Barbie is a Ho!

It’s enough to make a grown girl cry!

I was reading the Economist yesterday evening on the train and came accross their book review for The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for America’s Youngest Consumers by Eric Clark.

According to the book:

“Several decades ago, Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler, saw a Swiss doll called Lilli, voluptuous and wearing heels. She was just what Ms Handler wanted for a blockbuster new doll. Ignoring traditional marketeers—shocked by Barbie’s breasts—she began an uphill battle in California to manufacture this sexy creature, so unlike cuddly baby dolls. What she did not know was that Lilli was based on a prostitute in “a German adult cartoon aimed at men.””

How ironic or maybe just plain sad, that the busty, blue-eyed, plastic icon of so many childhood girl’s dreams is modeled on a whore?

What does that say about us, about how society views women, and the message we send our kids through our acceptance of these norms?

I remember that when I read The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, I really understood Pecola Breedlove’s desire to be just like her blue-eyed doll because I also dreamed of growing up to look just like my sexy, blue-eyed Barbie – perfect.

But part of me, even as a child, was repulsed by my Barbie’s phoney perfection, and I desired a raven-haired doll, one that captured my mother’s beauty, a breathtaking, Latina infused version of Elizabeth Taylor and Lynda Carter. When I finally got a black-haired Barbie I found that sadly she just wasn’t as “pretty” as my idealized white Barbie.

And, if anyone thinks this has changed today, then they should watch this:

The video was produced by a high school student.

You can watch news coverage of it here:
http://www.youtube.com
Toni Morrison had it right!

Author

Spread the love

More Articles for You

Portuguese Ethnicity in Puerto Rico

According to a chronology, made available by the Library of Congress, in 1593, “Portuguese soldiers, sent from Lisbon by order …

Spread the love

The Italian at a Glance

Becoming Italian Back in December 2020, I started a new research project on Instagram, @ItalianAtAGlance to curate and share some …

Spread the love

Dale! The Diasporican Cookbook

Illyanna Maisonet is an amazing writer. I’ve followed her online and read her deeply personal newsletter for years. As a …

Spread the love

Understanding The Children’s Train by Viola Ardone

Based on a true events, with more than 5,922 ratings on Goodreads, when I saw The Children’s Train, by Viola …

Spread the love

Searching the 1950 Census: Things I didn’t Know about East Harlem & Vito

I always thought 2nd Avenue was expansive. I have fond memories of playing in the open “pompa” – Spanglish for …

Spread the love

Frida on Chestfeeding: A Study in Empathy and Deep Customer Understanding

Really well done Frida Mom! This is how you resonate with your audience. Author Literanista Spread the love

Spread the love