The Feminist Movement of an Inanimate Object
Cultural expectations of how a woman should look and behave, in the home and in public, have gone through many evolutions since Barbie was introduced to the US in 1959. While we have moved through second and third wave feminism into a politicized fourth wave of women’s liberation, societal expectations of women have only grown more substantial. Not only are we expected to be educated, successful and driven but pretty, thin and classy while we work. Barbie, who has been a controversial, but very real, role model for adolescent females over the last 57 years, has not been immune to her own growing and solidifying set of cultural expectations.
Over 150 countries around the world know “who” Barbie is. She is freakishly beautiful, uber-girly, stylish, prim and a bit ditsy. Her favorite color is pink and she has closeted gay boyfriend, Ken. While being perfectly, coiffed and styled she can “Be Anything!” including an astronaut, doctor or chef. But why should Barbie be excluded from the feminist movement? Doesn’t she have the right to be less than perfect? To be a college drop-out, a tom boy, make bad life choices, explore her sexuality and “Be” a little more real?
