Author and television personality Cindy Jackson loves Barbie. When she was a little girl, she thought her Barbie doll was beautiful and glamorous. As an adult, she decided to undergo surgery to look more like Barbie. Doctors made her lips and breasts larger and her waist, legs, and nose thinner. 

Of course, Cindy Jackson is an isolated case. Many children love Barbie, but few will go to such extremes to achieve the dolls’ unrealistic look. Still, critics worry about the implications of Barbie’s body type, saying it makes her a dangerous role model. Many young girls already struggle with negative body image. A report from the Department of Health and Human Services found that 80% of girls in grades 3–6 have bad feelings about their bodies. Some adults worry that playing with an unrealistically-thin doll will make girls feel worse about their own bodies. This is a serious issue, since feelings like these can lead to eating disorders. Young girls may not understand that the traditional Barbie’s body is so unnatural that if she were real, she would not be able to lift her head and would have to walk on all fours. 

Some people also feel that her emphasis on glamour, clothes, and accessories encourages girls to focus on beauty instead of school, sports, and other interests. Focusing too much on appearance may further hurt girls’ self-esteem.

For all the criticism, Barbie was actually created to empower girls. Before Barbie, most dolls were babies or little girls, not women. The woman who created Barbie thought that playing with a doll that looked like a beautiful woman would make girls feel good about growing up. While the first Barbie was blond with pale skin, Barbies now come with many different skin tones, hair types, and body types. Some people argue that girls will feel good about themselves when they role-play with a glamorous doll that reflects their own appearance.

Mattel, the company that makes Barbie, denies that the doll hurts girls’ self-esteem. Instead, Mattel says that Barbie is an empowering pioneer, who is an inspiration to millions of girls. They point to the Barbies that are shown in strong roles, such as the Olympic Gymnast Barbie and the Barbie for President doll. Seeing a woman in these roles may encourage girls to set high goals. Mattel has also released Barbies with disabilities, such as a blind Barbie with a white cane, a type 1 diabetic Barbie with an insulin pump, and a Barbie with Down syndrome. Some people say that these dolls let all girls picture themselves as strong and beautiful women.

What do you think? Is Barbie a good influence or bad influence? If you were a parent, would you buy a Barbie for your child?