When someone uses the word “feminist” to describe themselves, I often wince a little internally, as the word seems to have a wide range of intensities depending upon who you’re talking to. Using the most basic definition of the word, feminism is “the belief that women and men should have equal social, economic, sexual, and political rights”. Or to break it down even more simply, it’s the idea that chicks and dudes should be considered equals. In that respect, I think that most of us (men and women alike) could be considered feminists. Outside of some cheeky banter about how women should be in the kitchen makin’ sammiches, most folks – at least those in/around my generation – would agree that old social structures are pretty much dead, and we should all be on equal social and economic footing.
But there are some who take feminism to a rather radical and fiery place, and while I appreciate their passion, I just can’t get on board with righteous indignation. There will always be some form of “objectifying women” out there (most often in the media), but women shouldn’t act so pure and innocent – we do it as well. Visit any Vegas-area “all male revue” and you’ll see exactly what I mean.
Don’t ask me how I know that … 
However, I have to admit that the righteously feminine lady-beast buried deep within my breast was a little conflicted when I saw the newest Barbie, which debuted at the 2010 Toy Fair:
Does this laptop make my ass look big?
Meet Computer Engineer Barbie, Mattel’s attempt at being culturally relevant – although the credit/blame isn’t all theirs. Apparently they conducted an online vote for Barbie’s newest profession, and interestingly enough, women voters actually preferred news anchor as the career choice, while men threw their votes behind computer engineering. Both dolls will be on the shelves this fall, but the one above is getting all the media attention, with most calling it a positive advancement. But I’m curious as to what the consensus is amongst women who are actually part of the nerdy niche they’re trying to appeal to.
I have to admit that I’ve always had issues with Barbie dolls, dating back to being 4 or 5 years old and being blinded by a wall of Barbie blond in the toy store, when all I wanted was a redheaded doll that looked more like me. I know there have been “friends and family” in the Mattel collection with other hair colors and ethnicities, and there have been some failed experiments at giving her different looks over the years. I can appreciate that the “golden standard” (as it were) has become what little girls expect when they ask for a Barbie doll. But the bland lack of diversity bothers me – and it gets even worse when Mattel tries to cram her into every mold possible.
Barbie has had well over 100 careers by now, from being a doctor to a rock star. And inevitably, she’s always rocking the perfect blond hair, glassy-eyed smile, and humanly impossible body proportions. But it struck a nerve when I saw Mattel’s interpretation of what a “computer engineer” (read: geek) would look like. They claim to have worked with the Society of Women Engineers to create “as realistic an ensemble as possible”, and I understand that they want to appeal to the pink and pastel lovin’ demographic, but c’mon! Pink glasses and wristwatch; a t-shirt and jacket covered in binary code and circuitry; skin-tight, sparkly black pants; a Bluetooth in her ear and laptop that’s literally attached to her arm? *Facepalm* Is anyone else experiencing a deja vu to Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde?
Here’s the thing … What I love best about geeky women is that they DO NOT fit a mold. While a news anchor or doctor might be expected to look a certain way and dress specifically for their profession, there are a far too broad range of nerds n’ geeks n’ gamers out there to be able to lump us all into a certain style or mentality. It’s cool that Mattel is finally recognizing a career that they’ve completely ignored for the last 30 years, but if Computer Engineering Barbie is their idea of an accurate representation, I think it fails pretty hardcore. (I mean, pink laptops? Seriously?)
So what do you think, geeky gals? Is it a laughable attempt at gettin’ with the times, or a positive step toward encouraging the youngins to look at computer sciences as a career choice? Oh and just for the hell of it, I found this picture from Forbes that demonstrates what Barbie’s proportions would look like if she was in human form. (Real gal on the left, Barbie-ized version on the right.) Talk about someone who needs to run to the kitchen for a sandwich, stat!
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