Barbie

Barbie. Barbie serves as the unattainable standard. Barbie creates an illusion "as if we're all trapped in Barbie's world and can never escape." However, let's be honest. Barbie is not the only unachievable standard. In this world, there are hundreds of Barbies whether it be academics, arts, or anything ambitious. In school, we are expected to never forget a piece of paper, listen constantly, and reciprocate whatever is taught every second. Being the standard: having a 4.0, 1550+, 100% on each test, 36, studying 24/7, all 5s on APs. Ugh. It is exhausting to type out all of the expectations, forget actually fulfilling all of them. This is only one aspect.

I grew up playing with barbies. Popping off their heads, styling their hair, and dressing them up...it was all good fun. Looking back, I see no wish to be an actual Barbie. She is too perfect...perhaps a perfect that is just plastic and inhumane. After realizing the stereotypical image Barbie provides, people are advocating for a positive body image and acceptance of yourself. The perfect image is no longer barbie, buts it just loving yourself.

Perhaps there are millions of standards in the world, but slowly, each standard will mend into something new and something acceptable. Barbie will eventually be accepted as some delusional man's invention and accepted as a plastic toy, nothing more. It will not serve as a symbol for women. It will not serve as a standard for women. It will not be something women strive for. It will be a dumb toy.