Barbie®, one dad’s viewBarbie®, one dad’s view

Posted By:  B. Jasmin   |   September 19th, 2007 

I like the fact that you are working toward helping to empower girls. I would like to see Mattel reintroduce the Barbie dolls that were more accurate in their measurements of a real human, as opposed to the current Barbie doll. I recently read that if Barbie’s measurements were applied to a real human, she would not be able to stand up, and in past reports I read that her proportions would not actually even be possible on a living female human. I’m not sure if that is true, but if it is, then we are presenting girls with an unrealistic body image don’t you think? You talk in your blog about influencing and inspiring girls in a positive way. If you truly want to provide good examples of healthy body attitudes to girls, this would be a great place to start. Thank you.

Posted By:  Selena   |   September 19th, 2007 

I think thats a wonderful thing your doing but the people who come up with the designs for the Barbie playline tell them to make Barbie her normal size and to stop making her with a big head,and the new short body BeachGlam Barbie & friends are examples and this years fashion Fever dolls the dolls are just the Ugliest Ive ever seen.

Posted By:  Selena   |   September 19th, 2007 

Also the comments by B.Jasmin are about the doll bodies from the later 1990’s and throough the 1980’s,Her body that she has with the Belly Button is great bring it back and the top model dolls are nice BUT need to be able sit down & bend their legs.

Posted By:  Mary Pat Nally   |   September 24th, 2007 

Hello Chuck - I realize that this is a long comment - I really wanted to get in contact with you. I shared my story with someone from Mom Central and she recommended that I might want to look at webelieveingirls.com. I am passionate about empowering everyone to become active participants in their lives, especially girls.
I feel strongly that I have a story that many would be able to relate to and I want to go global with my message. I am also in the process of looking for an angel investor to assist me in starting my new business. After reading my story, If you feel that others would benefit from my experiences and learning experiential leadership skills, please keep me in mind for any opportunities for speaking at your company and any funding opportunities that may come available for programs that empower girls to come into their own beauty.

Thank you for all you do to make a positive impact in our world.

Blessings -Mary Pat Nally

From Hell to Healing - A transformational journey and process through a 24-year eating disorder.
This is my transformational story and it is my intention to share it with the world.
The more we discuss the implications of eating disorders, their symptoms and behaviors; I find that we will get more of those same behaviors.
I feel that, after coming out on the other side of this transformational journey, we need to focus on empowerment and look at the messages we are sending to our children and all members of society -that we are not enough -that we need more - that there is someone outside of us that knows what is better for us than we do.
In conjunction with medical intervention, we need to spend funding on programs that empower individuals to become active participants in their own lives and learn how to listen to their bodies.
Eating Disorders are not about the food - as many have stated so many times before - they are about how we feel about ourselves as human beings, living on this planet.
Somewhere along the line being selfish and having self-care became construed and children were taught not to think about themselves.
Well -at the age of 36 -I am learning that my life is indeed about me -just like your life is about you and it is not until I learn to acknowledge and love all parts of myself will I be able to live a healthy life.
I say healthy -not thin. Health has nothing to do with numbers -I am 4\’9 and according to the BMI I should weigh 90lbs -well -I was a gymnast for 7 years when I was growing up and there is no way I will ever weigh 90lbs -nor do I want to.
I have dreams for my life -and that dream no longer includes weighing 90lbs. I no longer feel the need to wear the perfect size or be the perfect weight.
When I walk into the doctor and they ask me to step on the scale I simply say \

Posted By:  Heather   |   September 25th, 2007 

Dear Chuck,
I loved Barbie as a little girl. The beautiful dresses and glamorous hairstyles just made the imagination soar. I never looked at Barbie and thought that I had to have her body or suffered any body image issues….several fashion issues, but that is another story.

My three year old just got me back into Barbie. We have all the Barbie movies and I really want the people involved to know that these movies are just wonderful. We sing the songs together, we dance around, and we watch them almost every day. I like that Barbie saves herself and those she cares about while fearlessly handling any adventure.

I do prefer them to Disney, but don\’t tell the Mickey…..(smile).

Many thanks and God bless you all,

Heather

Posted By:  Heidi Gable   |   September 26th, 2007 

Chuck,
These are very exciting ideas!
I felt inspired to write about it in my own blog - see http://www.iwasthinking.ca/2007/09/25/barbies-new-campaign/

Keep up the good work!
Heidi

Posted By:  Kris   |   October 22nd, 2007 

I found this site as I was researching to create positive body image advertisements. I was caught off guard. Barbie??? Sponsoring WeBelieveInGirls.com??

I must first admit. I loved playing with Barbies. (Sometimes I would even make my little brother play with me) I had a living room with this really cool “glass” table, lots of clothes, and a convertible.

So don’t get me wrong, I like Barbies. But when I played with them I felt like I would never be like them. I could never be that skinny, tall, pretty, (or have a man as cute as Ken

I guess that I am just surprised that a company that sells a doll that has proportions that cannot even be physically possible, who is extremely materialistic, and portrays a unachievable role model for young girls “believes in girls” and “support(s) the idea that girlhood is a magical, powerful time that should be protected, encouraged, and nurtured.”

Posted By:  Celeste   |   November 2nd, 2007 

Dear Chuck,

I was very angry when I heard my daughter singing a very provocative and promiscuous song. I asked her where she had learned it from and unfortunately it was from Barbie.com. Needless to say I was disappointed. I have banned your website from our household unless the there is some kind of statement from Barbie.com committing to a conscientious choice in the music all the girls who visit your site are exposed to. I don’t think you would like your daughter going around singing “I’m not that innocent.”

Appalled and Concerned,
Celeste

Posted By:  Mrs. Bolden   |   December 29th, 2007 

Out of all the dolls that are out there these days, Barbie is by far the BEST! I like most moms, played with Barbie when I was a girl. Like most girls, I knew i wasn\\\’t going to remain a size 3. Barbie needs to look like most girls; some tall, some short, some large bone structure and some not. Some even a little over weight. Thank God Barbie does not look like Bratz dolls or babies. Those are not allowed in my home. It\\\’s not okay for girls at the age of 8 or 9 to look like street walkers.
Keep up the excellent job with Barbie. Maybe in 20 years, she may look like normal girls in the real world.

Posted By:  Rochelle   |   January 13th, 2008 

I came here to look for all the recalls and can\’t find the list so I looked at some of the ads.
I can\’t say I\’m impressed with Barbie\’s image. Mattel is supposed to be forwarding a healthier image for girls and the latest Barbies I saw (just yesterday) were the supermodel group (and everyone knows they are the epitome of health and not at all about the so called \

Posted By:  po   |   January 24th, 2008 

hi!

http://www.ling.ttnet.net/

Posted By:  Steve   |   February 2nd, 2008 

Hey, I greatly appreciate your efforts to keep things clean on your sites. However, my 9yr old daughter, Meshelle Condon has run into a problem. When she tries to use your site, she is told that her name is a “bad word”. How about fixing this little issue so as not to discriminate against little children who do not have a name such as “Jane Smith”.

Thank you,
Steve Condon, one concerned father.

Posted By:  Donna Marriott   |   February 17th, 2008 

I have a Barbie-type world in a room in my house that is filled wall to wall with houses, a hospital, a store and a diner for my grandaughters. It is their favorite time to spend with me and our little world is so special. But the girls are finding it hard to find boy dolls (boyfriends for their many, many girls) there is a limited supply of boys and most of them look alike. My girl’s search the faces of the dolls they purchase and each one different and they know it!! How about more boy dolls (maybe a redhead, frizzy haired latino doll (we had to make one ourselves!) and foreign ones….please help!!

Posted By:  Heather   |   April 13th, 2008 

I am writing just as the father Steve has posted. My daughter’s name is Phoebe, when she tries to play on your site, she is told her name is a bad word. Can you please fix this problem? I have searched everywhere to try to get this message to someone.

Thank you,
Heather

Posted By:  Eve   |   April 15th, 2008 

Hi Heather & Steve,

We saw your posts regarding issues with registering your children’s names and wanted to let you know that we’ve adjusted the site’s filters.

Thanks for visiting

-Moderator Eve

Posted By:  Michelle Hutto   |   April 23rd, 2008 

First of all I felt inspired to write to you because I just read an article in my local newspaper business section and it gave me an idea to share my thoughts about Barbie and why it may not be doing so well. I’m a fan of Barbie for over 30 years now, and I have a 16 year old and a 4 year old girl each enjoying playing with Barbies too. We haven’t been a collector or anything elaborate, just the plain ole fashion toy and imagination play time. Anyway, what brings me to my point, just recently after purchasing some recent dolls my oldest daughter and I were dismayed at the new changes. We can’t say we like the new feet, even though they are more flat and wider like our own

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