Body Image Research

Perceptions are formed in early childhood about your body’s health, attractiveness, acceptability and overall appearance. Following the research of the effects of experimental exposure to dolls, it is proven that this exposure affects self-perception of body image. This can be seen of children five to eight when the psychologist of the American Psychological Association states, “For young children, fantasy and play are vital parts of socialization in which they internalize ideals and values, and dolls provide a tangible image of the body that can be internalized as part of the child’s developing self-concept and body image.” (Dittmar, Halliwell, Ive 283). For years, it has become apparent that household toys have influence on the user’s perception,

Consumers, regardless of gender, have become socially aware of these impractical images. Thus, these consumers have begun petitioning against this culture in an attempt to promote more diversified physical features and ethical backgrounds. This attempt helps to promote a body image that will have a positive effect on children’s idea of self-image. On the other hand, the executives of these powerhouse companies deny any influence their toys have on children. Therefore, understanding this issue from every perspective is important. The influence of toy’s on young children’s perception of self-image and body image is something heavily debated amongst consumers, producers, corporate executives and researchers. Thus, this controversy of whether companies should be more active in promoting realistic body images can be analyzed through these different

Similar to Disney, Barbie is multimillion-dollar company that also faces heavy scrutiny in recent years. In 2011, Galia Slayden a student at Hamilton College wrote a blog for the Huffington Post sharing her story of how she created a life sized Barbie doll. Slayden, who was once diagnosed with an eating disorder, did this to draw the media’s attention of the effects of being exposed to unrealistic proportions. These proportions were scaled to a human body, which weighed 110 pounds, had a pencil thin waist and a body mass index considered anorexic. In this blog Slayden states, “If Barbie were an actual woman, she would be 5’9” tall, have a 39” bust, 18” waist, 33” hips and a size 3 shoe. She would likely not menstruate and she’d have to walk on all fours due to her proportions” (Slayden 1). “A woman proportional to Barbie would have a neck so small it would be impossible for her to hold her own head up and only enough room in her abdomen to house a normal sized live and maybe a foot of intestines” (Wainwright 1). These quotes similarly demonstrate the impractical natural of the Barbie’s measurements that are seemingly unhealthy. After the study from the University of Sussex, Mattel, the manufacture of Barbie made a statement regarding her shape. “Barbie’s body was never designed to be realistic. She was designed for girls to easily dress and undress”, said Barbie’s vice president Kim