Meet Barbie: The Ultimate Manifestation Muse
Images courtesy of Mattel, Warner Bros, and Getty Images
There is no denying that Barbie is an icon, a legend, and after the success of the new Barbie film starring Margot Robbie – she will be the topic of discussion for quite some time. Whether you played with her as a child or now find yourself buying a doll for your little one(s). Her influence is ubiquitous and spans decades – connecting people from all over the world. She has had over 200 careers, has traveled to multiple countries, and has been a muse to well-renowned artists and designers such as Andy Warhol and Oscar de la Renta.
Before her inception, young girls only played with baby and paper dolls. These dolls slowly groomed little girls to be nurturing and affectionate. They were the perfect toys to condition and elicit acceptable behavior from women during that time. However, when Barbie debuted in 1959, it completely changed the game. Girls could manifest their dreams on the doll, and as time passed, Barbie became many things and held numerous titles. She gave young girls hope, and she did many things in her world that a lot of women in our world had not yet accomplished.
My earliest memories of Barbie are similar to other women. I would play dress up, create elaborate scenarios during playtime, and even try cornrowing her hair to practice my skills. Sadly, that skill never stuck, and I am one of the few black women that can't braid hair or lay down their edges, but that's a story for another time. My love and appreciation for her dwindled as I grew older, similar to Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. My body began to change, and as it did, I no longer could relate to her, and I soon bought into the superficial narrative surrounding my once favorite toy.
However, once I heard the film had been greenlit, a sense of nostalgia washed over me. I couldn't wait to get my ticket, and I got even more excited once I saw Issa Rae as President Barbie in the official trailer. I had plans to go with a group of friends and dress in all pink – not too far from my current reality – but ultimately took myself on a solo date to an early morning viewing. The film was fantastic! It was funny, corny, heartfelt, and frustrating. I was transported back to my adolescence, and my inner child had a field day when she recognized all her favorite outfits and accessories. As I watched the film, I realized that Barbie and I weren't much different after all. Even as a doll, she deals with the scrutiny that real women face. Her body alone has been a topic of discussion for decades, and because of it, Mattel recently released newer versions that represent real women today.
As the film showcased the harsh duality of our two worlds, the message that stood out the most was the importance of self-discovery. On Barbie's journey, she had to step outside her comfort zone and inspire change, and Ken had to learn who he was outside of Barbie's shadow.
Additionally, I recognized that Barbie was, in fact, single. Before the film, I thought Barbie was married to Ken. I mistakenly assumed they were because they were always together. Upon further research, I learned that he was created in 1961 after consumers complained about Barbie's singledom. However, they never married– just dated, so in government recognition…SINGLE.
She owned her own property, car, and money. She surrounded herself with other incredible women that sharpened her. She wasn't afraid to start over and change careers - I'm sure capitalism had a large part in that, but let's reframe our thinking. Her relationship with Ken was secondary and never clouded who she was and what she wanted to accomplish. It was a beautiful tale of self-acceptance and reminded me of the true intention used to craft her into a tool for manifestation.
“ I discovered something very important. They were using these dolls to project their dreams of their own futures as adult women. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take that play pattern and three-dimensionalize it?”
Whether she is encouraging you to follow your dreams, helping you not to be afraid of starting over or highlighting the beauty in being independent and free. She is the ultimate manifestation muse and will continue to inspire our culture, whether good or bad. We just have to decide which narrative we want to prevail. If you've seen the film, I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments. If you haven't, I encourage you to see it and report back!
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