Just when I thought I had seen it
all, I stand corrected.
Checking out the news the other
day I noticed Mattel was introducing a new Barbie doll. That in and of itself would not be anything
exciting but, this is a new century with exciting changes.
Let’s begin with Barbie’s real
name, Barbara Millicent Roberts. No lie.
She was created in 1959, in time
for my sister to get more than one Barbie doll during her childhood. Christmas, birthdays, Easter, and practically
any other time a gift was involved, so was a new Barbie doll.
Not without controversy, Barbie
was created in a less than fact-based frame.
Yes, the world’s buttinski’s became involved because of her slim waist
line and overly accentuated other features.
They were panned as unrealistic although none of the little girls
playing with them noticed.
This was so troubling that a
Barbie play bathroom scale was added in one of her dream houses. It was permanently set at 110 pounds. Evidently this was to appease people without
lives.
Barbie eventually found a
boyfriend in a fellow named Kenneth Carson, aka. Ken. It seems as though Barbie and Ken have had an
on-again, off-again relationship for decades leaving not one wrinkle on either
of these lovers.
But political correctness joined
Barbie in form of Colored Francie.
Again, controversy arose because there were no other real problems in
1967.
Apparently the doll Gestapo, upon
close examination, realized Francie was made from the same mold as Barbie, only
with a brown pigment added. The lack of
minority features to include less Caucasian features upset many making Colored
Francie’s debut less successful than hoped for.
Meanwhile, Barbie accessories
could be had for the beach, snow skiing, hiking, and even books for
reading. She was living large with her
many dream houses and vehicles to include Corvettes, Jeeps, and even a
trailer. Perhaps that was for an
upcoming Trailer Trash Barbie.
Speaking of which, a Barbie was
issued with stick-on tattoos, including one for her lower back, known as a
“tramp stamp.” Let’s include everyone
seems to be the theme here.
Because of the failure of Colored
Francie, Mattel was determined to be all inclusive with their introduction of
Oreo Fun Barbie. Once again, the easily
offended found trouble with the disturbing name. No kidding.
Of course there were good things
that came with owning Barbies.
My sister learned to sew by
making outfits for Barbie, although her Barbie army always seemed to be
naked. I suppose she dressed them before
they went out on the town to meet up with the rest of the crew. There was Todd, Skipper, Stacie, and even
Hispanic Teresa.
But now there is a new Barbie
soon arriving for little girls – and boy, I guess – with which to play.
Evidently Mattel has given up on
black versions of Barbie so “Hijarbie” is the latest of the Barbie group to hit
the scene. For real.
Hijab-wearing Barbie is a Muslim
doll that was created possibly to give the whiners of the doll world something
about which to complain in the absence of race nitpicking.
Good luck with accessories for
this doll.
