The Evolution of Barbie

First launched in 1959 by Mattel Inc., Barbie has been the centre of controversy in the toy industry for over half a century. Most notably criticized for her unrealistic female body proportions, Barbie has been simultaneously the most loved and most hated doll on the market since her inception.

Last year, a new version of the doll was developed, supposedly representing the “realistic body proportions” of an average 19-year-old American woman. Devised by a man named Nickolay Lamm and with the help of former Vice President of Manufacturing at Mattel, Robert Rambeau, the lifelike doll – named Lammily – has become a viral image across the world.

With immense interest from potential customers to bring the doll to market, Lamm has launched a crowdfunding campaign, to make his dreams of an all-natural version of Barbie, a reality. So far, his campaign has received funds from 7,140 backers, totalling over $241,000 in funding (more than doubling his original goal of $95,000). With just under a month left, I’m sure his campaign will bring in closer to three times his original goal.

My Thoughts On The New Barbie 

While I respect and value the opinions of parents who have been outraged by the unrealistic proportions of Barbie’s tiny body, I’m personally not affected by it. I’d like to think that my children will grow up to love themselves as they are – to see themselves as uniquely beautiful beings as a result of my parenting, not as a result of the toys with which they play. The lessons they learn about true beauty will hopefully come from the encouragement and education they receive from the positive influencers in their lives – the parents, teachers, and real role models that are out there changing the world with their powerful and inspiring minds.

If I were to criticize the toys they play with for being “unrealistic”, then wouldn’t it be fair to equally judge Lalaloopsy dolls for having such unrealistically large saucer eyes and frail and lanky limbs? And should I be concerned about the fact that my son envies the superhuman strength and ability to fly that his beloved superheroes possess? Surely his self image won’t be corrupted because he won’t grow to look like the image portrayed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, right?

While I do have limitations in my household around certain types of toys that are or aren’t allowed (i.e.: I have a strict no guns policy – again, no judgement to others, it is just something that I am sensitive to in my household), I don’t think that my daughter’s self image will be altered by whether or not her dolls have Dolly Parton waists and size M super racks, or if they look like the average mom body types with B-cup sports bras.

While I love the idea of promoting healthy body images, I likely will not buy this doll.

What are your thoughts on the “new and improved” Barbie? Will you buy it?

5 Random Facts About The Original Barbie

1) Barbie’s official birthday is March 9, 1959 – marking the day the fashion doll made her first public appearance at a toy fair in New York.

2) Barbie was originally available in two versions – as a blonde and a brunette. She wore a zebra-print one-piece swimsuit, and her hair in a topknot ponytail.

3) In 1971 the eyes of Barbie were drastically redesigned – from a demure side glance, to a forward-facing doe-eyed stare.

4) Originally named Bild Lilli, the German fashion figurine was redesigned by Mattel President Ruth Handler, who renamed the iconic toy “Barbie”, after her daughter Barbara.

5) Since her inception, there have been over 2,300 versions of the world’s most popular doll.

To learn more about the history of Barbie, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie