Plastic (Role) Models?

Barbie's life in plastic does seem rather fantastic; she has access to a limitless wardrobe, a lavish mansion complete with an elevator, and a dashing sports car (obviously in all pink). Not to mention, she has "her giant breasts and high-heeled feet" to look good for all the Kens in her world (354). Who wouldn't want breasts "so out of proportion" you would "fall flat on [your] face" (353)? Sounds to me like a once-upon-a-time fantasy without a happily ever after.

In today's society, these "twisted" ideals of women are subliminally incorporated into our culture: they're present in our music, our advertisements, and the list goes on. Women, therefore, are caught in a paradox. They are reminded of striving towards these unattainable, oversexualized, and rather plastic, features while being told that wearing revealing clothing is skimpy and having such features warrants being labelled a whore, a slut. However, being too covered up warrants being labelled an uptight Jesus-fanatic hag.

At a time like this, it seems almost crucial that everyone examines the true rhetoric of the feminist movement. The movement is about the "social, political, and economic equality for both sexes," as quoted by notable feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. These ideals can only be met with cooperation between both sexes in smashing down gender roles, with the enthusiasm of Beyonce smashing down windows.

As a society, we create unrealistic beauty ideals for women. Such that when women do fit the plastic mold, we act as if we're seeing pink elephants. Barbie can no longer be seen as a role model for children to aspire to be. Rather, she is a model for the patriarchy's fantasy, of which shall never have once upon a times or happily ever afters.