In her essay “Our Barbies, Ourselves,” Emily Prager delves into the history and symbolism of the Barbie doll. Prager argues that Barbie is a creation of men and represents sexualization and anti-feminism. She uses expressive and persuasive language to convince readers that Barbie is a manipulative tool against the feminist movement. However, despite her efforts, I remained unconvinced and found fault in her perspective on Barbie.
Barbie is described as a unique blend of sexiness and intelligence, satisfying both the fantasies of men and the ideals of femininity. In paragraph 7, Prager discusses her thoughts on Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, highlighting his lack of sexuality compared to Barbie’s overtly sexual persona. The plainness of Ken’s appearance stands in stark contrast to Barbie’s curvaceous body. Prager believes that this is due to Ken’s hidden sexuality and Barbie’s exposed sensuality. While Barbie’s breasts remain braless and larger than life, Ken possesses little sexuality, leading Prager to conclude that Barbie must be sexually frustrated, unable to provoke any response from Ken. However, I believe that Prager fails to convince the reader that Barbie is solely a product of male fantasy or a representation of modern feminism. Instead, this essay highlights how Barbie embodies both aspects. She is appealing to men, admirable to women, and a toy that young girls aspire to be like in the future. Personally, I remain devoted to my Barbie dolls without seeing them as either seductresses or objects of sexual frustration.
