Barbie as an Elitist Figure

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2002-12-24-pregnant-doll_x.htm

Before I started this assignment, I had never learned about culture jamming, but that is not to say I had never seen it before.
The first topic that came to mind was an article that I had read in my intro to Women Studies class last year by: Susan Jane Gilman. I like where she references that; "Somewhere, somehow, a message seeped into out consciousness telling us that we weren't good enough to be a bride or model or queen or anything because we weren't pretty enough. And this translated into not smart enough or likable enough, either".
Her two points become even more clearer as she makes references to barbie dolls. The view that if your not society's idea of pretty, then you can't do anything or be anyone important and subsequently this means lack of intelligence.
On the topic of beauty her reference of Barbie as, alien, is interesting. She hits the fact that Barbie was nothing like her or her friends in looks or social standing. "We urban, Jewish, Black, Asian and Latina girls began to realize slowly and painfully that if you didn't look like Barbie, you didn't fit in".
I see that as Mattels marketing flaw. They have made Barbie into an idolized image of the 'ideal feminine beauty' that for most, if not all, of the earths population can not attain.
In a final quote she seals this ideal with; "They ultimately succeed where Hitler failed: They install in legions of little girls a preference for whiteness, for blond hair, blue eyes and delicate features, for an impossible uberfigure, perched eternally and submissively in high heels".
I think that is a powerful statement, and unfortunately far too true in the case of many products for mass consumption today. Which is why her culture jam idea's for a more relatable Barbie are so intriguing. Some of her ideas include; Dinner Roll Barbie, who is significantly larger than Barbie, Bisexual Barbie, Body Piercing Barbie, Butch Barbie, Harley Barbie and a few others. My personal favourite is the anatomiclly correct Barbie called "Our Barbies, Ourselves" which includes information about the female anatomy and the ability to be pregnant.
I like this Culture jam Barbie because she reminds me of Matels attempt of this type when they brought out Barbies friend Midge in the "Happy Family Set", who was pregnant. I was an only child and had always wanted a younger sister, so to be able to act out that scenario as a child was fun and helped my feelings of longing for something I could never have. It was mere weeks after I was gifted the doll that she was pulled from the shelves of all stores. "...some parents think she is a little too real for their children". This is a snippet from the online portion of USA Today magazine of which I have included the link. That quote in a way sums up the idea that Barbie is, literally, untouchable. That she is the perfect women that every girl should strive to be, even though it is nearly impossible to be her. Therefore, Barbie is without a doubt an elitist figure which many have culture jammed.

~ Rosebud