Sexuality

I figured sexuality would be a difficult topic to discuss when it comes to virtual Barbie, which is why I saved it for last. Turns out, Barbie is all sexed up. The more I started paying attention to Barbie world and the activities that went on, the more I noticed all of the over-sexualized dolls running around. It was pretty funny/scary.

I have talked a lot about the physical characteristics of the Barbies a lot in my posts because that is what stands out the most. Barbie Girls is very stereotypical and shows a complete lack of diversity. But when looking for sexuality aspects of this virtual world, I have to go a little deeper than just clothes. Obviously, there are very clear issues with the wardrobes that young girls are using for their Barbies. From the knee high boots to the mini-skirts, tube tops and clown-like make-up, anyone over the age of 15 can tell Barbie is ready for the night life. Not only are these young girls learning that dressing provocatively is appropriate, but it is even promoted. Through the “Buzz and Goss” option, girls can vote on the “latest fave girl”. This interested me because I wanted to see exactly what these girls idolized and wanted to look like. After clicking on the option and praying that I didn’t have to be a VIP member to see her, this sexed up Barbie doll appeared on my screen in leather boots, a plaid mini skirt that is often seen as sexy in the media (it was a little raunchier looking than Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” music video) and a tight black tube top complete with a seductive look in her eyes. I was like “holy crap, this is Angelina Jolie”.. And we all know the impression she leaves.

The next shocking event was the fact that one of the options in Barbie Girls is to invite other Barbies to your room and visit other Barbie’s rooms. When you get to the rooms, you don’t really do anything there. You just chat and hang out. It is really very awkward, considering I do not typically go to someone’s bed room to hang out. I suppose it could be equivalent to a sleep over or something of the sort, although these girls have hair salons and modern Ikea-type furniture in their rooms. This made me think about sexuality because there are anywhere from 2 to 10 young girls sprawled across a bed at any given time. They do walk around and talk, but it is a weird setting to have a party in your bedroom.

I can only think that Barbie Girls gives teens, and younger girls, a chance to run freely without realizing how they are presenting themselves and expressing their sexuality. If their parents knew what their dolls looked like, I highly doubt they would approve. But the girls obviously see it as a chance to look “cool” and wear what they see promoted in the media, because that is who they look up to. Girls are becoming more familiar with celebrities, media and fashion at younger ages now than they were many years ago. This allows the media to leave an impression on these girls which can impact the way they express themselves in the future, which can be negative.

Do you think virtual Barbie gives young girls a chance to express their actual self without consequences, as we discussed in class, or do you think the girls dress provocatively because it is what they see in the media and how they are “supposed” to dress?

Identity

Identity in Barbie World is not difficult to determine, because everything seems to be based on appearance in the virtual world. There are no activities to allow someone to show off their athletic skills, intelligence level or anything else that makes up a person. Who you are in virtual Barbie comes solely from how your doll looks. And how your doll looks comes from how much money the owner has.
When I walked around and noticed all of the Barbies, it was shocking and weird how awkwardly similar they all are. Does this generation of girls (or creepy men, or UC students) really all share the same taste in clothes, hairstyles, shoes and accessories? Probably not. Either everyone is conforming to the social ideology that all girls should wear pink dresses, which means people are having a serious identity crisis, or they do not have the money to hold “VIP” status in virtual Barbie and do not have the chance to go to the actual mall. The first time I went to the mall I became very angry because I was allowed to try on clothes, pick out accessories and get my hair done. Once I had finally perfected my Barbie look, I went to leave the mall. But I was told I could only wear these fantastic, stylish articles of clothing if I was VIP. So I pouted and left. Yes, I know, very immature, but this is my point- Barbie is enticing, mesmerizing and leads girls in the direction they want them to go, then tells them they can only be pretty, popular and hang out with the cool people if they pay the money to hold a higher status level. It reminded me very much of society.
After I continued to walk around in my boring clothes, the same ones that many girls had on, I quickly noticed who was in the free clothes and who was in the expensive, prettier clothes. I couldn’t help but be embarrassed that I didn’t have that. I thought to myself “this isn’t me.. I am being identified as a lower class citizen because I cannot afford the fun stuff.” The original, free clothes had an instant connotation of poverty. I think it is safe to assume that many other young girls feel the same way as they wonder around this virtual world. They get discouraged and at such a young age realize their level in society. As a kid, aren’t you supposed to be worry free and have fun? These girls enter a world to be careless and enjoy themselves, and instead they unknowingly are tempted with the beauties of society, such as dangling a carrot in front of a horse, and learn very quickly, and too early, that they are either above others because of their wealth, or are below normal class citizens because they cannot pay the $5 for an internet game.
After noticing whether the dolls were high or low class citizens, I began looking at the actual articles of clothing they girls had picked out for Barbie. One girl had on a mini skirt, crop top and boots. I thought “Is she trying to identify herself as a hooker?” Then I saw a conservative looking Barbie, complete with jeans, a t-shirt and gym shoes. I instantly thought “Ew, you couldn’t pick something out better than THAT?” Knowing your identity and being able to determine others is such a catch-22. The girl with the hooker look could have just really liked those 3 articles of clothing and put them on without thinking what her doll would look like. The girl with the jeans could be putting the same clothes on her doll as she does herself each morning. Who says that girls ages 6-15 must have fashion sense and be able to determine what people will think of them based on their outfit each day? But this is what society does- it continuously puts people in categories according to identity. The minute you walk out the door, people automatically see you as your race, your clothing style, the car you drive, and how you present yourself. Without looking any deeper, people can judge who you are before they have time to blink. Do you think that categorizing people according to identity, as society usually does, creates a greater division amongst the population or instead allows certain groups of people to actually come together?