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Health and Wellness

Barbie's World Turned Upside Down

Ken says, "I will always love Barbie, no matter her size."

Jane Vardzel

Feb 02, 2016

College of Charleston

Fast Company

Ken is such a doll, with his sweet words. Barbie has gained a few pounds, but at least he still loves her.

Everyone knows that feeling you get when you open that brand new box, with your beautiful new doll just staring at you. Maybe it was a Christmas gift, or maybe a birthday present, or maybe even a surprise from your parents for getting great grades at the end of the school year. Either way, the feeling of pulling out that new perfect doll was the best feeling in the entire world.

Perfect doll. Yes, Barbie's are perfect, they have a slender figure, beautiful eyes, long legs, and unbelievably soft hair. You almost wanted to be her. You would play imaginary games with her and accessorize her as you please. Eventually, to have her and Ken fall in love, and have a perfect life together in the Barbie mansion, with three corvettes, a plane, and a Jeep. Who wouldn't want to be her?

Today's society has decided to criticize the perfection of the doll, and try to provide another example of why the world is not fair. Growing up, I for one never altered my weight because of a doll. If anything, I would change my appearance because of something I saw on TV.

Because society has found another problem, Barbie's now have a new design. They will have tall, petite, and curvy-sized bodies, as well as new skin tones, and hair colors. Now don't get me wrong, I think it is okay to have new types of dolls, and I don't discriminate against any types of people, but I do have a problem with the reasoning behind the motives of changing the doll.

I am not sure when society will decide to wake up, but it needs to be fast. People have nothing better to do than worry that they don't have a "fat" Barbie doll, or that they don't have a doll with purple hair. Society should accept the fact that these dolls don't make children feel bad, or want to change their image. These are just dolls that little girls can escape to their own imagination and create a made-up world. People need to stop being so judgmental and sensitive.

It is okay that these dolls are "perfect," they are supposed to be. In the perfect world everyone doesn't have a mansion, a plane, a perfect husband, animals, vacation homes, must I go on? So if we are going to start complaining about body shapes, and hair color, we should start complaining that everyone is not rich. Not everyone works at the zoo or is a Vet or a Doctor.

Where is the homeless Barbie? Where is the abused Barbie? Where is the alcoholic Barbie? Where are the Barbies with disease and cancer?

There is a world out there that has more problems than weight.

So maybe society should open their eyes and not open a can of worms, that should not be opened.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Barbie's World Turned Upside Down

Ken says, "I will always love Barbie, no matter her size."

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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