Barbie Dolls - It's not fair to us...

by Mary Di Valerio
(St. Louis)

I'm 13 years old. On my baby sister's birthday, she recieved two Barbies. This may seem a little silly, but I as I sat in the car, pondering the Barbie's face, tears crept into my eyes, as I realized I would never, ever look like that doll. I look back at that moment and smile sadly. It's depressing that a Barbie doll could make me, a thirteen year old girl upset about the way she looks. I remember day-dreaming about traveling to the future and getting plastic surgery, returning looking exactly like Barbie. I'm a mature girl, and I'm not hyper-focused on beauty. In fact, I don't even wear makeup. If a Barbie doll could make me feel that insecure about myself, imagine how other girls feel! On Barbie's anniversary, (I forget the date) I commemerated it in my own, odd little way. I drew a picture of Barbie as a fifty-year old woman! Complete with gray hair and wrinkles! You have no idea how good that felt! (In fact, it's on my wall right now.) The Mattel Company harms girls everyday with their products. By presenting unattainable standards of beauty, they crush our spirits and ruin our self-esteem. I think this is really unfair and immoral. I say we take a stand and boycott Barbie!