Saturday, October 30, 2010

you've come a long way, Barbie

I was on the launch team of the first Take Our Daughters to Work Day in 1993, conspiring with Nell Merlino and Ms. Foundation for Women to help girls see themselves (and be seen) in roles they may not have imagined. One role we never imagined back then is sponsorship from the makers of Barbie, who'd just been convinced to stop programming her to say "Math is tough!" You've come a long way, Barbie. From fashion model with "purse and gloves and hats and all the gadgets gals adore" to role-model for 125 careers, a transformation artfully portrayed in latest commercial cleverly aimed at Barbie gatekeepers--Moms. Here's a link. Now if only we could evolve those pinup proportions.
(Found this gem on Metal Potential)


4 comments:

California Girl said...

That is a really nice commercial. So different from when we were little.

Do you know, I still have my Barbies and the clothes, many of which are original, as if my pony tailed Barbie. I get a big kick out of them. My mom kept my dolls wrapped up and put away for 40 years. I rec'd them a couple of years ago when Dad died. It was something else to unpack and look at everything and, yes, play with them.

Ad Broad, oldest working writer in advertising said...

What a collection, California Girl! You could probably make a mint on ebay. But who'd want to give up original Bathing Beauty Barbie?! Too much fun!

Howie said...

Dolls are interesting. It seems Society tends to use Dolls/Imagination Playtime to often in ways of negative reinforcement. Barbie is for Girls. GI Joe is for Boys. And you had better forget girl ever of thinking you will be a Navy Seal when you are 7 years old. And boy you had better forget the thought of being a fabulous fashion designer at the same age.

I am glad this is changing albeit slowly. Thanks for the thoughtful post Helen. Been little awhile since I did a drive by here =)

Ad Broad, oldest working writer in advertising said...

Thanks for the read and kind words Howie. Glad you drove by!