This is an illustration that depicts Barbie as Mariposa, inspired by the two films, ‘Fairytopia, Barbie: Mariposa’ in 2008 and ‘Barbie Mariposa & and the Fairy Princess” in 2013. By subtly villainizing these girls, we get the conception that femininity is evil and is a trait that will ultimately be punished in the end. The characters also share the likeness of being “too feminine,” obsessed with their appearance, the color pink, shopping, and the sought-after male lead. Their wealth, good looks, and popularity make others covet their position but also dehumanize them. This stereotype can even be seen in the films of today with “Mean Girls” and “High School Musical,” in which the blondes are always the antagonists. They were perceived to be femme fatales while the brunettes were sweet, studious, and hard-working. The many blondes who dominated the cinema in the mid-1900s, like Marilyn Monroe, pushed this stereotype further. This originates from Hollywood, which popularized the idea of the “dumb blonde” through films like 1931’s “Platinum Blonde” and 1933’s “Bombshell.” These movies’ blonde characters are represented solely as sex symbols with charmingly empty brains. Perhaps Barbie’s easiest target point is her blondeness. This is Ever Swan Illustration’s portrayal of Mattel’s first Barbie film ‘Barbie in the Nutcracker,’ which quickly grew popular and remains a fan favorite years after its release. There’s a misconception that women have to renounce their sexuality in order to be taken seriously in the workforce, but Barbie teaches her audience that they can be attractive and still have a serious job. However, it is ironic that the people who shame the doll for this focus more on her body than her various careers. She inspired generations of girls to work in male-dominated fields.Īnother commonly held belief is that Barbie represents an unattainable beauty standard. One can even argue that she has constantly been progressive beyond her time: Barbie ran for President in the 90s before a woman had ever made it onto the ballot. Since her release, Barbie has held over 200 jobs, including doctor, astronaut, and computer programmer. Her slogan has always been “You Can Be Anything, ” and the company doesn’t take this statement lightly. However, it is unfair to discredit Barbie so quickly without considering what she truly stands for. Here is an artistic rendering of Mattel’s third film ‘Barbie in Swan Lake,’ which served as a stepping stone for their long line of ballet inspired films. Granted, while Max’s “Not Your Barbie Girl” is a song that celebrates the “girl boss” in every woman, she is still portraying Barbie as a pushover. Both songs carry negative connotations with one objectifying her and the other excluding her from the definition of success. On the other hand, “Not Your Barbie Girl” by Ava Max is a revamped version that rejects Barbie in direct contrast to a strong, independent woman. Songs like “Barbie Girl” by Aqua belittle her as a mere “play-thing” that will bend over backward at a man’s will. Through speech, tabloids, and movies, society has rebranded her into a conventionally attractive woman who lacks personality and intelligence, to the point of being a sex symbol. She’s been at the center of numerous controversies regarding her lack of diversity, promotion of unrealistic body standards, and reinforcement of a sexist mindset. Mattel has sold over 1 billion dolls since her debut, but the toy company has struggled to withstand the test of time as our societal norms have changed.īarbie has as many critics as she does fans. Known for her iconic blonde hair, blue eyes, bikini-ready body, and love for fashion, Barbie has been the face of the toy industry for 60 years. Barbie is a household name, even for those who never owned the doll.