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Barbie and Body Image: An Unrealistic Ideal (Part One)

Barbie dolls were always my favorite growing up. They still are. In fact, I still have some of my original Barbies. I’m not sure how my fascination and preference for Barbie dolls started. I had other dolls to choose from, but Barbie was the one I cherished. So, when I first read information from Body Wars by Margo Main, PhD about the reality of Barbie, I was shocked. I simply had never considered that Barbie was so proportionally unrealistic. I also hadn’t thought about the influence she has had for more than 50 years on millions of girls. This influence has helped shape our cultural ideals of what an attractive woman should look like, which contributes to body image issues and low self-esteem.

Barbie Facts

  • There are two Barbie dolls sold every second in the world.
  • The target market for Barbie doll sales is young girls ages 3 – 12 years of age.
  • A girl usually has her first Barbie by age 3 and collects a total of seven dolls during her childhood.
  • Over a billion dollars worth of Barbie dolls and accessories were sold in 1993, making this doll big business and one of the top 10 toys sold.
  • If Barbie were an actual woman, she would be 5’9” tall, have a 39” bust, an 18” waist, 33” hips and a size 3 shoe!
  • Barbie calls this a “full figure” and likes her weight at 110 lbs.
  • At 5’9” tall and weighing 110 lbs, Barbie would have a BMI of 16.24 and fit the weight criteria for anorexia. She likely would not menstruate.
  • If Barbie were a real woman, she’d have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.
  • Slumber Party Barbie was introduced in 1965 and came with a bathroom scale permanently set at 110 lbs with a book entitled “How to Lose Weight” with directions inside stating simply “Don’t eat.”
Research has shown that unrealistic media images often lead young people to diet and exercise in dangerous and unhealthy ways. Those who diet are eight times more likely to develop eating disorders and eating disorders can be fatal. So, what if there were an “average woman Barbie doll” who had realistic proportions? Would we still like her as much? Would a doll like this sell as well? Check back Tuesday for part 2!   Stacey Wald, LAPC, RD Swald @growcounseling.com