I got my Barbie doll when I was six years old, during a family holiday in Australia. Early in our trip, I spotted her in the toy section of a department store. It was love at first sight and I thought about her almost non-stop for the rest of our holiday. On the day before we were due to fly home, my parents took me back to the shop and bought her for me.
She was called “Loving You Barbie” and I was in love with everything about her - her floor-length skirt, the top layer sheer and sprinkled with hearts; her velvety red bodice, with sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves to match the hearted sheer of her skirt; her tiny, high-heeled shoes... My favourite detail was a plastic ruby ring that stayed on her hand by pushing it into a small pre-drilled hole, like a pin. She came with a stamp pad and stamp - life-sized and, of course, heart-shaped.
I barely gave a thought to Barbie’s problematic proportions, although the length of her legs was a bit awkward when trying to make her do things. I liked flexing her rubbery lower limbs through the various positions of her knee joints. It was somewhat irritating that she couldn’t stand on her own but I didn’t think there was a sexist message in that, it was just how Barbies were. At six, her breasts were a little alarming. I would’ve been terrified, though, if she’d actually had pubic hair and a vulva - sure, a girl shouldn’t be scared of her female body parts but I didn’t yet have evidence of most of mine and couldn’t imagine I ever would. I did covet Barbie’s long hair and the glamorous style she wore it in. It was the only feature I used to compare myself to her by and I remember knowing that mine could never be as beautiful as hers. And, of course, her wardrobe - my terrycloth shorts were no match for her voluminous ball gown.
My sons have been aware of the Barbie movie about to screen and don’t believe me when I tell them that it’s not a children’s film because it looks so fun and colourful. I tried to explain that the movie is partly about how Barbie is a tricky doll and character for young girls and gave them a couple of examples I thought they might understand. My son looked at me like I was being daft and overthinking it all. “I don’t think that matters, dolls are just for playing with”, he said. He could be right.
My sister had a dancer Barbie doll who wore a purple leotard and pink ballet shoes. Our Barbies spent a lot of time in our Barbie spa pool (filled with real water) as we didn’t have a pink plastic mansion for them to hang out in or any other Barbie paraphernalia to occupy them with. The pool had a pump that created bubbles in the water when you pushed it and our girls never got prune skin, even when they were left in there overnight.
I never got or wanted a Ken doll. He always seemed superfluous to requirements and I didn’t want him to come and upset Barbie’s idyllic world. I couldn’t understand why Mattel had even bothered to create him. My Barbie was all I needed.
At the time of writing, the Barbie movie is just days away from being released. If I knew where my Loving You Barbie was, I’d take her with me. I probably wouldn’t prop her on my lap and feed her Tangy Fruits as I would’ve done when I was six. I’d just tuck her in my handbag and secretly know that she was there. The movie trailer declares that, whether you love Barbie or hate her, the film is for you. As a child, I loved her. As a grown woman, I don’t exactly hate her, but I have my concerns. I’m glad that my children have never wanted a Barbie doll, I’m not sure if I would’ve got them one or not. Who knows whether or not a Barbie doll is an appropriate gift for a child but mine gave me many hours of enjoyment as well as this delightful trip down memory lane.
What’s true for you?
(Prompts for your journal or the comments)
What resonated with you and what ruffled you as you read this piece?
What were your thoughts and feelings about Barbie as a child?
What are your thoughts and feelings about Barbie now?
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Funny how you never wanted a Ken. Our daughter Bethany was keen to get one so that her Barbie would have someone to be with, but when she got to the shop, she decided Ken was too boring to be worth purchasing. And Sarah said no to a second Barbie! I'm interested in the question you raise about how seriously we need to take the alleged threat that Barbie poses to our children's psyches. I wonder about pop music too - is it a bit of harmless fun, or is it end-on-end subliminal messages?
It's been fun rediscovering Barbie with you! I just Googled and found out mine was named Super Dance Barbie. Thanks for the Barbie memories, both old and new. xx