This week, IBJ Style columnist Gabrielle Poshadlo and I had very different views on the new Children's Museum's exhibition celebrating Mattel's Barbie dolls. See the story thus far here. And you can find more info on the show itself here.
We invite you to join in on the discussion. Click on the links above --or visit the exhibition itself -- and give us your reaction.
What has been the impact Barbie has had on young girls?
Does her place in toy history justify a place in such a major exhibition (running into 2011)?
Are such sponsored exhibitions necessary evils, wise ways of doing business in tough economic times, or win-wins that enhance the offerings at the Museum without any downside?
We look forward to reading--and commenting on--your thoughts.
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Barbie, is defined by being a shallow, self absorbed toy, whose chief goal seems to be to get the girl in question to acquire and think she "needs" to have this doll, outfit, house, car, etc. that she sees in the store, that her friend has, etc.
Barbie is devoid of teaching the child anything about what it really means to be a woman. For those, who might claim well what about Dr. Barbie or some such thing, well what does it teach a child about hard work to acheive such a status. This isn't a chemistry set or a microscope, things that would teach hard work and determination, not to mention a true interest in a particular field beyond the superficial status of a certain career choice. There are many toys that I think have done great things to spark the interests of young girls into the interest of medicine and science, and well Barbie isn't in the top 100 on that list. Don't kid yourself in thinking that Dr. Barbie, with her large breasts and long flowing hair and tight outfit will help your darling girl in setting sincere goals and working hard for them.
So, I guess it is how you approach this exhibit. There are some things in life that I use to teach my children as examples for them to use to apply to their individual lives and then there are other examples that I use to teach them about the other side of the coin, ie what is empty and hallow. I let you decide for yourself which side the Barbie exhibit falls into.
Are there things about Barbie that aren't great - sure. Just like there are things about G.I. Joe, Comics, Video Games, etc. that aren't great.
I always wonder if the same people that have issues with Barbie have the same issues with other toys. Dora the explorer's head is out of proportion, what does that tell us? Blue the dog is a girl, and Magenta is a boy, are we sending the wrong message?
In the end, Barbie is just a toy. Maybe that's what we should be teaching our kids.
And Lou, I'll take my daughter to see the exhibit. Not because she's a huge Barbie fan, but because is a chance to learn and appreciate something else. Materialistic, corporate, pop culture, or otherwise.
I think that what we put into a child is what we get out of it in the long run. Most of us could agree that filling out children's young impressionable minds with rampant violence in the form of video games, movies, etc., might contribute towards a more violent attitude towards life in general. In addition, the things we buy our child also in a certain sense contribute to teaching our children what is acceptable and what is not, and if we are wise we will also communicate the reasons for those decisions.
I am constantly amazed at many parents who are so surprised when their children wear what they would consider immodest and revealing clothes or demonstrate other behaviors they deem inappropriate, never considering or denying themselves any blame for this behavior. Those same parents often blame the culture, the child's peers, TV, etc. Yet, as parents we are responsible for shaping that culture for our children. Toys matter and contribute towards that culture in their heart and minds of our children.
So for those who are taking their kids to the Barbie exhibit, good for you. Perhaps, they will learn something fruitful. As, for mine I am looking forward to taking them to the art museum and perhaps studying something truly beautiful and teaching them to appreciate that. Hmmm...while I am at it maybe I will buy them some paint and paper and let them put their imaginations to good use.
I also think of Barbie in sort of the same way that I think of any kind of collectible from Colts gear to Broadway Playbills to hunting knives to snow globes to bottles of wine to TV shows on DVD to Facebook farm animals to whatever: They definitely have the potential to become mindless, destructive addictions, but they also offer bonding opportunities and conversation starters for people who either don't know what else they have in common yet, or who know that they don't have much in common but want to enjoy each other's company at family reunions or whatever anyway.
I have good memories of playing with the Francie doll that my parents gave me for Christmas the year that all of my friends had Barbie dolls. Francie, you may recall, was Barbie's cousin. Wikipedia says that she was "MODern." I don't remember that, but I do remember that although I wasn't sure about her at first because no one else I knew had a Francie doll, ultimately her relative rareness was very satisfying.
I also just realized that the reason I probably spent so many hours setting up Francie's homes - making telephones for her out of modeling clay and so on - was because we moved around a lot when I was little. Packing and unpacking Francie's stuff, playing at giving her stability, probably answered some deep psychological need in me at the time. Hah! I just thought I was having fun.
So...if I had a daughter who wanted to visit the Barbie exhibit at the Children's Museum, and/or who wanted me to buy her a Barbie doll...well, I probably would do it if I had the money.
I agree with what Lou and others have said about the dangers of the underlying agenda to "consume! consume!" I would therefore make sure that my child and I did other things, too, like visiting the public library every couple of weeks, taking picnics to the park every summer, visiting elderly friends in nursing homes, going to child-appropriate arts events, and so on. I wouldn't spend money we didn't have on "stuff," of any kind. And I would try to teach my child to live in a mindful, compassionate way all the time, not just in terms of Barbie. It is a life journey.
But yeah, I would probably spring for a visit to the Barbie exhibit and for a doll, if I my daughter wanted them.
If I had a son who wanted any of this, I would probably say yes to him, too, and try not to be too quick to jump to conclusions or pass judgment about why he wanted it.
By the way, I'm not sure how I feel about the museum website showing a boy being "the DJ, commentator, or photographer." Girls can be those things, too! But I like that the museum is giving boys a way to satisfy whatever curiosity they have about the Barbie exhibit without anyone giving them a hard time about it.
I would say "yes" to my child because I think I would enjoy the exhibit myself.
For one thing, I would like to read other people's "Favorite Barbie Moments" in the exhibit. I think I would find their variety fascinating.
I would also like to look at the many kinds of Barbie dolls that have been offered over the years. I would like to see if there was ever a Wheelchair Barbie or a Single Mother Barbie or a CEO Barbie or a Voting Barbie or a Community Service Barbie or a Spiritual Questing Barbie or a Survivor Barbie (with outfits and props available for Cancer Survivor Barbie, Rape Survivor Barbie, Hurricane Survivor Barbie, Divorce Survivor Barbie, and Job Loss Survivor Barbie.)
Probably not, I know, but I like imagining them.
I also think that I would enjoy having a Barbie in our home. It wouldn't have to be a Barbie - it could just as easily be a teddy bear or a sock puppet or a Power Ranger or whatever - but if it is a Barbie, I'm okay with that. I once worked with a woman whose name was Barbara and who looked very much like a Barbie doll. Becoming friends with her raised my awareness of the problems that conventionally beautiful women sometimes face (like people assuming that you are as shallow as a Barbie doll) so I would try not to make assumptions about what my child's Barbie means to her, either.
In fact, I would love to ask my daughter (or son) what Barbie has been reading lately, and what she thought of the last live theatre show that she saw. I could ask what Barbie would do if she wanted to buy twenty pairs of shoes but she only had twenty dollars. I could ask what Barbie eats for breakfast and if she knows any jokes.
Listening to my child's answers would be the best part of the whole experience.
Or so I imagine.
Hope Baugh
Indy Theatre Habit
Thanks
P.S. Stay out of that art museum gift store. Hmmm...the Monet coffee mugs, Renoir playing cards, Warhol t-shirts and Picasso dishtowels might just blind your children with
blatant consumerism!
Avoiding issues, including racism, sexism, bullying and consumerism, is not the way to teach children how to survive life in the real world. Adult topics can be presented in an appropriate manner for children.