Barbie Girls in a Barbie World - At the Prom?
Categories: Teens & tweens, Weird But True
Teens are all dolled up for prom. Image: Mikael Buck, Solentnews.biz
Perhaps driven by our red carpet culture, where their favorite celebs show off the latest styles in front of the cameras, British teens in the county of Hampshire, like their American counterparts, make a big deal of their arrival at prom -- showing up in limos and daring attire, and finding other ways to make a stir. Sixteen-year-olds Sammy Burns and Megan Barton took stir-making a giant leap further. At the suggestion of Sammy's mom, Debbie, the girls went as Barbies -- not just all dolled up, but complete with box and bar code.
Designed by Sammy's uncle, the boxes took two weeks to complete and are astonishingly accurate -- they even have a price tag. To add to the fun, Sammy's uncle and brother dressed up as delivery men and brought the girls in on hand carts. A forty-minute line -- forty minutes, that must be some prom! -- ensured that the girls' efforts paid off. Everyone noticed their arrival.
Properly unique for prom, yes. But Barbies are anything but individual. This stunt was definitely creative -- and well played. But as a mom, I wonder if it's entirely appropriate that these girls are packaging themselves up as dolls -- specifically, as anatomically, over-the-top playthings.
Sammy's mom said that she was inspired by her daughter's childhood love of Barbie dolls, so I'm sure they just viewed it as a harmless stunt. But what does it say about these girls that Barbie is what they aspire to be, even just for a night? And, since the Barbie folks own American Girl, is that what they'll dress as for graduation?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Princess Poon 7-10-2009 @ 6:50PM
Good LORD, Bethany--just let them enjoy their moment without turning it into some psychologically damaging "image subjugation." The girls were having a little fun--you DO know fun, don't you?
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Karen 7-11-2009 @ 8:47AM
I agree. Creative and fun!
Geez!
Kevin 7-31-2009 @ 3:15AM
Princess Poon...(I love that SN) You said exactly what I wanted to say and you did it very well!!
Julia 7-13-2009 @ 10:55AM
Todays woman should be able to play too. The mark of true success in being liberated is the confidence to be what you want to be and to have fun doing it.
Shannon 7-12-2009 @ 11:23PM
Good grief! Where is the author's sense of humour? This was obviously done just for fun!
sassy 7-12-2009 @ 11:29PM
Totally agree....
Also, Barbie has her own house...her own car...a FABULOUS wardrobe...has had may careers such as doctor, teacher, model...if that's a bimbo, I wanna be one too.
Lynn 7-15-2009 @ 12:59AM
Geesh...when are we going to get over the Barbie issue? With all the other influences I don't think Barbie is is that big a problem anymore. It was all in good fun and very creative. I agree with you.
Morgan 7-20-2009 @ 1:25PM
Barbie is a doll not a person, any qualities she has are soley given to her by other people. Barbie's invention was created to serve as an homage to women not a degradation. If mothers teach their children good morals and self awareness then Barbie shouldn't be a negative influence.
Dave 7-10-2009 @ 7:11PM
It's all in good fun! Dressing up like this for a showy party does not mean they want to BE Barbie, any more than dressing up as a ghost for Halloween means you want to be dead. In fact, they don't look to be dressed any more or less like Barbie than anyone in a prom dress, they just made their entrance in an original, noticeable fashion. For that matter, what's wrong with wanting to be like Barbie? She's a generally good-looking woman who is a teacher, veterinarian, doctor, nurse, astronaut, bathing beauty, businesswoman, care-giver, et cetera, et cetera. Isn't Barbie really about being whatever you want to be?
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LS 7-10-2009 @ 9:49PM
First off, I would really like to know where all of these "scarred" women are who placed their entire aspirations on a doll. Seriously, I played with Barbie CONSTANTLY when I was a kid. And this was Barbie of the '70's, when her arms first got bent and her hair got curly, and she didn't have any jobs yet... but she had boobs out to THERE, no waist to speak of, and permanent high-heeled feet. You know what? I GAVE HER JOBS! She had horses, lots of them. She was a singer - a star. She was a teacher, sometimes she was a housewife. Sometimes she was president of the U.S. She was whatever I wanted her to be. And I never... not ONCE... compared myself to her, thinking, "gee, I can NEVER be THAT beautiful". I really think all this "Barbie is evil" and "Barbie sets unrealistic body-image for girls" crap comes from people who just like to stir up controversy. Honestly. If people think that playing with a doll is going to warp children for life, those kids are leading pretty pathetic lives. Or the adults are waaay overthinking children's play.
And as for these girls going to prom in boxes? Aside from the claustrophobic aspect of it, WAY cool!!! They'll remember that prom for the rest of their lives, and you can bet that their classmates will be telling that story as well. (frankly, I don't see it as any different than kids here in the U.S. going to prom in Duct Tape clothing. They even have scholarship competitions based on it)
And then someone will try to reproduce the stunt next year, and end up getting thrown out of the prom by the Administrators who think the same way as the author, and it will start another brouhaha about kids' rights being infringed and school rules being broken, and ultimately, give us something ELSE to argue about! Can't wait!
Seriously, Lighten up, Francis.
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bikermama61 7-12-2009 @ 9:05PM
WELL said. It was all IMAGINATION at work when we played with our barbies in the 70's. In fact, I STILL have mine :D.
ninainindia 7-11-2009 @ 7:05AM
I hope that Bethany was just reaching for something to make her article more interesting because if she is really worried about the effects Barbie may have on these young girls there is seriously something wrong with her.
It was great idea, unique and fun!
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Inger 7-12-2009 @ 9:27AM
The girls were having some wonderfully creative fun - good for them!!
Bethany, chill out babe, seriously!
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Christy 7-15-2009 @ 12:27AM
I agree, I personally think it was a really cool and creative idea!
A.P. 7-12-2009 @ 8:33PM
I agree completely with Princess Poon. Bethany, the article was nice, but not everything in this world is damaging to the minds of teenagers. Let us have a little fun before we enter adulthood. Thanks.
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daaas 7-12-2009 @ 8:35PM
Someone named Bethany has low self-esteem.
Well said Princess Poon....exactly what I wanted to say!
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CJ 7-12-2009 @ 8:36PM
I think they were just doing it for fun~ they're not pretty and they were probably just making fun of themselves, just a joke. Probably shouldn't have used Barbie as a box name, but some generic dolls name, cuz Barbie is supposed to be perfect and beautiful. I bet everyone got a good laugh and it was original.
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Inkling 7-14-2009 @ 9:47PM
CJ-How can you say they are not pretty? Who died and made you GOD? Everyone is beautiful in their own way. Your idea of pretty is not the same as anyone else's. Maybe to me, you would not be attractive at all, but apparently toyourself you are all that.
rst 7-12-2009 @ 9:02PM
I didn't know it was supposed to be bad for a guy to go to prom alone. Actually I think it might all be in my imagination I didn't think it was that bad. Anyways I need some advice on this. Do you really think its bad for a guy to go to prom alone? I started looking for a date in January and everyone I asked said they were already going with someone and one girl was like "why don't you ask me on may 21?" That was the day after prom and I told her so but she just gave me a look and walked away. I still can't figure out what she meant. It happened about six times. So then I had a really hard time buying a ticket since they only sold them to couples and I didn't have any friends to go with either. So I said I had to go to a funeral and would be so late for prom that I couldn't find a group or a date. It took a lot of persistence but I finally got a ticket. So I showed up at prom and it was like everyone there had a date. I never imagined so many people could have dates. I thought it was only the top few people in the school who could do that. I heard several comments like "Look who's here." - "yeah, dude, what the hell" but it sort of stopped after that so i figure i was doing pretty well. Then for dinner I didn't have a table because I didn't have a group so I kept trying to use seats people left when they got up for some reason but everyone else at the table asked what I was doing there and I didn't know how to answer so I kept jumping around to different seats but it happened every time but I'm proud I managed to be in a seat for most of the dinner. The dance wasn't all that bad but it sort of seemed like everyone was dancing with someone else. Is that normal at prom? So i tried to find someone to dance with but it seemed to bother people a lot. At least i think it did. I have a hard time understanding this stuff. Do you think they were bothered? Eventually I started to feel really strange not having a date so I went around telling people I did but the first time I said that I hadnt thought of a name. Later I said it was the third girl I had asked. She was there with someone else but I don't think anyone noticed. At least no one really said anything so I'll take that as a good sign. I had a really hard time getting to the party after prom and had to call a taxi since everyone I asked said that wasn't where they were going. but when i got there it looked like they must have changed their minds. Anyways it was just like the dance and I kept trying to find people to dance with and eventually got kicked but i think it was an accident because she didn't apologize so she must not have noticed. Anyways I'm posting this right now because i'm still trying to find a date in case I go to another prom in college. I know by january it will probably be too late.
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C .P. 7-12-2009 @ 10:28PM
maybe because you're a dork. No ,man , I'm kidding . Dude - take it from me . I was you in high school . I was afraid of the girls everyone wanted to date and then my wife finds out at my 20 year reunion that at least a dozen girls that I was afraid to ask ...were waiting 4 years for me to ask them out. Whats the worst someone can say but "No, I already have a date" just don't go down the lunch line asking each girl out - get to know one or 5. You don't have to go steady or whatever you call it now, just go as friends- get to know them and let them get to know you . Be real , be yourself. You'll do ok.