Barbie and Things

In these two passages from Part II: Becoming a Woman in Our Society, one main idea is advocated. The ideal image of a woman, whichever way it is spread, is detrimental to the actual women. The two ways discussed in these chapters are through Barbie dolls and women’s magazines. One woman recounts that “if you didn’t look like Barbie you didn’t fit in.” All women to some extent strive to become the perfect woman, and Barbie really did set the limits way to high. “Barbie is the only toy in the Western world that human beings actively try to mimic…” Women are becoming suppressed by a doll that is supposed to portray their gender. My favorite part of the first chapter is when the woman relates the Barbie dolls to the Third Reich. Because every single girl wants to become a blonde haired blue eyed replica of Barbie, the doll did what Hitler could not succeed in doing. For young girls to believe that becoming Barbie is the only acceptable way to live is an extremely sad circumstance. How is it possible to set your dreams solely on a plastic doll? The next chapter talks about the effect that magazines have on women. “Teen magazines’ glorification of boy-focused, looks-based, prom-obsessed idiocy reinforces every negative stereotype that has ever been used to justify – and ensure – women’s second class status.” These magazines paint an impossible picture for women that they turn into their dream. They teach women how to be perfect, a goal that is impossible for every person. Both these outlets have created a perfect image for what a woman should be. A class mate of mine, Nina said:

I couldn’t if I were a Handmaid because I would have to wear the red uniform. But maybe Uniformity is the only way to eliminate the irrational despair that goes through the minds of all girls who throw up on purpose and starve themselves.

http://3nina.wordpress.com/

I cannot help but agree with this statement. We are reading the dystopian novel A Handmaid’s Tale and in that, all the Handmaids are forced to wear a red uniform that covers their whole body. I think to some extent, the people who started this revolution whole heartedly felt that this new world they put on women would be beneficial to them. Nowadays, women will go to extreme measures to become beautiful only because there is that shining what if. If this perfect woman is either destroyed and uniformity is achieved, women will not yearn for the Barbie girl figure, rather, they will just be content with who they are.