In Jim Borgman's 1998 cartoon I Want to Be, he illustrates a young girl playing with her dolls. Her mom walks into the room and the young girl states, "I want to be thin like Ally McBeal, stacked liked Barbie and eternally young like a supermodel...now if you'll excuse me, I have to go vomit my happy meal."
Following is an intersting article from BBC News Magazine inquiring: What would a real life Barbie look like? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7920962.stm
Do you think it's fair to argue that objects like dolls strongly influence our notions of identity? Why or why not? (And don't limit your conversation to females - you've seen what Ken looks like, right?)
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I think that at an early age dolls influence identity, but not in inducing eating disorders. There are many different types of Barbie’s like: sign language teacher Barbie, doctor Barbie, and Barbie the homemaker. I think that for little girls this is an excellent thing. I think Barbie focuses for little girls more on who she can become in life, what careers she can have, and helps build imagination, which is vital in life. Adults have turned what Mattel first created as an innocent doll into a huge debate. Professor Janet Treasure said; “Barbie's body shape and proportions are among the many things that play up to this 'thin ideal' which is ubiquitous these days.” I disagree with him partially. I think that it is more of actors, actresses and models that have played up the whole you have to be thin to be accepted idea. I think that girls are more influenced by the media for what they have to look like. And in a sense Barbie does help with this. For so many people the “ideal body type” of models is unattainable, which Barbie backs up with the almost impossible odds to have a body like Barbie. The odds of 1 in 100,000 of having the thin waist big butt and big boobs compared to the odds of having a body like Ken which is one in 50. Overall I don’t think that it is a doll that influences what we are supposed to look like so much as what society and the entertainment industry tells us we are supposed to look like that causes all the dieting and eating disorders.
ReplyDeleteI believe that an identity in all factions is traits that a person believe is unique. What can someone say about there own identity, is it what we look up to, a person a material object. I think a young child can see barbie or ken being a role model to them and what they see is unique. I always wanted to be the Ken doll, the 6 pack abs, the nice smile, and the slick hair, but one flaw he has no whoohaa Ha-Ha. But otherwise manufacturers give the public a view on what people should look and how they should be represented. The media has always influenced who we are suppose to be, the way we should look, but what if we blocked the negativity of all that and led a life of our own choices. Who cares about the washboard abs and the great smile, big boobs, and tender buttocks. What happened to the say beauty is on the inside, not on the outside; people now believe the beauty of someone is on the outside. The identity factor of this piece is to say what we are born with is true beauty and what we have is our identity.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Kathryn that the Barbie dolls have influenced women from a young age. The doll gave many girls the chance to find empowerment, really. From being a teacher, a scientist, a babysitter, a homemaker and a veterinarian, Barbie gave girls something to strive to be. I also agree that while as a young girl you may wish to look like Barbie, you would probably forget that notion if the media didn’t shove the extremely slim ideal down our throat. Nick also brings up a valid point I’ve actually heard form other guys. What is wrong with having a good figure, but not exactly what the media shows? Many guys don’t want the over-skinny models for several reasons. Two of the most important reasons are that while model-skinny is pretty, those girls will probably never go out to Outback with you and have a steak, and weight and working out will more than likely consume them. If the media and many parents did not put the pressure on the children to look a certain way, the eating disorders would greatly go down. There were so many girls in my high school, many times including myself, that were consumed with how much they weighed. In a Catholic high school where you HAVE to be in skirts everyday, the only way to tell people apart is usually by their size because so many dyed their hair and cut it a certain way to look alike. I miss the days and the concept of beauty existing on the inside, and individuality on the outside.
ReplyDeletePersonal identity can be influenced by objects and by what society seemingly values. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area but lived in Laguna Beach for three years before moving back. In 2003 we again moved from San Fransisco to South Florida. I have personally lived in two areas where objectification of both men and women are almost the norm. I see people, even at my high school who measure their worth by what they drive; what they wear; do the have a s"six pack"; are your breasts big enough; where you get your clothes from; and, what kind of house and neighborhood you live in? If you look at TV shows and ads, the objectification of men and women is rampant. The toys that kids play with reflect society's idea of what image is important. South Florida and Laguna Beach are so different from the Bay Area in terms of values and definition of what is important. In San Francisco, people were much more understated in lifestyle image with a strong focus on values and community service. Sadly, in area like Laguna Beach or Parkland, I see women and men desperately trying to look great physically while ignoring the important side of image: your intelligence, your values and your goals. There is a magazine that is sent out to all of the homes in my neighborhood of Parkland and Coral Springs. the magazine is usually about 110 pages and it devotes more than 30 pages to cosmetic surgery ads, and average of 10 pages to car ads and about 10 pages to family law and psychological counseling services. Do you think the issue of image looms large among the readers? Yes it does. While Barbie has been used as the focus of concerns about body image and identity, it actually attempts to portray Barbie in various professional modes, not just "shopper Barbie." It also has shown Barbie's race as not just white. However, with all of that said, the "look" in terms of physical and what she wears is deemed to be very important. The toys, ads or TV shows are not the sole reason for society's fixation on image. The value system in your family and your household is what ultimately can shape a child's sense of themselves and what t is that's important to them. If a child has parents who imply that mom's breast size, dress size and clothes are of major importance and dad's six pack, car model, big screen home theater and landscaping define success and happiness, they may be in for some life disappointments. Missing in their identity are core values, goals and a sense of self worth. We all get older, we can all gain and lose weight, but our core values are what are important. Barbie is not responsible for societal hedonism, but coupled with weak family values, it certainly contributes to it.
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ReplyDeleteI think people have looked much too into the reason behind Barbie. I believe the reason Barbie is skinny with big boobs and a big butt is because that is what people like to look at. Barbie to me is portrayed as one version of a healthy female. They are not going to come out with slightly overweight Barbie or over weight Barbie to play with. To me they are just trying to produce what sells. Of course if you try to portray the dimensions of Barbie they might not fit exactly but I seriously doubt the makers of Barbie were thinking that when they made the toy. They obviously aren't trying to make turn the female society into blonde headed big boob girls that love to shop and love material things. That is just one Barbie. There are plenty of other Barbie with different professions and hobbies. As far as the figure being put into girls minds as the right figure, I also feel that is dumb. Of course not every girl is born with blue eyes, blonde hair, and a nice rack. However every healthy born person given that their parents nurture them the right way, can obtain a healthy body figure. They make different skin tone, hair color, and eye color Barbie. They don't however make flat chest and big butt babies, or completely skinny Barbie and so on. They make one Barbie body type. I don't feel many females play with Barbie and grow up to get plastic surgery and dye their hair. It is just a toy to most girls I'm sure. I personally prefer an athletic body with more muscle, some guys probably prefer thick girls. Barbie is a toy not an iconic figure for girls to grow up to look like. As far as Ken goes he is just a boyfriend. Any healthy born guy can go out and get muscles and abs. If they want to get tan and have perfectly slicked hair they can manage that too. I doubt too many guys want to grow up to be Ken. I don't feel it is completely fair to say dolls strongly influence our society's identity. I think our society has made it that way. I am sure a high percentage of healthy born girls can naturally and healthily achieve the body they want and at the same time attract a handful of guys.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it is the Barbie that is the reason for this display by the child but rather the media that the child grew up watching. She also mentions that she wants to be thin like Ally McBeal and eternally young like a supermodel. These are just two examples of the media that children are exposed to today. As Kathryn said, there are many types of Barbie’s. A few examples are the doctor Barbie, teacher Barbie, and homemaker Barbie. Now the homemaker Barbie, I can see where there can be a controversy to this one because it probably portrays the 1950's housewife which many women today would probably have a big problem with. But back to the point; Barbie’s if anything show the identities of women in the workforce today in the present era. In today’s era though, the only problem is that everything is based off of appearances which I can see where people feel that Barbie’s are having an effect on children today. But it’s much more than that. A big part of it is the entertainment industry whether it is music or movies or television. Appearance is everything now a days and a prime example of this is is the comparison in the judicial system. A movie star and a normal run of the mill person can commit the same crime and I can almost guarantee that the movie star will get the minimal sentence, maybe no sentence at all but the average person will get punished just because they are not known.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I do think Barbie and Ken dolls and models and anything else of the sort do influence our notions of identity. Growing up, I fortunately did not have issues with wanting to be like Barbie or any other kind of doll for that matter. But I do know kids are in fact really close to me who have struggled with these kinds of issues. They are not necessarily wanting to be like Barbie but they do not want to be themselves, which I can understand. When I was younger in elementary school I would hear the occasional fat joke. It did not feel good and it really did not feel good when I went on to middle school and high school with a new group of people who still told the same jokes. So I can clearly understand why children today and back then suffer with these body image problems. The things that are said to them at school and sometimes even at home are very hurtful and negatively affect their thinking and this negative thinking emerges into these terrible eating disorders. In reference to what Kathryn said the Barbies influence identity but not eating disorders is completely true but these issues with identity that are caused by Barbies do bring on the eating disorders, sadly. I also agree with Matt. It’s not only Barbie that cause these problems. Whatever society has put on the top of the todem pole is what people are most concerned with, whether it’s Barbie, the kind of car you drive, the brand of clothes you wear, the perfume you wear etc etc. I just personally believe it’s all sad and very unfortunate! Maybe one day the world can worry about other issues.
ReplyDeleteI am writing to agree with a couple of points, first with Nicholas’s. I do believe that having an image as a man that you may look at and admire as long its not a controlling aspect of your life. I think the ones at fault would be the ones telling the children that to be happy that’s what you need to be. Even though these messages aren’t always obvious, they could still be being drilled into the heads of the country’s general population. It floats around a lot that its only the children that are being manipulated, when in reality it could be adults that still haven’t found their way, looking for something to put their faith and attention in to and the only difference between adults and children is that adults have control of the media, the governments, and much more of an impact on the world. What mattflynn91 said made sense too. There are places where peoples worth is measured by their car or their chest, and I think this only been a problem recently is due to the availability of such procedures as liposuction, or nose jobs. Humans are naturally curious. Curious about what could be, what is, and this curiosity has shown up in the success of plastic surgery in the United States and in the world. People are always going to be doing whatever they want with their own bodies, and their will always be those who have a problem with it. I think this Barbie thing is just something else that people are using to fight over something that they shouldn’t be fighting over, next time it might be that garbage is actually making people go bald, but it’ll be the same concept, someone not happy with someone else and wanting to fight about it.
ReplyDeleteIdentity is not only made up with your outer appearance, but also your personality. Your personality can be an identity in its self. I agree with Kathryn that at an early age identity can be influenced by dolls. Young children are very impressionable especially little girls. Little girls are always looking up to older girls or make believing that they are someone they are not. I will admit that I used to pretend that I was Barbie when I played with my Barbie, but did I ever dye my hair blonde, get plastic surgery, or go anorexic? No. I do not think that Barbie’s can influence someone to change who they are. I believe that it is the person who does that. I also agree with Nick when he said that media is always trying to tell us what to look like. With all of these super skinny models on every show that every man is drooling over, it makes women feel insecure about themselves. This goes for men too. The media is always trying to put a picture to the word perfect, but really who is perfect? No one is. Everyone has their own thoughts to what or who is “perfect”. Not everyone would think that Barbie is perfect. Therefore, I do think that dolls influence the identity on younger children, but when they grow up they will see that everyone has their flaws. No one can be Barbie because she is made out of plastic and no matter how hard you try or how much money you spend, you will never be as plastic as Barbie.
ReplyDeletei agree with kathryn in that i think at a young girls tend to look at a barbie doll and think "this is what beauty is". some girls. i dont think guys are affected at all at what beauty is until they get older and try to attract the attention of the opposite sex. i cant really go into depth on this topic as far as from a girls point of view because i dont know how girls think at a young age. i know from a guys perspective we dont really think about how we should dress or whos pretty until we get older and start to notice girls. i guess when we look at G.I. joes we want to be big and strong so i guess its the same thing. I know where i come from most guys would not like the barbie doll look anyways. more men are starting to want curves and thick thighs, not skinny girls. i dont know if the barbie girl will have as big of an impact in future generations, unless she gets a makeover and gets some hips and full lips.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that objects like dolls do not influence our notions of identity. I agree with emwashburn when they say that identity is based both on outer appearance and personality. Barbie is an iconic image that many young girls may strive to be like but I don’t believe that Barbie has a strong enough influence on people to make them change. People get plastic surgery and take other drastic measures to change their bodies because they feel insecure about their body, not because they want to be Barbie. Barbie is not the only influence on people that causes these problems. The media has a large role in a person’s identity because people strive to be perfect when in reality no one is perfect. Everyone has the notion that they want to be like the person they saw on a television program but that person may have problems of their own. Also, models now days are so thin, in addition designers cater to people who are thin therefore people want to fit into size ones so they can feel good about themselves. Ken is not something guys desire to be like because Ken has a somewhat proportionate body. The only thing that makes ken stand out is that he has muscles and abs that can be achieved if a man works out. Appearances have a strong influence on the world today but Barbie is not the influence the public should be concerned about addressing, I think the media has a much large role in shaping a person’s identity in today’s world.
ReplyDeleteBeing a girl, I know we grow up wanting to be the epitome of Barbie and find our Ken. But most people are superficially shallow and don’t realize there is so much more to life than what we look like. I’m not saying a guys doesn’t look good when he has a six pack or guys aren’t attracted to big breasted women, rather that unless you are only surface deep there is another reason as to why you are interested in that person.
ReplyDeleteThe dictionary definition of identity is “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” To me that means that and identity is more than just an image but who one is all in all, as a whole as a person. Where you come from, your values and your morals plus your judgments, your decisions and your actions, incorporation with your words add up to form your identity.
Personally, no I don’t think its fair that objects like dolls strongly influence our notion of identity because not only has it corrupted our society but also distorted who we are as actual people. No one is satisfied who they really are anymore, they aren’t comfortable being themselves. Plastic surgery this, fake friends that. All we want is to be “perfect,” but is that even achievable?
The article says that its one in one hundred thousand that look like Barbie, but one in fifty that look like Ken. So obviously men have it easier, once again ;) , but trying to become these images can lead to very unhealthy measures… anorexia, bulimia, steroids, even risky surgeries… people these days will do anything. Just a few more examples of people losing their identity to follow the leader.
I agree with Kathryn to a certain point, a Barbie is the toy that all most every single little girl has had or will have on the block. The first thing they see is the cute face, perfect smile, long blond hair, and flaw less body. Of course if this is the first thing girls get a hold of and bonds with they are going to want to be just like it. When I was younger and still a little today I wanted to be Spiderman. When I got older I sadly found out that being a superhero is kind of a long shot, but some people do have that perfect body. When I was a little my dream was crushed, but with how female characters are portrayed causes a risk to society and a desire to be loved with beauty more then what is on the inside. The shows on tv today such as Americas next top model, the biggest loser, and the Bachelor are example of shows based on image. In Americans next top model it is filled with beautiful skinny women, and the Bachelor is this rich guy who gets to choose from a group of very attractive singles. The show the biggest loser is a better show, because it shows how you can look better without having the feeling that you don’t look like one of the people in the other shows and still be happy. Overall I think that what kids see will affect them in the long run and most of them in a negative way.
ReplyDeleteI know all of our parents have lectured us and told us the very cliche, but true line “It’s what’s inside that really and truly matters.” I think that the way Barbie is perceived to look, rather than the way she acts as well, is a wrong message to send to children. I agree with Emily when she says that young children are very impressionable. But, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Barbie is a bad message. The same problem goes for the media, television shows, magazines, and models- but people get hyped up about all that. I feel that no matter who you are, you have your own identity. Yeah, you may get highlights to make your hair a little lighter, or you may go to thy gym to make yourself a little more buff, but that isn’t taking away from individuality. Kelsey is right… dolls have influenced our society. But have they really influenced us to change? I know I dreamt of having the “Ken Husband.” Nice, Buff, Rich, and Handsome. But, when I look for a guy, I look for the inside, as well as the out. I think it’s all a matter of perception. Things do influence us, but I don’t think Barbie has the effect to influence people into someone else- unless that’s who they are and really want to be. Being “plastic” might be thought the only way to go and look beautiful. When in reality- it’s the complete opposite. I think that people see the whole package. People realize that in order to be truly beautiful you need to have the personality and the looks as well…. And that’s why I feel that Barbie isn’t really a problem with “image.”
ReplyDeleteMy first doll was Barbie in a short pink dress and high heels. She was practically a celebrity. Ever since that day I've used Barbie as a reference of beauty. However, I never put myself in the same category as Barbie, I idolized what she looked like and all the things she could do but I was completely aware that she was just a doll. I don't believe that Barbie's image influences identity. Barbie is guilty of giving little girls low self esteem and young girls striving for the perfect body, but as Kelsey said identity is more than looks. As Matt and many other people suggested media is more influential of identity than any doll could be. Look how many people have recently came out as bisexual or how many people have suffered from eating disorders. Barbie is the ideal image of beauty but she doesn’t imply immoral values. She goes to work, gets married before she has a child, works out all the time, and cooks and eats regularly. Media on the other hand points out every flaw whether personality or image. Media criticizes everything! Barbie wasn’t created to be perfect in reality, her proportions on not to scale of a real human being. Her influence on young girls is more positive than anything. Barbie is iconic of independent woman who can make a life for themselves on their own. Whether or not Barbie and other dolls influence people just depends on their personalities, how they interpret reality oppose to dolls, and how positively they can interpret the message these doll makers are really trying to send.
ReplyDeletePersonally, my identity was never really formed/influenced by a doll.. i mean i could see why it could affect girls negatively, but i think, like tyler said that the origional purpose of the barbie wasn't to tell girls what to look like, they just made a perfect girl doll that was fun for girls to play with. as far as "Identity" goes for girls, (and forgive me if im wrong because im not a girl)i think that dolls are the least of the problem. I think the cause for this "identity crisis" is caused by the media, just turn MTV and all you see is screw ups like paris hilton.. they never show anyone doing good, normal things and thus people think they need to be bad to get attention. i think that everyone wants to be noticed and they will do what is necessary to get noticed.
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