Plastic Perceptions

As sunlight peeks through my pink chiffon curtains before even one eye opens, I think, “Today is the day!” I hop out of bed and change out of my second-favorite pajamas. My top pick, the Barbie pajamas with “We girls can do anything!” in pink bubble letters on the front, are packed and ready for tonight. It’s the best day of summer ’94 because I’m going to Ashlea’s house and I can stay the night! We’re going to stay up later than teenagers and indulge in boxes and boxes of Dunk-a-Roos.

I bounce down the stairs, slipping down the final step, and catch the scent of bacon and eggs (also on my second-favorites list), which is okay, because Ashlea promised Toaster Strudels tomorrow. She stashed extra frosting packets, so we can pile on double, maybe triple, the frosting!

“You’re up?” My mom says, looking back from the stove.

I hop up on the edge of the wobbly barstool. “Today is the day!” I squeal, regaining my balance on the seat. My mom smiles and stirs the eggs.

“After you eat, I need you to finish packing. Which Barbies are you bringing this time?”

“Definitely Mermaid Barbie for the pool, Gymnast Barbie, well, if I bring them then I can’t leave Totally Hair Barbie, and if I bring her then…” I gush.

“Don’t even think about packing your craft scissors, I mean it!” my mom interrupts. She’s pointing the spatula right at me, and it’s dripping yolk on the ground. Yuck.

“What ... ever,” I whisper as I hop down from the barstool, then just as I start to head back upstairs, my mom calls out, “Wait! Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot!” I say. My mom smiles and hands me my Barbie plate: two pieces of bacon, and an extra-fluffy scrambled egg. 

When I finish my second-favorite breakfast, I start packing my things. I sift through my toy box full of tangled yo-yos, Polly Pockets, random Lite-Brite pegs, Barbie clothes, tiny heels, and countless dolls. Choosing the right Barbies and outfits are important decisions, you see, because Barbies are an extension of my flourishing identity. My new favorite thing that my Barbie says is “Whatever Ken!” I get in trouble all the time for saying ‘Whatever,’ but when I add ‘Ken’ to the end, my mom just shakes her head and laughs. “Where do you get this stuff?” 

What my Barbies wear and how they speak are my exploration of who I aspire to be, and what I aspire to be is a cool teenager, fashionista, astronaut and business lady—all at the same time, of course!

I stuff my dolls in my Barbie suitcase and, in a bold move, tuck my craft scissors under my favorite pajamas. Ashlea and I have been planning on cutting Barbie’s ankle-length locks ever since my Barbie broke up with her Ken. We decided then that my doll needs a fresh new look, so tonight she’s getting what Ashlea calls a “breakup haircut.”

2023 ‘Barbie’ Movie 

Nostalgia has exploded over me like a pink confetti cannon at a gender reveal party ever since the new adventure-comedy “Barbie” movie was announced earlier this year. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling with appearances by Issa Rae and Dua Lipa, the film immerses us in Barbie’s world while she drops into ours. 

Barbie’s Early Intentions 

When Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel) invented the doll in 1956, her intention was to make Barbie an empowering role model for girls. Handler, while watching her daughter play with paper dolls, was inspired to create a 3D doll that girls could use to explore their futures by way of make-believe, beyond becoming caregivers. At the time, other dolls on the market were literally baby dolls. Handler dreamt up an unconventional concept: a doll that challenged traditional gender roles by portraying a 19-year-old, independent young woman with a personal life and a work life, a rare demographic at that time.

Many male Mattel execs were skeptical of the toy’s success; they wondered if a doll should have breasts, wear makeup and high heels. Handler’s response? Simply: “Little girls will grow into women with breasts, and if anything, this will teach them about their own bodies.” The doll became the single toy that launched Mattel into a Fortune 500 company. Later, a new female CEO of Mattel, Jill Barad, would take the company from $200 million to $1.9 Billion.

Controversial Barbie

Barbie has as many critics as she does fans. For some, she has a history full of female empowerment. For others, their criticism regards body image, materialism, feminism, sexualization, stereotypes and lack of representation — some valid, some merely plastic perceptions.

In 1993, an activist group called the Barbie Liberation Organization sought to change the narrative of the Barbie doll, quite literally. To illuminate the gender stereotypes that they felt were being taught to children at a young age, the group famously swapped the voice boxes between Teen Talk Barbies and G.I. Joes and placed the toys back on store shelves. This meant that when you pulled the string on Barbie, she now said things like “Vengeance is mine!” and G.I. Joe now said, “Let’s go shopping!” That specific Barbie line wasn’t remade after the stunt.

Then, in 2014, Barbie landed on the cover of “Sports Illustrated” magazine, which created more controversy. The argument: What was a girl’s doll doing on the cover of a men’s magazine?

The Zeitgeist of the Generation 

Since Barbie hit shelves 64 years ago, Mattel continues to make evolutionary design changes to mirror society. Sometimes in response to trends and sometimes attempting to create them. Barbie’s changing appearance and storylines reveal indicators of real-life cultural transitions, if you look close enough. In the 1960s, before women could open their own bank accounts, Barbie was buying her own iconic dream house and driving her own Austin Healey Roadster. She’s had over 200+ careers and today can be found on shelves with jobs in tech, the military — and even as President.

Her appearance has also changed through the decades due to cultural changes. Prior to 1971, the doll’s eyes were painted in a downward, side glance, producing a coy appearance, and her mouth was closed. Her new look was straight on, and her smile showed pearly whites — changes that radiated confidence. Then, in 1980, initially named Christie, the first African-American Barbie doll was rebranded with the title of “Barbie.” She was no longer just a friend to the main character but was a main character in her own right.

Barbie’s (Un) Frivolous Fashion

It wasn’t until 2015 that the doll received the major update that would change the Barbie world of play forever: flat feet. Gasp! This moment is hilariously featured in the upcoming Barbie movie. Finally, Barbie could ditch the heels and wear sneakers and rollerblades. “The key thing about Barbie is that she dresses with intention. Barbie doesn’t dress for the day, she dresses for the task,” Jacqueline Durran, barbie costume designer, told Vogue. 

Fast forward to 2023, Barbie’s intentions and tasks include empowerment, inclusivity and diversity, and she’s working hard to dress the part. The doll’s design strives to reflect those things. She’s available in various body shapes, outfits, heights, ethnicities, hair textures and styles, disabilities, and professions designed to reflect the world kids see today.

We’re All Barbie. (If You Want to Be, That Is.)

I find inspiration in the empowering qualities of both Barbie’s imaginative story and the real-life stories of the trailblazing women who brought her to life. It reminds me that we really “can do anything!” As an adult, I no longer rely on a doll to explore my identity. However, I am just as excited for the movie to release as I was that morning of summer ’94 for my Barbie sleepover. In the new film, Barbie (Robbie) delivers a line that I think captures the essence of “Barbie energy”: “It’s the best day ever! So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever!” Barbie’s resilience through all the highs and lows, embodies the spirit of perseverance that I hope for you, too.