“Math Class is Tough!”
We all know Barbie by Mattel is geared toward girls like G.I. Joe is geared toward boys. Barbie reinforces the impossibly perfect figure; big hips, tiny waist, big boobs, little feet, and long, flowing blonde hair. While G.I. Joe reinforces toughness, strength, and the importance of muscles. Several Barbie toys from the past reinforce what girls should aspire to be. There was pregnant Barbie, Littlest Pet Shop Barbie, Glam Barbie and countless others. Barbie told, and still tells girls, they need to be shaped perfectly, be caring and loving, and above all be beautiful. However, one particular Barbie model took reinforcing gender stereotypes a step too far.
In 1992, Mattel came out with Teen Talking Barbie. This Barbie was programmed to say four out of a possible 270 phrases, such as “Let’s go shopping!” “Will we ever have enough clothes?” “Do you have a crush on anyone?” and “I’ll always be here to help you!” Although these phrases are exceptionally irritating for any woman, Mattel added the following phrase that really pissed off women’s groups all over the country, “Math class is tough!”
Barbie itself already promotes a disgustingly unrealistic body image that society has always forced upon women. Phrases like “I’ll always be here to help you!” reinforce the idea that women are care takers and need each other for support, that they always need help from someone, man or woman. And of course G.I. Joes are self sufficient tough guys. “Do you have a crush on anyone,” also serves to reinforce the idea that women always need to have a relationship. And if you’re not in a relationship, then you’re always looking for the next one to come along.
The aforementioned phrases could potentially be defended as pro-feminist or harmless all together. But there is no pro-feminist argument, that I can think of, for the phrase “Math class is tough!” This phrase does nothing to encourage the young girls that are most likely to play with this doll. There is a substantial gender gap in the math and science department with boys seeing greater achievement than girls. “Math class is tough!” only serves to further widen this large gap. Girls aspire to be like Barbie and if Barbie doesn’t do well in math, then why should they? It merely reinforces the stereotype that math is for boys and girls will always be terrible at it.
I don’t know what the makers at Mattel were thinking when they thought it was a good idea to have Barbie say such ridiculous phrases, especially “Math class is tough!” Is it really that hard to have Barbie say something like “I love school!” or “Let’s go to the movies!” Anything that isn’t so obviously gender specific and stereotypical. Mattel should be ashamed at their complete idiocy in creating this toy. Hopefully, they learned a lesson from its utter failure. If not, then I’m sure the next phrase out of Barbie’s perfectly plastic lips will be, “I throw up at least four times a day!”
Picture of toy:
Works Cited
“Barbie.” Wikipedia. 20 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://en/wikipedia. org/wiki/Barbie.
“COMPANY NEWS: Mattel Says It Erred; Teen Talk Barbie Turns Silent on Math.” The New York Times. 21 Oct. 1992. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www/nytimes.com/ 1992/10/21/business/company-news-mattel-says-it-erred-teen-talk-barbie-turns- silent-on-math.html?pagewanted=1.
Crosnoe, Robert, Catherine Riegle-Crumb, Sam Field, Kenneth Frank, and Chandra Muller. “Math Class is Tough; Wanna Have a Pizza Party?” Prevention Action. 22 Feb. 2008. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.preventionaction.org/research/math-class-is-tough-wanna-have-a- pizza-party.
Leo, John. “The Indignation of Barbie.” U.S. News & World Report. 4 Oct. 1992. Web. 25 Mar. 2010. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/921012/archive_ 018466.htm