Barbie

Barbie®, the world's best-selling doll, debuted at the American International Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. The doll is produced by Mattel, inc..

Controversies

Barbie is often looked upon as an icon of Western childhood. Her popularity ensures that her effect on the play of Western children attracts a high degree of scrutiny. The criticisms leveled at her are often based around the idea of children considering Barbie a role model and attempting to emulate her.

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The Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia outlawed Barbie dolls on September 10, 2003.

Related Topics:
Middle East - Saudi Arabia - September 10 - 2003

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"Barbie" is sometimes used as a derogatory slang term for a person, particularly a girl or woman, who is stupid. See bimbo.

Related Topics:
Slang - Girl - Woman - Bimbo

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The first of Barbie's black friends, "Colored Francie," debuted in 1967, but racial tensions quickly caused this doll to be discontinued. The first African-American Barbie, "Black Barbie," appeared thirteen years later.

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Physical characteristics

Barbie's height and exaggerated hourglass figure drew criticism from parents and anorexia nervosa groups. If scaled into real life proportions, she would be 5 feet, 9 inches, (1.75 m) measuring 36-18-33. According to research by the University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, she would lack the requisite 17 to 22 percent of body fat required to menstruate. http://site.www.umb.edu/forum/1/AMSTJess/member/Forums/481613252.html

Related Topics:
Parents - Anorexia nervosa - Feet - Inches - Helsinki - Fat - Menstruate

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Stereotyping

The enormous range of available accessories relating clothes, hair, make-up, parties and looking pretty give rise to the accusation that Barbie encourages young girls to focus on shallow trivia. Her accessories reflect a lifestyle that is unobtainable for most of the girls who play with her.

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This culminated in 1993 when Mattel released "Teen Talk Barbie", a talking version of the doll. It spoke a number of phrases such as, "Will we ever have enough clothes?" "I love shopping!" and, "Wanna have a pizza party?" Each doll was programmed to say four out of 270 possible phrases, so chances were good that no two dolls owned by a girl or her friends would be the same. One of these 270 phrases was "Math class is tough!" Although only about 1.5% of all the dolls sold said the phrase, it caused public outcry over Barbie's representation of women, and the infamous phrase quickly became a common pop culture reference.

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A group of parents, feminists and other activists known as the Barbie Liberation Organization bought hundreds of Barbies and GI Joe dolls, and switched their voice circuitry. This resulted in the new modified Barbie saying, "Eat lead, Cobra!" and "Dead men tell no lies." http://www.etext.org/Zines/UnitCircle/uc3/page10.html

Related Topics:
Feminist - Activist - Barbie Liberation Organization - GI Joe

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Responses

One of the most publicized responses happened around the turn of the century, as Barbie's waist widened to more natural proportions. Barbies of different nationalities have also been created, including African, Hispanic, Asian and Native American Barbies. Most commonly the Hispanic Teresa and African-American Christie appear as Barbie's "ethno-friend" alongside Skipper and occasionally red-head Midge, who's been around since the sixties.

Related Topics:
African - Hispanic - Asian - Native American

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Mattel also released an "International collection" in 1980, with Barbies from different parts of the world. The dolls are dressed in more or less traditional clothes, each representing a nation. The European countries are highly over-represented but there are also Peruvian, Kenyan, Chinese, Arctic, Japanese and Australian Barbies. In 2001 "The Princess Collection" was issued for instance with dolls named Princess of India, Princess of the Navajo, Princess of the Vikings. As of 2005 there are also a "Kelly: Dolls of the World" where Barbies "little sister" and two friends represent different European countries.

Related Topics:
European - Peruvian - Kenyan - Chinese - Arctic - Japan - Australian - 2001 - India - Navajo - Viking - 2005

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To counter accusations of gender stereotyping, career Barbies have been released. These include astronaut, gymnast, rapper and soldier. She also ran for President after breaking up with Ken. http://www.adiosbarbie.com/bology/bology_timeline.html

Related Topics:
Astronaut - Gymnast - Rapper - Soldier - President

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Parodies and lawsuits

Many artists have referred to Barbie and her accompanying products, either as homage or as parody. The European pop-dance group Aqua released a song called "Barbie Girl" in 1997. It contained lyrics such as "You can brush my hair/Undress me everywhere" and used graphics similar to the pink Barbie logo. Mattel used this as grounds for a trademark infringement and defamation lawsuit filed on September 11 1997. However, it was dismissed by the court as parody on May 15 1998.

Related Topics:
Parody - Aqua - Barbie Girl - 1997 - Trademark - Defamation - September 11 - May 15 - 1998

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A commercial by automobile company Nissan featured dolls similar to Barbie and Ken driving in a toy car was the subject of another lawsuit on September 18 1997 http://www.eonline.com/News/Court/0997.barbie.html.

Related Topics:
Automobile - Nissan - September 18 - 1997

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See also '.

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