I have to say that I am not surprised but am throughly disappointed that the news has come out that Barbie has created a Hunger Games inspired Katniss Everdeen doll. It probably is a good business decision due to the tremendous box office, but it still sucks.
I know, I know. There are many Barbie fans in the world. I am not one of them. Yes, Barbie does have many aspirational dolls. There even is President Barbie. There is also TV newscaster; vet; Soccer player; doctor. There is even an Angela Merkel Barbie doll.
But for every aspirational Barbie there is Ballerina Barbie; Barbie Tea Party Princess Doll; Barbie Royal Dress Up Doll; Beautiful Fairy Barbie Doll; Princess Bride Doll; Beach Doll.
I hate that we need dolls for aspiration. I hate that Barbies pervade our culture and that we get overwhelmingly excited when they create a non demeaning Barbie. I just wish we didn’t need these. I wish that girls didn’t get so freaked out with excitement about Barbie. I wish that girls who hated Barbie were seen for their awesomeness instead of their otherness. I wish that moms didn’t have to fight to deal with the unrealistic body images when girls play with Barbies.
I will give them a couple of points for making Barbie look like Katniss in the actual games. At least that’s a powerful image. But it still doesn’t make it ok.
The Hunger Games: Mattel debuts Katniss Everdeen Barbie — EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK (EW)
