"Impossible" Barbie-- and the ludicrous/compelling impact on body image

[hlthe2b]

At this point, it's common knowledge that Barbie's body isn't the most realistic. But what would it actually look like if the famous Mattel doll was a real woman? That's what Rehabs.com set out to find out.

The search engine for locating mental health treatment centers put together an infographic using data from the 1996 study "Ken and Barbie At Life Size," which was originally published in the academic journal Sex Roles. The graphic compares the proportions of a Barbie's body to the body of the average American woman as well as the average model and the average anorexic woman.

Some of the numbers are quite striking. While Barbie's head would be two inches larger than the average U.S. woman's, her waist would be 19 inches smaller and her hips would be 11 inches smaller. Since her waist would be four inches thinner than her head, Barbie's body wouldn't have the room it needs to hold all of its vital organs, and her uber-skinny ankles and child-size feet would make it necessary for her to walk on all fours. (!!!)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/barbie-body-real-life-infographic_n_3057690.html

[gollygee]

1. Has anyone done this with the newer style Barbies?

The newer style isn't as bad, but it's still of course very unrealistic. I've seen the old style blown up to life size, which is shocking, and I'd be interested in seeing the new size blown up as well. My guess is it wouldn't be AS shocking but that it would still look weird.

[hlthe2b]

2. I don't know, but even with a casual glance at Barbies in the store-- I don't think they've changed

that much...

[gollygee]

3. They've changed quite a bit

Actually, I don't know if it's not as bad or just different, but it is very different as far as body shape goes. It would be interesting to see the weird way her back is bent on a life-size model.

http://thehairpin.com/tag/barbie-then-and-now/

[hlthe2b]

4. Maybe some, but this "newer one" looks even more anorexic to me

http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-actuallyy-Went-OMFG-in-the-difference-of-barbie-then-and-now/115096215172969

Legs are absolutely toothpicks and she appears to have an "Ann Coulter-like" body.

[gollygee]

5. Oh, I was thinking from when I was a kid

the 70s to 90s one. Yes it looks ridiculously skinny, but the life size ones are usually the style from the 70s to 90s, not the newer style or that original style.

[Helen Reddy]

6. .....

Think that was what Karen Carpenter looked like before going into her last cardiac arrest.

Edit to add: Thank you for the graphics.

[redqueen]

7. This reminded me of a post I saw a few weeks ago

about labiaplasty. Most women are not getting this procedure because they're in discomfort. Most of the time it's because they've heard negative feedback from a partner. And hearing women say they're getting breast implants 'for themselves'... what does that even mean? If they lived in a culture where breast size didn't matter, would they still get them? No? Then it's not for themselves!

Our body image is so distorted. It's insane.

Did y'all know women are cutting their little toes off now? To fit in to heels better? Yeah, that's a thing.

[hlthe2b]

8. I had my share of body image issues, but I always was horrified and felt great sympathy...

for the large breasted girls who developed early. The gawking and catcall comments--usually accompanied by very inappropriate hand gestures were just so horrible to observe... I was always small up top (and frankly very glad of it).

Of course during the time I lived in the south, I got to experience the racist implications of body image as well--since those girls with "ample" hips, thighs and butts tended to get lots of unsolicited attention from African American guys, which would elicit even more ugly response from the rest--eager to combine their childish sexism with a considerable twinge of racism. Now that's a very ugly combination. Is it any wonder girls have to (mentally/emotionally) mature so much earlier?

[redqueen]

9. There's a book called Reviving Ophelia

in which the author describes all the things that start hitting girls during adolescence.

What it breaks down to is that that's when you start to realize how much the world hates you.

[hlthe2b]

10. I've never read that book, but heard of it... One day I will.