Many writers and filmmakers who address gender issues cite dolls, specifically Barbie, as a significant influence on female body image. In Tough Guise, Jackson Katz implies that the increased musculature of action figures leads boys to feel inadequate and overcompensate with violent behavior. But how much of an influence on gender-related body image can a toy really exert? The Onion mocks such concerns with its piece about Bratz dolls with enormous heads. The Simpsons playfully grapples with the issue in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy." To what extent has your body image been influenced by dolls and action figures?
I think people are less influenced by dolls than they are by other people. Girls will see celebrities in magazines or on TV and compare themselves to them and wonder why they don't have the qualities that celebrities have to be famous. I think this is mostly because girls look at celebrities as real people, whereas they see dolls as plastic. I also think that because unrealistic dolls have gotten so much media attention, girls will play with the dolls knowing that they aren’t anatomically correct.
ReplyDeleteI think our body image is based more on how other people react to how we look and how others look than they are to molded plastic. If someone makes a remark on your body, that will have a way more dramatic results than looking at a doll – at least in my opinion. Even seeing someone else have their body commented on makes you want to try so hard to avoid that person being you, so we strive for perfection to avoid people judging us.
I think the kids toys do have an effect on the way kids feel about their body. Going back to my childhood, my favorite cartoon show was dragonball z. To those of you who are not familiar with this show, it’s based on fighting and constant displays of muscle and power. As a child I remember wanting to be strong and fit because of the show. After a few years of growing I became interested in different things, martial arts still one of them. I believe the show has programmed my mind to enjoy martial arts more than someone who wasn’t exposed to that type of environment.
ReplyDeleteI believe Barbie dolls do play a very big role with little girl’s idea of what they “have” to look like. Long hair, tall, skinny, small hands. It becomes a much bigger problem when health issues come from not wanting to be “fat”, when in fact they are already under weight.
Dolls are a symbol of childhood in my mind , from life-size dolls to pollypockets dolls are a huge craze amongst not only girls but boys as well. I started playing with dolls ever since I can remember just like millions of children do all around the world. For me the body images portrayed dolls have only influenced me to small extent. As a child I thought a girl could only be pretty if she had blonde hair and was as skinny as a toothpick. From reading magazines and throughout growing up I have learned that’s not true at all that inner beauty and being a better person matters more than what people see on the outside. A better alternative to Barbie’s and dolls like Bratz, are American Girl dolls. I think that American Girl dolls are a better doll for young girls to play with since many have a story behind them and face challenges in their own lives. Girls can relate to them better than a Barbie that is smaller than a 12 inch ruler and has no true meaning and basically just brainwashes the child that chooses to play with them. Also after viewing the Simpson’s episode I strongly agree that talking Barbie dolls are very sexist and most of the time only show girls as acting so called dumb and only caring about makeup and shopping when that is not the case at all.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that most dolls and action figures have an influence on younger children. Most dolls today, have an exadurated hour glass figure and a long hair with skimpy clothes. Children look at these dolls and think that that is what pretty is and the only type there is. When young girls feel that they have to be something that is unrealistic, they put too much pressure on themselves to be “perfect”. Girls are naturally going to be uncomfortable with their body, but the added anxiety could have them develop eating disorders and suffer from depression.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I am concerned, I don’t remember trying to be exactly like my dolls, but I tried to pick up certain things from them such as their clothes and hair styles the dolls had in commercials, when in reality on a real person, these styles didn’t “fit “ real people.
I don’t believe dolls or action figures have an effect on an individual’s body image compared to whats in the media. When I was younger I loved to play with Barbie’s and viewed the doll as a role model. To me Barbie was an inspiring independent woman who always presented herself well and was good at just about anything. Many dolls on the market are flawless because it’s what sells. I think most children that play with dolls realize that it’s only a plastic toy. It would be nice to see more of a realistic variety of dolls on the market but manufactures believe that’s not what sells. The pressures in today’s society and media have a much more powerful affect on an individual’s body image than dolls or action figures do. Media pressures affect us more than a plastic doll because they make us compare ourselves to REAL people such as celebrities or models. Giving in to media and believing that there’s a specific definition of being attractive can make us feel like we’re not good enough.
ReplyDeleteMy body image has not been influenced by toys in any way. When I was young I played with barbies like most other girls and I never let her slim waist or “perfect” face make me feel inadequate. My dolls were simply toys. I didn’t feel the need to be like her and I still don’t. I see “Barbie” or “Bratz” dolls as toys that could possibly influence kids though. After all, they don’t make any barbies that are overweight or imperfect. The boys’ toys that show unrealistic muscles are supposed to be heroes, a role model or someone to look up to, not someone that you have to be. I don’t see why people believe that you have to feel inadequate because a toy has muscles and you don’t. A toy should not run your life or make you feel inadequate; this is not what they are meant for. If people feel that this is really going on they should make ugly dolls and weak action figures, but where’s the fun in that?
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