OUR BARBIES, OURSELVES The author in the article entitled Our Barbies, Ourselves talks about how Barbie

is a wrong representation of women and sometimes influences young girls in the way they perceive themselves. The author uses different modes such as narration, comparison, cause and effect in addition to description in order to strengthen and clarify her point. However, I believe that the author Emily Prager gives the Barbie doll too much significance compared to other more important sources of influence on girls such as the television and beauty magazines. The author begins her article by revealing that Barbie was actually designed by a man called Jack Ryan, who also used to design weapons. From that point, the author draws the conclusion that Barbies exaggerated and influential looks are a result of the fact that it was designed by a man, making the doll very influential. However, in my opinion, a young girl is exposed to many influences from her environment, more than just her Barbie doll. Spending long hours infront of the television, reading beauty magazines and spending time with other girls are all sources of influence that can affect the way the girl perceives herself. Although the Barbie is a popular doll among females at a young age, the author should have talked more about other influences which the young girl is exposed to on a daily basis, whether it was popular culture or peer pressure. In terms of style and clarity, Prager was able to clarify her point, especially by referring to personal experience and opinion, while also using descriptions like: It is a fact of Barbies design that her breasts are so out of proportion to the

rest of her body, which gives the reader a clearer example from the doll itself that explains the authors point of view. Her main argument is that as a result of toys like Barbie and their negative influence on girls, it seems as if we are all trapped in a Barbies world and can never escape, referring to the videos and movies which are full of topless men and women. In conclusion, I believe that the author in this article had an exaggerated standpoint towards the Barbie toy. I think there is an important role for the parents in supervising and regulating what their children are exposed to, what they play with and with whom they interact with. It is not wise to blame the Barbie toy and its creator without putting a good part of the blame on the media, the passive role of the parents and peer pressure which can together help the girl be aware of how she should be represented.