FROM LEFT: GAMMA-KEYSTONE VIA GETTY IMAGES; AP PHOTO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
LOSING
HER EDGE
Matthew Hudak, an analyst at
consumer analytics firm Euromonitor International. Instead
of Barbie, parents are opting for
dolls and toys less representative
of the so-called “princess culture” that teaches little girls they
should strive to be white, thin,
beautiful, and with a man.
“Parents aren’t really going after
Barbie for their daughters — they’re
looking towards these other brands
— because Barbie has this running
HUFFINGTON
03.02.14
stigma that it creates a negative
self-image for a girl,” he said. “It’s
something that’s been in the background for some time, and now it’s
really starting to develop more.”
But if Barbie goes down, she’ll
fall as the icon Mattel created her
to be, not as a doll catering to the
whims of her critics. The company launched a campaign earlier
this month featuring photos of
Barbie and the hashtag “unapologetic,” encouraging girls to follow
Barbie’s example and not apologize for how they look.
The campaign also includes a
Left: The
Barbie Doll in
Nightgown in
1963. Right:
The coverwrap of Sports
Illustrated’s
50th
anniversary
annual
swimsuit issue.