Life-Size Barbie

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/living/2011/04/25/drew.barbie.intv.hln.html

(I don't know how to actually embed the video, sorry!)

I think most of us have probably come across the “Barbie statistics” that Galia Slayen mentions in this clip but the visual of what those statistics actually mean is pretty powerful. Clearly, this is not a woman who could actually exist, except under extreme and unhealthy circumstances. Other blog entries as well as our discussions in class have pointed out the obvious negative effects that unrealistic and/or unnecessary body image characteristics have on kids, especially girls. It is interesting that, even though many people may have seen the “Barbie statistics” or even just know that her size is improbable, people were still shocked when seeing Slayen’s life size Barbie made in proportion to the toy. This suggests the power of a visual image over written words (which can still be and are very powerful!) and again implies that people often take in what is “normal” from visual images they don’t find shocking. I think Slayen’s assessment that there is a “deeper image” to Barbie, versus her superficial one as a toy for girls, is accurate and her call to be a “critical viewer” of the media is spot on.

Also, here is the "Get Real Barbie" Fact Sheet, as developed by the South Shore Eating Disorders Collaborative (SSEDC).

• There are two Barbie dolls sold every second in the world.
• The target market for Barbie doll sales is young girls ages 3 – 12 years of age.
• A girl usually has her first Barbie by age 3, and collects a total of seven dolls during her childhood.
• Over a billion dollars worth of Barbie dolls and accessories were sold in 1993, making this doll big business and one of the top 10 toys sold.
• If Barbie were an actual women, she would be 5’9” tall, have a 39” bust, an 18” waist, 33” hips and a size 3 shoe!
• Barbie calls this a “full figure” and likes her weight at 110 lbs.
• At 5’9” tall and weighing 110 lbs, Barbie would have a BMI of 16.24 and fit the weight criteria for anorexia. She likely would not menstruate.
• If Barbie was a real woman, she’d have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.
• Slumber Party Barbie was introduced in 1965 and came with a bathroom scale permanently set at 110 lbs with a book entitled “How to Lose Weight” with directions inside stating simply “Don’t eat.”

(that last bullet point is pretty horrific!)