Dr. Sarah Smith Rainey

The Barbie doll is one example of a children’s toy that has gender norms and expectations associated with it. Barbie dolls are typically very slim and tall, have perfect hair and have makeup on. These dolls are giving girls the message that they should also be slim, tall, and have a model like physique which is not realistic. The children playing with these dolls may feel pressured to have this “perfect” physique. We also see that Barbie dolls have typically long hair that is always styled perfectly which also gives a very unrealistic expectation to children, making them feel as though they have to have perfect hair at all times just like their Barbie’s hair. Barbie dolls almost always have makeup on and always have perfect skin. They look “pretty” at all times which influences a young girl who thinks they have to look this way as well. Barbie dolls have also been around for many years and started as only being white dolls and have in more recent times started making African-American dolls. Barbie dolls also come with clothes and have many other clothes that one can buy for their doll making them seem very materialistic which sends a message out that women are “materialistic” and reinforces an incorrect stereotype, when in reality not all women are this way. The clothes that are commonly sold usually consist of skirts, dresses, and high heels which seem to define the way that women should be dressing. Barbie is also associated with partying and having fun rather than doing something educational which also sets an example to children. The older Barbie dolls were typically seen as homemakers which reinforced the stereotype that women should be staying at home cleaning and cooking (Mouhanna). Barbie dolls seem to teach children that they should strive to be pretty, thin, and white.

Mouhanna, Elio. “Barbie Doll – Typical Stereotypes about Women.” Barbie Doll – Typical Stereotypes about Women, Voices of Youth, www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/barbie-doll—typical-stereotypes-about-women.