Barbie turned 50 this week. The iconic doll that has been played with by thousands of girls is an old lady. Boy, she ages well!
There are many debates around the influence of Barbie on our body image. I think she's given too much credit. However, I don't deny that there is some connection.
I heard an incredible story about the creator of Barbie this week. She was designed by Jack Ryan. His partner from Mattel at the time is often given credit for the design, however she only gave him the idea of creating a "grown up" doll. Up until then all dolls in North America were baby dolls. She had seen a doll with breasts in Germany and wanted something similar.
Jack designed Barbie after his ideal woman. After this was done, he also started to create dolls in real life. He expected the women in his life to undergo extensive plastic surgery to look like Barbie. One of his 5 wives died of anorexia and heart disease as a result of trying to have an unrealistic waistline. He even redesigned his Rolls so that the passenger seat swiveled backwards. He would then have friends sit in the back and have his latest "Barbie" in the car naked and turned backwards so that they could admire her.
Yes, this is all an outrage. Yes, there are still some women who voluntarily go through surgery and other insanity to look like the doll. All of this is outrageous, ridiculous, sad and makes me angry.
What makes me just as angry is that we ALLOW people to create this mentality in us. What makes a woman have such a low opinion of herself that she would stay with a man who insists she become not only someone she isn't but someone who is not even remotely realistic?
Ladies, how many times have you in big and small ways allowed other people to say you weren't good enough and tried to change yourself to their expectations? How many times have you thought you weren't good enough in the body you have, the mind you have, the thoughts you have?
IT'S TIME TO STOP!!!!
The beauty of life is variety. The beauty of life is truth. The beauty of life is real! It's time to own you. It's time to BE BEAUTIFUL, BE YOU !
You are lovable as you are. You are BEAUTIFUL as you are. STOP TELLING YOURSELF ANY DIFFERENT!
Love you all - be YOU!
www.thebadkitty.com
