The Great Barbie Debate
A few days ago I found myself observing my oldest daughter play with her Fisher-Price Learning House. She rang the doorbell, changed the stations on the radio, opened and closed the door, and checked the rain gutter for itsy bitsy spiders. At one point she even used her toy screwdriver to fix all the screws on the house. Watching her I realized that she was practicing and indeed preparing for the realities of life. I was reminded of my own childhood play and one of my then favorite toys: Barbie.
Over the years a great debate has occured regarding this popular toy by Mattel. Much ado has been focused on her unrealistic body proportions and her flawless appearance. Arguments range from the damaging affects Barbie has on the self-image of impressionable little girls to Barbie being a a negative role model in the area of goals and aspirations.
As a young girl, playing with Barbie was one of my favorite pastimes. I was unaware of her unmentionable identity prior to Mattel's purchase of her rights and subsequent makeover. I simply enjoyed pretending to be grown up when I played.
For me, Barbie provided an opportunity to establish a home, create a family, and interact with a community. Each time we played Barbies, my sister and I spent much time preparing. We gathered items from around the house and set up homes for our Barbies. We took the time to match them up in marriage with a Ken doll and give them children to parent. The improportionate figure and flawless beauty wasn't the focus of our play. Instead, the time we spent playing with an unrealistic doll was used in a very realistic manner.
According to Mary F. Longo of the University of Ohio Extension, "Children learn about the world and experience life through play." She says that "through play, children practice the roles they will play later in life." In thinking about it, I realized in her own way, Barbie helped prepare me for my role as a wife, mother, and a keeper of my home. The focus of my playtime with this doll was yet another way of turning my heart to what really mattered: family.
Does this mean I'm not concerned about the body image Barbie communicates and how it might affect my young daughters? Of course, I am. It's difficult enough to be female in our society without having to deal with dolls that paint a portrait of physical perfection. Yet, I don't believe Barbie should be dismissed solely on this criteria.
When my girls are old enough to play with Barbie, I see no problem in letting them do so (as long as their dolls of choice are modestly dressed). As I once did, perhaps they'll also enjoy preparing for a family of their own through play.
And, as they do play, there won't be a lack of guidance when it comes to beauty and how it relates to Barbie. I'll make sure that they know where true beauty lies: in a life spent loving and serving the Lord.
But for now, Barbie is a toy a few years away from making an appearance in our playroom. For now my girls seem much more interested in cars, trains, and tools.
