I was a young girl of 11 years old when the first Barbie doll appeared on the market in 1959. Myself and all of my friends had to have one. She was the newest thing . . . She was sexy and none of us girls had ever had a "sexy" doll before. She was dressed only in a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and high heels. She had her hair pulled back in a pony tail. She was a blond or a brunette. She was Caucasian.
All of the dolls that I had up until then had been baby dolls.
When I got too old to play with dolls, I sold (yes . . . sold) her to the young horny guy who lived in my apartment building. That was my introduction to the concept of young men and sexy girls!
Even Hugh Hefner's girlfriend was named Barbie!
The doll became an overnight sensation and has remained a cultural icon.
Even Hugh Hefner's girlfriend at the time was named Barbie. She was the "ideal" Barbie playmate!
Barbie had quite a reputation! The name "Barbie" became ubiquitous with a vapid, empty-headed, usually blond girl, with big boobs and a tiny waist and a voracious appetite.
She was criticized for promoting an unrealistic idea of body image for a young woman and in 2003, "Saudi Arabia outlawed the sale of Barbie dolls because she did not conform to the ideals of Islam."
"Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful."
Well, times they are-a-changin' . . . Barbie is now running for President. Yes . . . it's true . . .
"Mattel announced Barbie’s foray into politics on Thursday, as reported by Forbes. . Barbie is neither Democrat nor Republican, but the first member of the 'B' party.”
Mother's, daughters, girls and women Rejoice! Barbie has grown up and finally evolved to the level of an intellectual, educated, erudite, professional and politically savvy young woman, who can represent the strides that have been made in the last 50 years.Young girls can now imagine, fantasize, strive for and believe that they too can someday be the President of the United States and not just another pretty face and sexy body. When I was a little girl all I wanted to be was a mommy, because all of my dolls were babies. . until Barbie came along.
Not only is she running for President, she can finally kick off those high heels that she has always worn, and stand on her own for the first time in 53 years. Today she is wearing wedgies that are made to allow her to actually stand on her own two feet!
Women's lives continue to grow and evolve here and abroad. Women are on the battlefields, not behind a desk, but on the front lines, along with their male compatriots. A woman is the head of the International Monetary Fund, Secretary of State, Prime Minister, Heads of State and CEO of major corporations like Hewlett-Packard, eBay and IBM to name a few. Women are race car drivers, golfers, astronauts . . . and billionaires in their own right . . .
so it's about time that the Barbie doll also owns up to her potential and the opportunities that can be hers.
We've come a long way Barbie! . . .
So remember, Girls, you CAN be anything you want to be, regardless of the color of your skin . . . the only limits are those you set for yourself.
