Barbie Does Empowerment

Jul 6 • Front Page, LinkedIn, Social Media • 2507 Views

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So tell me, how do you feel about Barbie? Has there ever been a toy so beloved and so maligned, simultaneously? Is she a harmless plaything, or an instrument of evil, embodying all that’s wrong with our looks-obsessed, body-image-crazed, woman-objectifying, patriarchal culture? Here’s a new spin: maybe she’s a tool for empowering women and entrepreneurs.

 

Not buying it? Enter Entrepreneur Barbie. That’s right, Barbie has now popped up on LinkedIn, boasting a 20-page resume, detailing 150 careers over a 55 year span. Her latest enterprise is the “Dream Incubator”, with Barbie acting as consultant to girls around the world, in order to spark their imaginations and help them realize their dreams.

 

 

What’s the point of Barbie on LinkedIn? Obviously, it’s a publicity ploy from Mattel, but her page does have a few compelling pieces of information. One is a quote from Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler.

 

“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.”

 

Then, too, is Barbie’s gently self-mocking LinkedIn Q&A, which includes the following pieces of advice:

  • Don’t let anyone put you in a box.
  • Packaging matters. Having a great idea is vital but make sure it gets noticed.
  • Heels are a great reminder to balance, and balance is key in both life and work.
  • If you reinvent yourself, you will have staying power.

 

 

The Q&A also includes a list of female entrepreneurs Barbie respects and admires, and to whom she also provides links on her profile page:

 

 

Judging from comments on Entreprenuer Barbie’s page, reactions are mixed- but isn’t that what you would expect from anything Barbie-related? Sure, it’s a marketing stunt, sure it’s a little weird for a toy to have a page on a site meant for adult professionals, but the underlying goal seems to be in keeping with the spirit of the times. Empowering and encouraging women and girls is a worthwhile goal, even when accomplished in a silly fashion. So can she do it? Can Barbie effectively reinvent herself, in pursuit of staying power?

 

 

What do you think? Is Barbie capable of being a tool of empowerment, or is she just a bad influence in too-high heels?

 

 

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About the Author:

Cole thrives on ideas, problem solving, and has a creative passion. His entrepreneur spirit led him to start his own photography company, where he took a wildly creative and interactive approach to the old-school photo booth. His goal is to help others find how to use the technology available online to create better content, reach more people, and, most importantly, offer more value. Cole is the Director of Search and Innovations at Splash Media.
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LadyXCAN
LadyXCAN

I am on the fence. I think the meaning is great, but it's LinkedIN a site for ADULT professionals, no child is going to be interested in the website, therefore it defeats the so-called reasons behind having the profile. Facebook is a better platform for this idea.

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