“The average 3- to 10-year-old girl in the U.S. owns eight Barbies. Only one percent of this group owns no Barbies. And every girl seems to go through similar stages with her Barbies — first, adoration, next, ambivalence, and finally, rejection. By the time they’re in middle school, most girls have either thrown out their Barbies or cut off their hair and amputated multiple limbs. These aren’t just casual observations — a 2004 study observed that while young girls identify with Barbie, 10- to 14-year-olds have distanced themselves from Barbie.” This is according to Cognitive Daily, in 2006.
The article continues: “But what of the recent media hype suggesting that Barbie promotes an unhealthy body image? What of careful measurements finding that a life-sized Barbie would be over seven feet tall, thinner than most anorexics, and physically unable to menstruate?”
Do the clothing industry and marketing firms know that most typical consumers are dissatisfied with their bodies and would like to look different than they do? Do they and the media we consume openly feed us lies? Continue reading over at Raising Homemakers.
~ Jacqueline
I read your entire post at Raising Homemakers. Very well-written and also very true. Thank you for sharing it!
Wow, what a great article! I’ve seen the Dove video before, and I’m so grateful that they made it. Even though I know that magazine models are airbrushed (and probably unhealthily skinny), it is still so easy to compare myself to them. I especially appreciated the pictures you took showing how clothing is pinned onto mannequins! I’ve seen it so many times, but rarely take the time to think about the implications. Thank you for writing such an excellent and thought provoking article!
Blessings,
Shannon