Family Life

04.18.11 | Sarah Harnisch

 There's a new campaign out there on eating disorders-- but this one-- pulls Barbie into the mix. Four years ago, as a college student, Galia Slayen built a 6-foot tall barbie with a 39 inch bust, an 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips, the same measurements barbie would have if she were 6 feet tall. The doll looked skeletal, with a huge chest, and disproportionate. Slayen says the goal was to spark a debate on eating disorders. Barbie's creators say she was never modeled after a real person. But slayen says the doll, and other influences on her life, impacted the way she looked at herself so much that she fell into a 1-year bout with anorexia. She says as a parent, make sure you're a positive rolemodel to your kids. Don't refuse to take your coverall off at the beach because you don't want to be seen in a bathing suit. Don't look at yourself in the mirror and talk about needing to go on a diet. Watch the magazines that come in and out of your house, especially those with girl models. She says little kids soak that information up, and see it as how they are supposed to look.
   Here are some statistics on Barbies: there are two barbie dolls sold every second in the world, and the sales target 3 to 12 year olds. If Barbie was a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions. Slumber Party Barbie was introduced in 1965 and came with a bathroom scale permanently set at 110 lbs and a book entitled "How To Lose Weight" with directions inside stating simply "don't eat."

Note: You may not want to let your daughters see the photo below.

If you want to see what the "Get Real" doll looks like, go here.