36th Annual Student Research Conference
Barbie: An Icon of Impossible Beauty Standards
Valeria Di Francesco
Ms. Dalaney Widiger, Faculty Mentor
Barbie has been an icon of femininity and a role model for girls since the early 1960s. This research is about the influence of Barbie Dolls on the self-perception of their audience’s body image. This project reviewed four studies that observed the phenomenon of how exposure to Barbie from a young age affects beauty standards in young girls. It was found that dolls and media encourage unrealistic and unhealthy ideals, which contribute to body dissatisfaction and internalized misconceptions, especially in girls from a very young age. This then can lead to serious consequences, such as mental health issues and eating disorders. Since Barbie is regarded as a considerable part of the problem and has been at the center of controversies regarding the lack of representation of different bodies, Mattel responded by introducing different body types in their Fashionistas Barbie doll line, which is their most inclusive so far.
Keywords: Women & Gender's Studies, Beauty Standards , Self-Image, Barbie Dolls
Topic(s):Women's and Gender Studies
English
Psychology
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Session: 106-5
Location: SUB 3202
Time: 9:30