My daughter is causing a stir :) I am so proud.
A
few weeks ago, she wrote an article on the Huffpost Teen in response to
the "Should there be a plus sized Barbie?" question, and the debate if
girls should play with Barbie at all. If you have not read it, here you
go:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/justina-sharp/post_6626_b_4596855.html
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Can you see it already? |
Here is the thing. I raised this girl to be a
GODDESS. She named herself Athena at a young age. And, I played Barbies
with her. Alot. You see, I played with Barbies when I was a little girl,
and there was no way in hell I was going to deprive her, or myself,
from dreaming up imaginative, glittery, pink worlds. I got the evil
eyes, the whole "but Barbie gives girls unrealistic body ideals" spiel,
and more. I did not care, because quite frankly, "I" did not look to
Barbie for health/body/training advice, ever. If society is looking for a
culprit that is teaching our young girls unrealistic ideals or low
self-esteem, it needs to look elsewhere. Honestly, the people who argued
this point with me when my daughter was little looked like they could
use some glittery pink in their lives.
Right now, I am tracking them down personally and sending them these articles my daughter wrote :).
You
see, I have a 16 year old daughter that has enough self esteem for two
countries. She is smart, outspoken, confident, glittery, down to earth,
adventurous, ambitious, healthy, aware......who does that remind you
of?? Me! And BARBIE?
Barbie is now in Sports
Illustrated. Of course! She is gorgeous in a swim suit. She is about as
"real" as the other models they feature. The debate is on. Should Barbie
be featured in Sports Illustrated? LOL!! Yes, why not? My daughter will
tell you why she thinks so:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2014/02/11/should-barbie-be-in-sports-illustrated/barbie-is-a-positive-role-model-and-a-legend
Barbie is a doll. She is a super woman, and why wouldn't we want our girls to play with someone so fabulous? BTW, Miss Piggy is quite fabulous & "outspoked" too, and no on is worried about her ruining our girls. We
women are responsible for raising strong, independent, and aware girls.
It is not up to a doll, a celebrity, or anyone else to be the one they
look up to.
Basta.Labels: #unapologetic, Barbie, confidence, girls, self esteem, Sports Illustrated, teens