Barbie Fights Back

It began in a quiet suburb called Barbane. It began slowly and gradually. The change was so gradual it was almost imperceptible. It affected each household, one at a time. It affected each household with a little girl. It affected each household with a little girl who owned a Barbie.

Slowly, one by one, each Barbie went through changes. These changes were subtle, gradual, and almost imperceptible. No one noticed at first. Not the mothers, not the fathers, not the brothers and not the little girls. The little girls should have noticed. They played with their Barbies almost every day. However, not even the little girls noticed.

The Barbies gathered at night when everyone was asleep. It is hard to believe that a Barbie is capable of organising anything, but organise they did. They spoke quietly and with focus. It is hard to believe that a Barbie could be focussed about anything, but focus they did. Every Barbie made a decision. It is hard to believe that a Barbie is capable of making a decision, but make a decision they did.

They had a plan. It was a good plan considering that a Barbie thought of it. They all agreed to the plan. It is easy to believe that a Barbie would agree. They generally agree to most things. So one day at a time, slowly but surely, the plan was implemented. It is hard to believe that a Barbie could implement anything, but implement they did. Day by day, the change was gradual. A small change was implemented here. A small change was implemented there. Yet still, no one noticed.

One by one, each Barbie made subtle changes. One Barbie cut her hair. She cut off all her beautiful curls. No one noticed. One Barbie took off her sparkling, tight fitting dress and put on baggy jeans. No one noticed. Another Barbie took off her stilettos and put on low-heeled shoes. No one noticed.

As these subtle changes occurred, there were unconscious changes in the little girls. The little girls stopped wearing their little bras. They stopped listening to music with sexualised lyrics. They stopped watching music videos with sexualised images and stopped learning dances with sexualised movements. They started wearing pink. They started wearing lots of pink.

These girls began to read books. They read books about women who have achieved amazing things. They read about women who discovered things, women who found cures for diseases, women who were diplomats and businesswomen. No one noticed. They also watched documentaries with similar topics.

These girls grew up to be women who achieved great things.

I suppose you want to know the point of this story. The point is that no one noticed.

Anna Simonaitis