All Posts Tagged Tag: ‘girls’

Author: Jamie Reeves
Category: Toys and Games
Tags: barbie, gender norms, girls, math and science

Math is Tough Barbie

This barbie was obviously created by the Matel corporation in order to relate to young females. She is marketed as your “friend,” which is exemplified by the addition of “I’ll always be here for you” as a phrase, in addition to “math class is tough!” That being said, it is clear that in Matel’s idea of what a girl will find appealing, or relatable in order to sell a toy. The biggest issue with this barbie is obviously that she says “math class is tough!” Matel inserting this quote into Barbie’s vocabulary means they believe that most girls will relate to the idea that math is hard- which implements the stereotype that most girls do not like math, or are not good at math. It promotes a in crowd and out crowd of girls. If Barbie is your friend and she finds math hard, then so should you. Particularly because she represents an ideal for women. It suggests that the ideal women not only is tall, blonde, skinny, big breasted, and physically flawless- but goes on to make a statement about how the perfect woman should be mentally as well- which is mathematically challenged.