Letting a little girl play with a Barbie may seem trivial … But a study has just shown that this doll strongly influences the career choices of the youngest.
While the theory of gender is debated in France, here is a study that will throw a stone in the pond. Two researchers from the University of Oregon (United States) and the University of Santa Cruz-California (United States) studied the influence of the famous Barbie on the career prospects of little girls. The results, published on March 5 in Sex Roles, suggest that this doll does not promote gender equality.
Barbie vs. Madame Potato
“Maybe Barbie can ‘be anyone’ as the ad suggests, but that slogan doesn’t apply to girls who play with it,” says co-author Aurora Sherman. “There is something about this type of doll, and not about the participants, that promotes different career aspirations. About 40 girls aged 4 to 7 took part in the study. Some played with a Barbie for five minutes, others with a Madame Potato. Two types of Barbie were available: a “Doctor Barbie” and a “Model Barbie.” Both had unrealistic proportions, young faces and long hair.
An impact on the career aspirations of young girls
The researchers then presented the girls with photos of the 10 different jobs. The children were asked if they imagined doing such a job, and if a boy could do it too. Those who had played Madame Patate almost all said they could do as many trades as the boys. Little girls who played with a Barbie, on the other hand, attributed more jobs to boys than to themselves. A result that has something to leave you dreaming of. “The fact that a few minutes of play with a Barbie have an immediate impact on the number of jobs that girls consider, gives food for thought,” analyzes Eileen Zurbriggen, co-author. “Whether Barbie is dressed like a model or a pediatrician doesn’t matter, which suggests that Barbie’s sexualized form and appearance takes precedence over the accessories that go with it. “
Soon a rival?
A new doll could be a game-changer. Lammily, that’s her name, looks like Barbie… except that she respects the proportions of a human being. The slogan of its creator expresses this desire for realism: “Average is Beautiful”. He has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring this realistic doll to life in toy stores.
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