The New Barbies
By patgalca
@patgalca (18481)
Orangeville, Ontario
January 28, 2016 6:49pm CST
So what do you think of the new Barbies? Different colours and sizes. I don't think it is much different than the different ethnic baby dolls with the exception of body image. Barbie has always been a problem, like models in magazines, in making girls think they have to have that perfect body. Well, now they have curvy Barbies and short Barbies and tall Barbies.
On a Canadian talk show today one of the panel members pointed out that if she, as a 12 year old girl, were to receive a curvy Barbie for a gift, she would wonder if that person were trying to tell her that she is fat.
I played with Barbie as a kid and never thought about that stuff. Of course it was wasn't an issue back then. My daughters received tons of Barbies over the years (some of you from Bubblews might remember the Barbie party picture I posted which consisted of 25 Barbies which didn't include ones that broke over time), but they never really took to them. I kept all my Barbies, clothes, camper, corvette, dune buggy with tent trailer, etc. All my kids did was colour on them. LOL!
Anyway, getting back to the original question: Do you think the release of these diverse dolls is a good thing or a bad thing?
10 people like this
11 responses
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
29 Jan 16
I think this has been tried before, maybe not the short and tall, but Skipper was definitely not curvy. I do not know about where you are but 12 year olds these days do not play with dolls of any kind.
6 people like this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
29 Jan 16
@GardenGerty I played with my dolls for as long as I can remember. That's all I had. Barbies and television were my entertainment. I even made furniture out of Birks boxes. I have a Skipper doll, a PJ doll (most people never heard of her), Barbie, Suntan Barbie and Suntan Ken. That's what I brought to this house. The other 20 dolls were birthday gifts for my girls. I think we have 2 Mulan dolls.
3 people like this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
29 Jan 16
@GardenGerty Kiddos are so fond in virtual toys while holding their precious iPods. Technology had created difference with children nowadays.
2 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
29 Jan 16
thankfully my 12 year old still plays with dolls :-)
3 people like this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
29 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt It was really alarming to have such dolls. I had seen it for quite sometime.
@patgalca I think there is a new version that has been released. A young toddler turned into teenager. That would be more acceptable dolls. I haven't see the preggy dolls at this point time. I guess it didn't go well with their target market.
2 people like this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Jan 16
I had to take the Barbies away for a while. My then six year old decided to have sexually active dolls. I also stopped watching the Soaps.
2 people like this
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
29 Jan 16
Its alarming though for kids this generation.I wasnt brought by barbies during my youth.It was paper dolls and paper planes. Barbies were too expensive to buy.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Jan 16
I'll be back later, on my first break to give a proper response.
I think 12 yr olds might still play with barbies, especially if they have younger sisters. But, to be given one at that age as a gift would be questionable no matter what type of curves the doll has.
BTW, this comment brought to you by @morleyhunt .
2 people like this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
29 Jan 16
@Shavkat @MarshaMusselman I'm not sure I agree with that. In playing with dolls we make up stories. That is a sign of creativity and using one's imagination. Some writers will act out their stories out loud (I've done that). I wouldn't be surprised if some writers used dolls in the same manner.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
29 Jan 16
@MarshaMusselman I do think that there is no problem if a 12 years old girl choose to play the doll. It is still in the range of being a child.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Jan 16
@Shavkat I don't think it's a problem either. I just meant they shouldn't be getting their first barbies when they're twelve. And, only the newer varieties if they've asked for them, that way they wouldn't be hurt by things left unsaid.
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
29 Jan 16
i think it's fine. i'm glad to see you on here. you are one of those folks that i hoped would find your way over here after the shut down of bubblews. good to see you!
2 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
29 Jan 16
@patgalca when i saw your # of posts, i figured you must have been here awhile
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21741)
• Canada
29 Jan 16
People get bent out of shape over everything. Think of the marketing. The money to be made.
4 people like this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
29 Jan 16
yes, people do seem to find something all the time
2 people like this
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
29 Jan 16
@Morleyhunt The money to made for Mattel but I guess jobs to be had as well.
2 people like this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
29 Jan 16
In my impression, the Barbie dolls have the same look for all years. I don't know that it has changed. Since I have a son and therefore I don't pay more attention to Barbie dolls. If you could upload the new look for Barbie dolls, then I will know how different it is now.
@JESSY3236 (22199)
• United States
29 Jan 16
I'm not mother. But I did love to play with Barbies when I was a kid. I never thought about size. I still have my barbies too.
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jan 16
I don't know that these new dolls will change anything but it can't be a bad thing.
