Wide Bariety

By: Kimberly Benevente

Barbie has always had a perfect life. I mean who doesn’t want a cute boyfriend, a huge house, and a closet filled with all the clothes you could dream of?  In reality no one’s life is perfect and neither is their body.

The new body types vary from tall to petite to curvy and there are even new skin tones, eye colors, and hairstyles! According to Evelyn Mazzocco from the Barbie Company “The variety allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them.” When I was younger my cousin and I would always pick out dolls that had similar characteristics, but we usually ended up with a doll who was built like Barbie, tall and slender. The new variety will allow girls to match their height, size and even eye shape, so girls will no longer compare themselves to a doll who doesn’t look like them.

Despite Mattel’s efforts, some might feel as if the changes were made just for the money. For example, the dolls all have different clothing and shoe sizes requiring people to pay extra just so the doll can have daily attire. Not just that, but when you buy a set of clothes another doll comes with the set, bumping up the price. Mattel.com says “Clothing is designed to mix and match with dolls of the same body type”

Although I am positive Mattel will receive a financial boost, ultimately the three new body types will provide the coming generations a positive body image beyond the “perfect” body.