Mattel Bicycle

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Barbie. A celebration of a half-century of obsession among young girls with a pencil-sized, wasp-waisted, pointy headstock chest. It is estimated that more than one billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries since the doll was introduced in 1959.

Mattel, which manufactures Barbie, responsible for three Barbies are sold every second.

In his 50 years on the planet, Barbie has had 100 different jobs, had over 40 pets, including cats, dogs, horses, a panda, a lion and a zebra and 73 acres of clothes, furniture and other equipment and assessories.

Barbie is primarily a fashion statement (again, mostly), but with the feminist movement, she became a career woman. Doctor, cowgirl, astronaut, soldier, politician are just a few. In 1994, winter sports Barbie was introduced, with skis, poles, and of course, dressed in ski clothing designer. In 1998, Barbie started NASCAR racing cars, followed by WNBA Barbie and Barbie's World Cup. Ultimate female soccer player Mia Hamm was chosen as Barbie Soccer. This trend of short duration.

Yet, he looked for a while as Barbie could join the ranks of real women, rather than maintaining the natural figure she was born (adult) 50 years ago ... 5-feet-11 tall, size 18 inch and 33 inch hips. When Mattel Barbie redesigned in 1974, she received a slightly larger size, but it still has legs up to here.

child experts have criticized Barbie as a bad influence on young girls. They say it falls in (or perhaps leads) the stereotype of the skinny-is-beautiful ideal that has been imposed on a credulous public by clothes designers, Madison Avenue and the media. Ads for just about everything, from clothes to car-based cosmetics reed, sunken wrecks blush.

But rather than rebels or laughing with indignation to the utter nonsense, many girls and women to the conclusion that they are far from ideal. Some consider themselves too fat Barbie dolls. They look in the mirror and they see it as a mirror image thing ... inaccurate and distorted. This dissatisfaction and distortion can lead to eating disorders.

Women who participate in sports or are physically active are less likely to buy the hype. They see their bodies in healthier ways. Their mirror reveals the curves and muscles, strong shoulders and a straight, proud posture, body ready to work and play.

Where are the dolls of physical activity-looking girls can emulate? Dolls that come with skates, bicycles and water skis. They may have a set of sportswear in fashion, hair can be braided or pulled into a ponytail or combed for the party after the game and come up with tennis rackets, volley-ball and sticks hockey. assessories perhaps others headbands, sox sports and ACE bandages.

Up Barbie up forms, fills and joins the softball team, perhaps it should be launched in the field. Happy Birthday, Barbie. Now, go away.