Growing up, I remember how frustrating it was that my brother could swipe away the Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters action figures that I was playing with if he decided he wanted to play with them. They were his toys after all. Although we shared toys like Lego and Nintendo, the bulk of my toys were… Continue Reading →
Objectifying an Object: Barbie and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is a friendly annual reminder that the media’s obsession with sexualizing and objectifying women is still very much alive. Despite the magazine’s focus on sports and athleticism, the swimsuit issue focuses on the bodies of conventionally attractive women—almost none of whom are actually athletes. This year is a bit different,… Continue Reading →
A pop culture paradox: Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen as a Barbie
BarbieCollector.com has announced the arrival of the Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen clone, but replicating the character as a Barbie doll feels at odds with the very essence of the character’s power. Joining the ever-growing pop culture collection, the Katniss emulation is sold alongside other blockbuster-inspired dolls: classic favorites like the belly-baring I Dream of Jeannie doll, royalty… Continue Reading →
Barbie goes bald… but don’t tell the “normal” kids.
Oh, Barbie. Such a complicated relationship you have with women. More than any other doll, Barbie is considered the iconic American toy of girls in the U.S., and is most well known by her critics as not being able to stand up on her own two feet if she were a real woman. Now, she’s… Continue Reading →
Barbie: The Young Girls’ Ultimate Role Model?
Especially in this day and age, every young girl should have a role model. They need someone to look up to — someone who will validate their dreams, inspire their hearts, and represent all the positive, healthy ideals life has to offer. My mother is my role model, and so when I saw this commercial… Continue Reading →