The Formation of a Vision

I uncover some shocking information! In July 1998, ABC and PBS presented documentaries on the influence of the Barbie doll on society. During the PBS Point of View documentary, Barbie Nation, girls under 10-years-old were shown playing with Barbies. These girls believed that if they “were not at least a little bit pretty (like Barbie), people wouldn’t like them and they wouldn’t have any friends.” In this same program, an art student related her story of bulimia. She wanted her thighs to appear like Barbie’s. She felt that her body became her enemy as she tried to become “perfect.” However, if Barbie were a real woman, she would probably have to walk on all fours based on her proportions.

I had been talking to women about their unique shapes and how they don’t honor their bodies. I thought to myself, why doesn’t someone come up with a doll that has more of a woman’s shape? Why not have seven dolls represented by the Greek goddesses, each dressed in unique costumes, with distinct personality qualities and body shapes to be used as teaching tools and role models for young girls?

I presented my idea to my retreat group and received a resounding, “Yes”! They would love to have a doll to represent personality archetypes and their different body shapes and would love their little girls to play with them. Something within me told me that I MUST do it!