We make the world a better place to live; it is our responsibility, and we will try our best to do right towards the betterment.
As a child, I played with Barbies, and I played with Cars. I still buy T-shirts from the men’s section because they are comfortable. My Favourite Poet and I have the same trauma and weren’t made to fit in. We were treated with patience to stand out and love ourselves in all shapes and clothes. With movies like Barbie being made, the girls and boys of this generation are trying so hard to be like their influencer role models based on looks.
We all must promote health, not unrealistic beauty standards, at a tender age where kids watch videos of people and set romantic challenges. I hope we can be as open-minded and caring as possible to lead the children toward better mental health, for external beauty standards are also slowly becoming an existential crisis.
Despite invoking childhood nostalgia, Barbie has often symbolised unrealistic beauty ideals due to her perfect features and exaggerated proportions. Recently, an Instagram trend called “Barbie feet,” popularised by the fashion site Who What Wear, has emerged. In this trend, women pose on tiptoes to mimic the slimming effect of high heels. This trend is sparking concern for its potential negative impact on self-esteem, as it adds to the pressure of conforming to specific appearance standards. The aspiration to appear thinner raises worries about body image issues and the notion that attractiveness is tied to one look.
Mattel, the creators of Barbie, have clarified through a statement to BBC Three that they do not endorse the current pointy-toed trend. They explained that Barbie is often referenced in cultural trends not associated with their brand. They also noted that some of their newer dolls have flat feet. However, movements, including the recent ‘Toblerone tunnel’ phenomenon, are causing concerns among experts who observe negative impacts on the mental health of young girls and women.
These trends contribute to body dysmorphia and eating disorders, especially among girls. The Royal Society for Public Health highlighted that social media, particularly Instagram, plays a role in this despite its potential for positive body image movements. While some people mocked the trends on platforms like Twitter, others recognised the harm they could cause. Fashion blogger Stephanie Yeboa emphasised that our bodies are not trends, urging people to embrace their natural shape and stand out from the crowd. Ultimately, prioritising one’s well-being is more important than conforming to submovements.
Barbie’s allure lies partly in her ability to provoke discomfort, as she highlights areas we prefer to avoid, specifically children’s sexuality. The controversy surrounding Barbie didn’t emerge with the second-wave feminism of the 1960s; it existed right from the start.
Ruth Handler, then the executive vice president of Mattel, faced resistance from her team of designers and salespeople when trying to introduce Barbie. They believed mothers wouldn’t purchase such a doll with an adult appearance for their daughters. Wholesale buyers consistently turned away at the 1959 Toy Fair in New York, where Handler initially unveiled Barbie in outfits like a zebra-striped swimsuit and a wedding gown.
Barbie’s intrigue stems partially from her capacity to evoke unease, as she directs our attention to subjects we’d rather ignore, particularly children’s sexuality. The controversy surrounding Barbie didn’t come about during the second wave of feminism in the 1960s; it was present from the start.
Ruth Handlers, then the executive vice president of Mattel, encountered opposition from her team of designers and salespeople when attempting to launch Barbie.
They were convinced that mothers wouldn’t buy such a doll with an adult-like appearance for their daughters. During the 1959 Toy Fair in New York, where Barbie was initially introduced donning outfits like a zebra-striped swimsuit and a wedding dress, one wholesale buyer after another walked away.
