I Will Never Be Barbie | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

I Will Never Be Barbie

The objectification of women in media is highly influential.

34
I Will Never Be Barbie
USA Today

From a very young age, women are the target of advertisements relating to their body image. Whether we are aware or not, self-image and the perception of one's self worth is beginning to be molded at a very young age. To give an example--I am a fan of Disney, but when have we EVER seen a Disney princess that is of average weight, or height, or even age for their actions? I wholly understand that Disney depicts highly imaginative stories, but the implications and expectations about self image that girls are learning from watching the seemingly flawless characters, outweighs the benefit of the story. It wasn't until I was a self-conscious, body-hating, angry teenager that I realized part of the way I felt about myself in the world, was subconsciously done to me without my permission.

When I was younger I had several Barbie dolls that I was in love with. I even had the Barbie Volkswagen Bug that I would make Barbie go to the mall in with Ken. Nearly every young girl my age was playing with Barbies so this wasn't a revelation--but when you have prepubescent girls idolizing a doll with a "perfect" body image that is anatomically impossible to achieve, how do you think this will translate into their image of themselves? It sends the message that no girl will ever be perfect, or at least you can't attain this ideal in a natural, healthy, or even safe manner. I had this realization when I was in middle school and all the other girls were bragging about their breasts that the boys used to drool over while I was barely filling an A cup, and I towered over half the boys because they hadn't hit their growth spurt yet. It struck me like a bag of bricks when I finally knew--I would never be barbie. I wasn't going to have long, flowing blonde hair, my breasts would never meet the full, perky expectations, I would have acne that scarred my face, and my legs would never be airbrushed tan. My waist would only be slightly smaller than my hips, my shoulders a little too broad, my smile a little crooked, and lacking the genetically influenced "thigh gap." Back then, I didn't know that was okay, or that it was even normal.

The messages about how women's bodies are "supposed" to look goes far beyond childhood influences. Women are constantly barraged by advertisements, influenced by models unattainable attributes, charged more for products because they are labeled for females (which is a whole separate issue in itself), and told how to look, act, and be. Due to the fact we are constantly told how to conform to societal norms it barely gives women the time to discover who they are, what they like, or how they like to groom themselves, etc. To give an example: think about lingerie advertisements- lingerie advertisements portray women as sex items, and the viewers strive to be like this woman in the advertisement on the premise "this will make me more attractive to my partner". Purchasing lingerie is not to promote the positive self image of the woman, it is for the pleasure of their sexual partner. This idea can also be applied to women's razors. Razors are gendered despite that fact "men's" and "women's" razors perform the exact same job, the only difference being the cost of the product. The reason companies are able to get away with this is because women have more strict expectations of their grooming habits - therefore companies are able to increase prices with the idea that women "need" these and will pay more for them. But clever marketing tactics are just part of the issue with the way women view themselves.

By not portraying women in media, in advertisements, in movies, in children cartoons, in books, in anything as they are in life naturally, we are sending the message that women should always be striving to reach the unattainable. The idea of perfectionism is enough to send girls to the hospital with eating disorders and to psychiatrists for poor self image. How we portray women in the media is harming women in our society. The call to women to be proud of who they are, inside and out, should be a call heard by all women. The call to end objectification of women in the media is not a tall order. We are not Barbies and we should not be expected to transform ourselves into an unrealistic image of who people think we should be.

For a brief and excellent video about this topic please click here.

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

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

193926
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

17097
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459479
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27526
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments