America's Obsession

Lauren Minchella

AP English Language

Mrs. Provost

November 8, 2006

Barbie: America’s Obsession

When you picture the perfect body, what image do you get in your mind? Skinny, big-boobed, tiny waist, nice butt…Barbie. If she were to be enlarged to human size, she’d have a 39-inch bust, a 19-inch waist, and a 33-inch buttocks. She’d be over 7 feet tall and weigh an impressive 115 pounds. She’s perfect! She has no body hair whatsoever, long, beautiful blonde hair, bright blue eyes, plump lips, long legs, and tiny feet.

Since the 1950’s, Barbie has been a symbol for females everywhere. She has become more than the doll that Ruth Handler once envisioned as a simple plaything for her daughter, Barbara (the doll’s namesake.) Over the years, Barbie has had over 75 careers; she has been everything from a registered nurse to a figure skater to a rock star. Barbie from the beginning represented what the American teenager should be. The advertisements presented Barbie as a living teenager that most young girls would want to imitate. Barbie started off with a sideways glance, heavy makeup and numerous different hair colors, and eventually evolved into the blonde bombshell we all know today. Soon Ken, Barbie’s “main squeeze” was introduced, later Midge, Barbie’s best friend, then Skipper, Barbie’s little sister. And many other different members of the Barbie family started to pop up. Soon there was a Barbie in every race imaginable.

Although Barbie has her numerous amount of fans, there are also the critics. Barbie has encountered numerous controversies during her 47-year reign. Islamic countries have banned Barbie dolls stating that she did not conform to the laws of Islam. In 1992, Teen Talk Barbie was released. Each doll was programmed to say 4 out of 270 phrases. One of these phrases was “Math class is tough!” this led to a public outcry against Mattel and Barbie. People thought it was dumbing down the female gender.

But the most common criticisms of Barbie is that she promotes an unrealistic idea ...

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But the most common criticisms of Barbie is that she promotes an unrealistic idea of body image for a woman, leading to a risk that women who attempt to emulate her will become anorexic. Critics have argued that for a woman to have Barbie's body, she would need to be 7 feet 2 inches tall, weigh 115-130 pounds, have 30 to 36 inch hips, an 18 to 23 inch waist and a 38 to 48 inch bust.{cite} She would lack the percentage of body fat needed for a woman to menstruate. So what would be necessary to achieve Barbie’s “perfection”?

First Step: The Boobs

Barbie has the perfect chest, large, and perky. The perfect shape. Now this is easy to achieve, you need to consult your plastic surgeon and tell him of your goal. Most will do anything for money. You need to request about a 39-I, to get Barbie’s perfect chest. There is more than one type of implant of course, you can choose between Saline or Silicone. Saline implants have less risk factors, but the long-term effects have yet to be tested. But what does that matter…Barbie doesn’t get old!!

Second Step: The Waist

To get Barbie’s 19-inch waist, it’s a little more complicated. You’re either going to need to remove a few ribs, or get a really good corset. By wearing a tightly laced corset for a long period of time, you can learn to tolerate extreme waist constriction, and reduce your natural waist size. This could be painful…but hey it hurts to be beautiful!

Third Step: The Butt

To get Barbie’s butt, while also maintaining your tiny waist, and muscular legs you’ll need to get butt implants. Finding a surgeon who performs this surgery could be hard, only about 100 plastic surgeons are trained to perform gluteal implants. Butt implants are made of a hard silicone, and come in different shapes and sizes. But there really is not any other way to achieve Barbie’s amazing booty.

Fourth Step: The Feet

To get Barbie’s tiny little feet you’ll either need to have some bones removed, or simply bind your feet for a few years. Binding your feet can be painful and is actually illegal, but its worth it when you can fit into those size 4 stilettos!

Fifth Step: The Lips

To get the lips, you’ll need tons of injections. There is actually numerous different types of injections, there’s Autologen, Dermalogen, Fascia, Hylaform, Radiance, and Restalyne. The injections only last 9-12 weeks, and while many techniques exist, none are really ideal. It could be painful, and definitely will be to your wallet.

Sixth Step: The Eyes

Now the eyes are probably the simplest and least expensive, ‘contacts’. Although we are in the process of developing a surgery to change the color of your eyes. At the moment, there is pigments that can be injected into the iris to change the color, however the long-term effects haven’t been tested, and could prove devastating. You wouldn’t want to go blind, you couldn’t look at yourself in the mirror.

Seventh Step: The Hair

To get Barbie’s hair, you’ll need extensions, a lot of bleach, and some very expensive chemical straightening. Chemical Straightening can take up to 6 hours, and cost thousands of dollars. Also, it needs to be repeated every time new hair grows.

Eighth Step: Hair Removal

A close tie with the feet binding, for the most painful. You’ll need to get waxed from head to toe, your chest, your back, your arms, your legs, your bikini, EVERYTHING!!

Some processes to achieve Barbie’s perfection are still in the process of being developed. We haven’t developed the removal of the nipples, its in the process. Another development being researched is an adherent latex coating, which women can be dipped in to achieve Barbie’s flawless perfection and shine.

So altogether these steps are painful, and will cost you a lot of money. But don’t you think it’s worth it to be able to achieve perfection, get any man you want, as well as any job you desire. Barbie has the perfect body, the perfect job, and the perfect life, who wouldn’t want to be her?