Barbie's Body Image Revolution: Studio 5

Recently, Mattel, the makers of the Barbie doll, has announced that they are creating their icon dolls to look more realistic, more diverse, and more like the little girls who play with them. As a therapist and someone who is very interested in our cultural messages about women, I think this is a great thing! Here are some reasons why:

The New Barbies Help Us Redefine Beauty Barbie is iconic and from the time that they're little, young girls internalize the idea that beauty means blonde, thin, and busty. But the new barbie dolls will help us expand our definition of what's beautiful, as girls can play with figures that have different hair colors, styles, and shapes. We can begin to better appreciate that beauty isn't limited to platinum blonde or a size 0.

The New Barbies Help Us Celebrate Diversity Another reason that the new barbies are a good thing is because they're no longer just white! The dolls now have a range of 7 different skin tones, so we'll again be expanding the definition of what is beautiful, what is desirable, and what is attractive. It's time we realize that diversity is something to acknowledge and also to celebrate.

The New Barbies Better Reflect the Real World Up until recently, Barbie has been an idealized version of beauty, but it seems that culturally we're ready for something that better represents who we really are. The new dolls are ethnically diverse, have different body sizes (including curvy, petite, and tall), and they also come with accessories that can help express a variety of hobbies and activities. This can help foster the idea that what makes girls interesting is not just the clothes they wear, but also what's in their minds and hearts.

What are YOUR thoughts on the new Barbie dolls?