WE CAN DO ANYTHING WITH BARBIE
ELIZABETH NELSON
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY
METHOD RESULTS
INTRODUCTION Students in the course, Reality, Fantasy, and The scene I created in my diorama was of the glass ceiling
the Media, saw both videos mentioned above that many women find on their way up the corporate ladder.
The film Media Impact describes how film
and then created dioramas using Barbie and The corporate world sees families as a setback for women. So,
and television affect thoughts and attitudes.
Ken to depict a media image of women or I put pictures of her family to demonstrate their importance to
Mass communication is not limited to these
couples. They discussed their dioramas in a her. I gave Barbie a nicely decorated office, however it is small.
forms of media. Toys can influence
journal entry: Why did you choose this scene? I chose this scene because it is a very important topic for
perceptions of self and others. The video
How does it relate to representing women or women. They are going to college to get high paying jobs. But if
Barbie Nation tells viewers that Barbie has
couples in the media? The professor displayed they have a family, this will hold them back. It seems that
impacted both children’s and adults’ views
the dioramas for the university community. television is trying to step away from this image. For example,
on body image, sexual relationships, gender
roles, and family life. Ally McBeal has a high level job, though she has no family.
Judging Amy is a show about a judge who is trying to raise a
I created a club scene that originally formed family on her own. She would have to have dedicated a great
around the feminine Ken and the masculine deal of time to her profession to reach this position. The movies
The diorama I created was a Barbie. It then evolved into a gay club with still depict women as fighters and b itchy if they make their way
covered in pictures of drag queen performers and lesbian club goers. up the corporate ladder. Julie Roberts in Erin Brockovich had to
skinny girls who are society’s stereotype This is rarely represented in media except in prove herself time and time again, even to other women. At the
of the “perfect” body and what is talk shows where the homosexual guests often end of the movie, it seemed like a great triumph since she
beautiful. The inside of the must defend themselves received a higher
box is supposed to be like from an onslaught of heterosexual level position.
Barbie’s room, with these criticism. I had originally wanted to
Barbie gives girls a false sense of reality.
pictures covering the walls play on the myth that women always
I made a more realistic situation for Barbie
to remind her how she look like Barbie and men always
For my diorama, entitled “Barbie at the
needs to strive to look look like Ken. But that message
Free Clinic.” I had mommy Barbie, with
everyday. Barbie knows that anything less seemed lost on most people who
her five small children running amuck,
than this considered ugly. Barbie, like any normal human being, still believe that if you’re not like
at the free clinic for various methods
and any woman, had a sugar craving. She gave into this Barbie then you are gay. So, I guess I
Of birth control. There was the Paranoid
craving and started to eat some Twinkies. Her rationalization of represented a false stereotype. The project
Virgin, who wanted to be dipped in latex.
this act was that she was weak and this would inevitably set her evolved on a grand scale as more dolls were
Of course I had prostitute Barbie with
back from being the ideal woman, hence the strip across the added and more members of my family helped
Her various STD’s and backpack/sleeping roll. And finally Barbie
box saying “After binging, Barbie knew the damage from the and added impact.
finding out about her STD’s for the very first time. STD’s lay a
second Twinkie would b e irreparable.” There is a mirror inside
I created adventure Barbie and turned her into a rock predominating role in our world, and yet the world of Barbie is
the box on the wall showing Barbie’s perception of herself after
climber. I included all sorts of action photographs that somehow immune to all b ad things. STD’s is still a taboo topic in
she indulged in the Twinkies. It is a picture of a woman much
helped describe Barbie’s lifestyle. I work at Outdoors, America. I wanted to bring attention to our own views of the world
heavier than she obviously is. Because of this perception,
Inc., and I see how very little women participate in by introducing the evils of our world onto Barbie’s perfect world.
Barbie did not feel like her life was worth anything. So, she took
it by hanging herself. Twinkie cream still covered her lips to extreme Sports. I do myself, but I will say it is very
show how quickly she came to the conclusion that she was difficult. I have found only one other woman rock
DISCUSSION
ugly. This box was not meant to be disturbing, but to merely climber in Memphis to train and climb with. My only
show the images young girls and young women feel they need other choice is males, but they give me a hard time The Barbie diorama can be created by both male and female
to fit in order to be considered beautiful and having any worth. whether they know it or not. When I climb, most routes students in a variety of courses to depict the individual’s
are structured for taller people, which tend to be men. understanding of topics such as stereotypes, discrimination,
Representing Women discusses women doing what fantasy, violence, propaganda, psychopathology, drug abuse,
men usually do, and men try to and dreams.
put them back where they were.
Men don’t like seeing women • “It was a fun project that allowed for creativity.”
stepping on their toes. •“While this might be exaggeration, I did feel the environment
was a little male hostile, and at times I felt downright
uncomfortable. But that is ok, I understand the course would
have to be altered greatly to change that, which would affect
the effectiveness of the class itself. I enjoyed this class
thoroughly.”