Barbie Doll Effects
Mattel's top-selling doll could have started a cultural revolution. Barbie could indeed be responsible for shaping gender identity and norms in American culture in particular. The demand for ethnic Barbies and themed Barbies points to the fact that all little girls, whatever their family or cultural backgrounds, are aspiring to be like Barbie. Pop star icons like Brittany Spears and Jessica Simpson bolster the Barbie image ideal. hether girls are being subliminally programmed or whether Barbie simply reflects an already extant cultural norm is up for debate. Heidi Burton states that the roots of Barbie's body image extend into antiquity (1). However, Greek statuary does not depict women who could fall flat on their faces; rather, the artists of antiquity portray the physical body far more realistically than Mattel does. Perhaps Barbie is a manifestation of changing norms and ideals, but it seems that the Barbie-doll body ideal…...
mlaWorks Cited
'Anabolic Steroid Abuse." The Steroid Truth. Online at < http://www.thesteroidtruth.com/steroidabusea.htm >.
'Barbie and G.I. Joe." Online at < http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~onderdonk/Spring309/BarbieJoe/index.html>.
Burton, Heidi. "Barbie influences gender notions, prof says." The Utah Statesman. 14 Nov. 2003. Online at < http://www.utahstatesman.com/news/2003/11/14/CampusNews/Barbie.Influences.Gender.Notions.Prof.Says-558519.shtml?page=2 >.
Cross, Gary. "Barbie, G.I. Joe, and Play in the 1960s."
" The poem used heart wrenching language to describe one young girl's constant attempts at and eventual frustration towards living up to society's ideals. This can be seen when after being "advised to play coy... exercise, diet, smile and wheedle" the girl's "good nature wore out like a fan belt."
Towards the end of Herbert's poem the speaker experiences a revelation, which occurs when the speaker feels that God has spoken to him. Once he realizes that God loves him enough to consider him as His "child" then the speaker no longer feels any resentment towards his Master. He thus becomes more morally conscious of continuing to fulfill his Christian duties. Piercy's poem ends with the girl's eventual suicide and funeral, which leads to the story's sad irony that even though the girl hoped to escape society's ideals regarding womanhood through death, it is only after she died that society came…...
Barbies, Ourselves" and "Barbie, G.I. Joe, and Play in the 1960's," Emily Praeger and Gary ross, respectively, discuss the cultural importance of children's toy dolls, and of Barbie and G.I. Joe in particular, although from different perspectives. Praeger focuses primarily on messages about femininity, lifestyle, appearance and personal identity absorbed by little girls as they play with, dress, and acquire new outfits for their Barbies; ross explores the advent of Barbie and G.I. Joe as early consumer objects for children and the durability (although less so than for G.I. Joe than for Barbie) of their popularity.
At the beginning of her essay, Praeger states that upon first learning Barbie had been designed by a man, "suddenly a lot of things made sense to me . . . Let's be honest: Barbie looks like someone who got her start at the Playboy mansion. She could be a regular guest on the…...
mlaCross states Barbie was actually invented by a woman, Ruth Handler, which contradicts Praeger's assertion that Barbie was designed by a man named Jack Ryan. This may have something to do with the different focuses of these essays: Praeger implies that Barbie's appearance and "image" could have been the result of a male fantasy; Cross suggests that Barbie, invented by a woman, has had much to do, since her initial appearance in the 1960's, with teaching young girls how to shop (first for Barbie and later for possessions in real life) for clothes, accessories, etc. As Cross states: If Barbie taught that freedom meant consumption, the Barbie line was designed to maximize parents' real spending. Playing consumer meant that Barbie have a constantly changing wardrobe of coordinated clothing and accessories" (771). As a consumer item in her own right, Barbie soon acquired doll friends like "Midge," and a younger doll sister, "Skipper," who also needed to be clothed and accessorized (Cross, 770-71). In essence, "Mattel tapped into a young girl's fantasy to create a demand for possessions" (772).
GI Joe, suggests Cross, was the 1960's Barbie equivalent for boys, and like Barbie (although not now) began as a dress-up doll: "He represented the average soldier, evoking memories of fathers' experience in World War II and the Korean War" (773). Moreover, "G.I. Joe's success was based on a boy's identity with the all-male worked of heroic action aided by modern military equipment and gadgetry. The play was conventional, featuring male bonding in adventure." Unlike Barbie, however, G.I. Joe has not stood the test of time, or reinvented himself nearly as successfully. Cross describes how, in the 1970's, with the unpopularity of the Vietnam war, G.I. Joe also became less popular. Today, while Barbie remains remarkable similar to the 1960's original, G.I. Joe has been transformed into a high tech hero named "Super Joe," sporting "lasers and rocket command vehicles" (774) instead of guns, combat boots, and fatigues.
Both essays describe the impact of these children's dolls on society, but Praeger's essay, "Our Barbies, Ourselves," does so more from the perspective of how play with Barbie impacts a girl's self-image and her future role as a consumer. Cross's essay is more focused on Barbie and G.I. Joe as consumer objects in and of themselves; how the dolls reflect(ed) and are (or were) reflective of the changing times, and how and why one (Barbie) as survived and withstood the test of time better than the other (G.I. Joe). Both readings, however, cover the impact of children's dolls like Barbie and G.I. Joe as important cultural icons.
Barbie's official website does feature an adult doll collection of "Dolls of the orld" which has a slightly more diverse range of images, but even these dolls are fairly uniform in style: the Asian doll is decked out in a midriff-bearing sexy, sari, for example, but looks just like a 'regular' Barbie.
In terms of body image, the typical Barbie doll has branched out to slightly more diverse interests than fashion: Barbie now skis and surfs, and even rides dirt bikes. Barbie is athletic, as well as feminine, in the official image she projects to young girls, suggests that one can be outdoorsy and girlish at once. Barbie's "I can be" collection features a Barbie news anchor and computer engineer, the latter in plastic pink 'geek chic' glasses. Barbie's adult line now features less artificial looking dolls that are supposed to represent famous characters from film and fiction, including the…...
mlaWorks Cited
Barbie. Official Website. Mattel. June 23, 2010.
"Barbie: Dolls of the world." Barbie Collector. June 23, 2010.
Nairn sees these Barbies as being tortured to destroy the doll's perfection, but the same children (I have noticed from observing female relatives) may demand a new Barbie, even after treating the old one carelessly.
Additionally, not all Barbies are disposed of. In fact, there is a thriving industry of adults who collect Barbies. These Barbies embody characters from famous old films, new films, or characters from around the world. Even some Barbies marketed at younger girls that are reasonably priced like those of the Twilight series of Barbies, are clearly not disposable. Barbies run the gamut from the cheap to the beautifully coiffured, yet all of them suggest a model of femininity that is similar: adult and girlish at the same time. Even as early as the 1960s, according to the website "Barbie's Career History," Barbie was used to embody 'acceptable' female occupations for young women, including that of…...
mlaWorks Cited
Buffamonte, Christina. "Barbie's career history." Good Housekeeping. 2008.
June 23, 2010. http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/teens/barbie-dolls-careers
Bindel, Julie. "Con -- Barbie: Dumb blonde or diehard feminist?" The Guardian. December 28,
2008. June 23, 2010.
Barbies, Ourselves
Emily Prager's "Our Barbies, Ourselves" examines the impact that the Barbie doll has had on American culture, perceptions of gender, and heterosexual relationships. Prager begins by noting that Barbie was designed by a man, a fact that makes sense to Prager given the outrageous physical proportions of the doll. As she states, Barbie "looks like someone who got her start at the Playboy Mansion," (766). Barbie's body is completely out of proportion and unrealistic, even if she had breast augmentation surgery. In fact, Prager suggests that the current fad of breast enlargement might be related to the subconscious desire to look more like Barbie. Barbie, the author suggests, has influenced generations of women and programmed them to try to look a certain way.
In her analysis of the doll's cultural, social, and psychological implications, Prager investigates the potentially sinister motives behind the doll's creation, even if those motives were…...
S. woman." (288).
In response to this negative impact of Barbie not being found in the 7 1/2 to 8-1/2-year-old girls, the researchers admit that the finding was unanticipated and assert that, "For these older girls, if they have already internalized the thinness ideal, then the depiction of a full body could represent a possible, but feared, future self." (290)
The study is weak in several areas. The research sample is small, predominately white and middle class and comes from the same geographic region, causing one to wonder how much socio-economic factors play a role in the results of this study. it's not clear if the use of picture books rather than just dolls introduced bias into the study. Clearly, the researchers tried to emulate similar scenes for Barbie and Emme, but there are differences such as there as the use of an image of Barbie in the supermarket and Emme in…...
mlaReferences
Dittmar, H., Halliwell, E., & Ive, S. (2006). Does Barbie Make Girls want to Be thin? The Effect of Experimental exposure to Images of Dolls on the Body Image of 5- to 8-year-old Girls. Developmental Psychology, 42, 283-292.
Mattel Faced in China
In 2009 Mattel opened a six-story House of Barbie in Shanghai, expecting it to be an enormous hub for an emerging market in China. However, just two years later Mattel was forced to close the doors on the $30 million facility. This paper will explain why Mattel failed to make an impact with its House of Barbie in Shanghai. It will show the problems that the company faced going in, which it failed to sufficiently consider, and how those problems might have been overcome.
The main points that this paper will examine are the specific market problems that Mattel faced by opening its store in China as well as the cause of the failure in terms of values and attitudes, gender differences, polite behavior expectations, forms of communication, importance of emotion, and education. The last points will focus on recommendations. In short, the American company expected the…...
mlaReference List
Burkitt, L. (2013, November 7). Mattel Gives Barbie a Makeover for China. The Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304672404579183324082672770
Rose, I. (2014, November 26). Can Barbie Conquer China? BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30210261
Voigt, K. (2012, November 21). What do Chinese consumers want? Not Barbie. CNN.
BABIE AND GILS' BODY IMAGE
Does Barbie Make Girls Want to Be Thin? The Effect of Experimental
Exposure To Images of Dolls on the Body Image of
to 8-Year-old Girls
Jill Someone
BABIE AND GILS' BODY IMAGE
BABIE AND GILS' BODY IMAGE
Does Barbie Make Girls Want to Be Thin? The Effect of Experimental Exposure To Images of Dolls on the Body Image of 5- to 8-Year-old Girls
I'm fat. I want to be thinner. I want longer legs. I want a perkier butt and breasts. I want straight hair. I want curly hair. I want a smaller nose. I want more toned calves. I wish I were taller. These are very familiar thoughts to most girls and a lot of boys, too. These thoughts plagued me most heavily during and immediately after puberty. I was embarrassed about my maturing body and wished I were developing faster while simultaneously wishing I weren't developing at all. It's an important…...
mlaReferences
Dittmar, H., Halliwell, E. & Ive, S. (2006). Does barbie make girls want to be thin? The effect of experimental exposure to images of dolls on the body image of 5- to 8-year-old girls. Developmental Psychology, 42(2), 283-292.
Lowes, J., & Tiggemann, M. (2003). Body dissatisfaction, dieting awareness, and the impact of parental influence on children. British Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 135-147.
Advertising
Company Overview
Mattel is a producer of children's toys, including the well-known industry brands Fisher Price, Barbie and Hot Wheels. The company has strategic partnerships with several other major brands such as Disney, WWE, Nickelodeon and Warner Bros. The company did nearly $6.5 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year, and turned a profit of just of $900 million. Nearly half of its revenues come from international markets.
The Barbie brand is the most important for the company, with just over $1 billion in annual revenues. The company's marketing is focused around the end-of-year, when gift-buying for children reaches its peak. The company utilizes most forms of media for its advertising, including traditional 30-second television spots. Mattel spent $733.2 million, or 12.2% of net sales, on its marketing efforts in the last fiscal year (Mattel 2014 Annual eport). In terms of distribution, its three largest customers are Walmart, Toys Us…...
mlaReferences
Mattel 2014 Annual Report. Retrieved November 30, 2015 from http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/MAT/0x0x820303/68C602DD-88F3-47F8-ABB5-46635E8495D8/Mattel_-_Bookmarked_2014_Annual_Report_Final_.PDF
Anna Quindlen's "The Name is Mine," the author uses a personal anecdote to convey her experiences grappling with battling patriarchy. Marge Piercy presents a much more pessimistic view of female empowerment in "Barbie Doll," a poem in which the central subject is completely consumed by the catastrophic effects of a sexist society. Both these works of literature make powerful social commentary about the source and nature of sexism and patriarchy. However, Quindlen and Piercy use dramatically different literary strategies to achieve their respective, unitary goals. In "The Name is Mine," Quindlen uses the first person point-of-view and a straightforward narrative prose. In "Barbie Doll," Piercy uses a poem written in third person. In "The Name is Mine," Quindlen's tone is lively and upbeat, ultimately optimistic and encouraging. On the contrary, Piercy's tone in "Barbie Doll" is bitter, scathing, and righteously angry. Their tone and point-of-view might be different but…...
The tone is personalistic and is parallel with the narrative style used by the author in her analysis. Furthermore, McDonough's choice of words is simplistic, primarily because she aims to give understanding to her audience the main arguments she presented. All throughout the article, there is a conscious effort to sensitively discuss the issue for the sake of its audience, which are primarily, women, and secondarily, parents of female children.
Contrasting McDonough's essay with that of the editorial in the San Francisco Chronicle entitled, "Beauty and the Barbie Doll," it is evident that the arguments presented are oversimplified. A reader may get the idea that what the editorial points out is the argument, "Barbie is the only factor that strongly influences female children's concept of beauty and sex." It does not take into account other factors that may influence children's attitudes and behavior, such as what McDonough centers on in…...
Barbie doll top ten viral commercials as of 2013 rely mostly on You Tube, Dailymotion, Facebook and Twitter.
The third doll brand, subject to this study is Bratz. As evidenced from the four commercials assessed in the course of this study, Bratz deploys a slightly different mode of advertising, which involves marketing adult entertainment to kids. Social psychologists have argued that this strategy is very effective within the realm of modern-day material culture. Adult entertainment, which often involves depiction of violence, sex, strong language and obscenity, has become very popular among children
. For Bratz, one of the most popular commercials involves cowgirls in Texas fighting crime modelled along the risque film group Charlie's Angels. The use of guns to depict violence is central to this commercial, which has since increased the brand's digital reach through pervasive advertising on TV and in the internet. In a similar commercial, Bratz acquired the…...
mlaMeyers, Laurie. "Dangerous dolls? Psychologists push back against market forces and products that sexualize young girls." American Psychological Association September 2006, Vol 37, No. 8
Eglinton, Kristen Ali Youth Identities, Localities, and Visual Material Culture: Making Selves, Making Worlds New York: Springer, 2013
Doeschka, J. Anschutz and Rutger, C.M.E. Engels. "The Effects of Playing with Thin Dolls on Body Image and Food Intake in Young Girls" U.S. National Library of Medicine
B.
Human development and evolution across all cultures mean that there will be a gap between older generations, who tend to cling to outdated ideals and paradigms, and younger generations, who tend away from the traditional and towards new developments. While there are merits in both positions, subscribers to each respective position seldom see the value in the viewpoint of the other. Hence, the conflicts that arise are often difficult to manage and impossible to overcome.
Such conflict is clearly portrayed in Nash Candelaria's "El Patron," and also to a degree in Oscar Hijuelos's "Visitors, 1965. n the former, the traditional viewpoint is represented by Lola's father, Senor Martinez, while the more progressive viewpoint is represented by the other three major characters in the story; Lola, her brother Tito, and her husband, the narrator of the story. The difference in viewpoints can be seen on a variety of platforms, including gender roles,…...
mlaIn "Visitors, 1965" on the other hand, the differences between respective generations, traditions, and paradigms are far more complex and multi-dimensional than in Candelaria's story. The story begins with an atmosphere of hope and joy as a result of Fidel Castro assuming power in Cuba. One of the main characters, Alejo, is a cook and the time, and chosen to be in charge of the dessert for Castro's visit to the United States. Alejo observes that "Only in America could a worker get so close to a fat little guy with enormous power" (295).
This event represents the difference in power relations as observed in the United States and in Cuba. The contrast is further strengthened as time increasingly reveals the suffering brought about by Castro's rule. American citizens have enough to eat and receive fair trials, along with humane treatment in prisons, while the same could not be expected in Cuba.
Another dichotomy is the one between cultures as represented by language. This is particularly embodied in the character of Hector. As the story progresses, so does Hector's feeling of displacement between cultures. He is not sufficiently confident to speak his native Spanish, nor is he happy in the United States, which he associates with feelings of loneliness and despair. He relates best to his displaced aunts and cousins from Cuba. In this way, the story offers a vision of the displaced and the necessity of adjustment amidst war and uncertainty.
Distribution Levels
olex watches: olex deploys an exclusive distribution strategy. Its high pricing is part of its appeal, given that wearing a olex signifies one's economic status. olexes can be bought at high-end jewelers, department stores, and select shopping areas which high-income consumers are likely to patronize.
Coach purses: Coach similarly has an exclusive distribution strategy. They are expensive items of clothing, usually sold at select Coach retailers. These stores are often in exclusive malls or in high-rent districts of urban locations.
Land over sport utility vehicles: Although these vehicles are not the most expensive means of transportation available, they are not universally desired by all consumers. People in cities will likely have less desire for SUVs given that they do not need all-terrain vehicles and are more concerned about the price of gas than their suburban counterparts. However, within certain pockets of the country, and also within certain consumer segments (such as…...
mlaReferences
Demery, Jack. (2006). Sephora streamlines supply chain management with Invois.
Internet Retailer. Retrieved August 7, 2011 at http://www.internetretailer.com/2006/05/17/sephora-streamlines-supply-chain-management-with-inovis
1. Zora Neale Hurston's narrative in 'How It Feels to Be Colored Me' and Sandra Cisneros's 'Barbie-Q' both explore the theme of identity through the lens of childhood experiences, yet they diverge significantly in their portrayal of racial and economic challenges. Hurston's essay reflects her journey from a relatively sheltered childhood in Eatonville, Florida, to the harsh realities of racial discrimination in Jacksonville, highlighting her resilience and self-acceptance. Conversely, Barbie-Q focuses on the economic constraints and cultural assimilation pressures faced by a young Latina girl, using the iconic Barbie doll as a symbol of unattainable American ideals. This comparison reveals....
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