Barbie

I think that the causal analysis still holds true today. Everywhere you look you see skinny models who have perfect bodies and perfect hair. No one is perfect and no one likes everything about their body, but the media doesn't portray that. Instead every magazine has models who are airbrushed, thin, and flawless. Barbie dolls are the same way. No girl should aspire to be skinny and perfect, because no one is. Those who make themselves skinny end up getting sick and doing more damage to their bodies than they realize all because they want to look thin and like a model. Our culture needs to stop advertising the perfect body and accept people as they are. People come in all shapes, colors, and sizes and we should not be forced to feel bad if we do not exemplify the look of the airbrushed models.

Barbie

Cain's reasoning still does hold true to this day. The barbie/supermodel image is still the same. Models still havent gotten less skinny, and barbie still has those perfect curves. I think that many people still think about being the ideal weight, but more and more people are becoming comfortable with their weight, and not doing drastic things because of weight.

Barbie

Although Cain's article was published over ten years ago, I feel that what she discusses still holds true in today's society. Women are encouraged by societal elements, such as Barbie and supermodels, to be extremely skinny. They learn to feel bad about themselves or be ashamed if they do not have the perfect figure. I know that as a child I always wished that I could grow up to look exactly like Barbie. This view of the ideal woman is not something that is going to change drastically overnight, but I do feel that we have progressed a little since then. Plus-size models are struggling to be accepted, and are slowly changing the mainstream views. I think that it is a great thing that women are learning to accept the way they look without feeling like they need to change their appearance in order to fit in.

Response for Monday: Barbie

4. Cain's article was published in 1996. Do you find the causal analysis still holds true or has American culture changed to the extent that her claims seem out of date?

--ejfleitz