Perspective: Barbie: Food for the Soul or Fanciful Nostalgia?

Abstract

Perspective: Barbie: Food for the Soul or Fanciful Nostalgia?☆ Ellen S Rome Center for Adolescent Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case, Cleveland, OH, United States A B S T R A C T This perspectives piece analyzes the “Barbie” movie and its impact on its viewership. In contrast to prior research demonstrating that images of Barbie objectified girls, lowered self-esteem, and promoted body dysmorphia, with social media focus on “Fitspiration” as well as “Thinspiration” amplifying the negative effect, the Barbie movie may have more positive impact than one might predict. As gleaned from an informal survey of patients, parents, and peers, the messages of the Barbie movie include a mix of body positivity, recognition of the impact of depression and other aspects of mental health, critique of the perceived societal patriarchy, and a message of empowerment for girls, females, and people otherwise unrecognized. Keywords: Barbie, Barbie movie, body image, body positivity, empowerment, impact on youth, positive youth development