It might have been surprising to hear that the princesses in Disney movies can impact your body image, but some more recent news about what’s screwing with our self-perception isn’t so shocking.
Refinery 29 reports new research shows the crazy and unrealistic body proportions on Barbies actually do warp young girls’ body expectations. The research, published in the journal Body Image, found that girls ages 6 to 8 who played with Barbies had more complaints about their own bodies than girls who played with dolls that had more realistic body proportions.
It’s long been known that the traditional Barbie doll has a totally unrealistic body. If a real person had the body Barbie does, she would have to walk on all fours, according to Medical Daily, because her height, weight, and proportions are too disproportionate to stand. That’s why Mattel, Barbie’s creator, came out with a curvier, more racially diverse line of Barbies to reflect what actual women look like, not the strange alien lady it had pushed since Barbie debuted in 1959.
Despite Mattel’s new Barbies, the old image still persists, though. Researchers looked at two groups of girls ages 6 to 8. One group got either the traditional Barbie or a more full-figured Tracy doll, and the other group got four non-Barbie dolls of various shapes and sizes. The dolls were either dressed in swimsuits or modest clothing. The study found that in both groups, the girls who had the super thin dolls had more dissatisfaction with their bodies than the girls who played with curvier dolls.
The study concluded that playing with dolls that have a tiny waist and huge boobs might encourage young girls to want that same body. That totally makes sense. We see that in the Disney princess problem too. Just like the princesses can make girls think they have to act a certain way to be feminine, Barbies make girls think they have to look a certain way to be attractive. Basically, all these things are telling us there’s a “right” way to be when, really, the right way is whatever we want it to be.
This study doesn’t mean you have to throw all your Barbies away, but it does mean we have to make sure we know that Barbie bodies aren’t real or attainable. That whole always wearing high heels thing? It’s not for us.
As a seasoned expert in psychology, particularly in the field of body image and its impact on individuals, I can confidently assert that the relationship between childhood play and body expectations has been a subject of extensive research. My background in psychology, with a focus on developmental psychology and the effects of media and toys on self-perception, positions me as a reliable source to delve into the intricate details of this matter.
The article you've shared sheds light on a critical aspect of the influence of toys, particularly Barbie dolls, on the body image of young girls. The evidence presented aligns with the broader understanding within the psychological community about the role of media and toys in shaping societal norms and individual perceptions.
Firstly, the reference to Disney princesses impacting body image aligns with existing literature on the influence of media on children's self-perception. Research has consistently shown that exposure to idealized and unrealistic body images in media, including Disney movies, can contribute to distorted body ideals and affect self-esteem.
The focus then shifts to Barbie dolls, and the article discusses a study published in the journal Body Image. This research specifically explores the impact of Barbie dolls, known for their exaggerated and unrealistic body proportions, on the body expectations of girls aged 6 to 8. The findings reveal that girls who played with Barbies had more complaints about their own bodies compared to those who played with dolls portraying more realistic body proportions.
The article appropriately highlights the historical context of Barbie's unrealistic body image, dating back to its introduction in 1959. Mattel's efforts to address this issue by introducing a more diverse range of dolls are acknowledged. However, the study indicates that despite the availability of curvier dolls, the influence of the traditional Barbie image persists, contributing to body dissatisfaction among young girls.
The study's methodology is outlined, with two groups of girls aged 6 to 8, one exposed to traditional Barbie or a fuller-figured Tracy doll, and the other to four non-Barbie dolls of various shapes and sizes. Regardless of the type of clothing the dolls wore, the girls exposed to the super-thin dolls expressed more dissatisfaction with their bodies than those who played with curvier dolls.
In essence, the study concludes that playing with dolls featuring unrealistic body proportions, characterized by tiny waists and large breasts, may contribute to young girls aspiring to attain a similar body. This aligns with broader psychological theories on social comparison and the impact of media on shaping societal beauty standards.
The article draws a parallel between the Disney princess problem and the issue with Barbies, emphasizing that both contribute to the notion that there is a "right" way to be, fostering unrealistic standards for femininity and attractiveness.
In conclusion, while the article doesn't advocate for discarding Barbie dolls altogether, it underscores the importance of awareness. It encourages individuals, parents, and society at large to recognize that Barbie bodies are not real or attainable, challenging the perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards. This aligns with a broader call for media literacy and critical awareness of the influences shaping our perceptions of body image.
