpedo breasts, full speed ahead!

Thanks for the mental image, smacky!

|5.16.05 @ 5:29PM|#

Hello Minette:

My apologies for coming off hostile. I've seen lots of Barbie bashing over the years; the dolls' alleged influence as an undesirable role model was a staple of the radical feminist ideology for a long time. Yes, there have been 'alternatives' offered at different times, which usually end up disappearing quitely after loud fanfare (although the Bratz line seems to be doing pretty well now).

Barbie seems to have much wider possibilities than Mattel will directly sanction. I've seen people do S&M makeovers, Trailer Trash makeovers, Shark Attack Barbies, Hard Night Barbie, you name it.

And for those that really dislike what they think she represents, there's always
http://www.grfx.com/brnin2k3/img0136p.jpg

|5.17.05 @ 6:51PM|#

Lemme add that, while I'm skeptical about some of the more hyperbolic claims about how media program children, we should probably be cautious about extending ordinary "market choice" arguments to 10 year olds. Not everything a child finds immediately most appealing is necessarily good for her.

|5.17.05 @ 6:53PM|#

And while it's nice to see a wider range of Barbie career choices, recall it's not SO long ago that Mattel introduced the (soon withdrawn) Teen Talk Barbie, which chirped out such empowering lines as:
�Math is hard!�
�I love shopping!�
and
�Will we ever have enough clothes?�

|5.17.05 @ 8:20PM|#

Yeah, uh-huh, as long as that possibility exists within the realm of

"...youth, marriages, first home purchases, and child rearing."



There are infinite possibilities between 0 and 1, don't you know?

0
0.00001
0.1
0.1001111

just to name a few . . .

|5.17.05 @ 8:26PM|#

Lemme add that, while I'm skeptical about some of the more hyperbolic claims about how media program children, we should probably be cautious about extending ordinary "market choice" arguments to 10 year olds. Not everything a child finds immediately most appealing is necessarily good for her.

Hey, that applies to us 40 year olds as well. I find booze and porn appealing. And I constantly have to keep expanding my gun safe (do I really need to spend $3k on an elephant gun? do I really need a replica Springfield rifle musket?). And I'm not the only one (my brother-in-law probably doesn't need to go to spring break parties to meet girls who are 20 years younger than him, and he probably doesn't need another horse).

Maybe we should start some regulating, for our own good.