As January draws to a close, it’s time to start reflecting back on our New Year’s resolutions. January 1 is the most popular day of the year to make a short term commitment to unachievable goals. While many vow to lose 10 pounds, others solemnly swear this will be their year to be skinny. The resolution to get smaller legs, a slimmer waist, bigger boobs and a toned behind has become increasingly popular among women. In other words, women are striving to do whatever they can to look like Barbie. The plastic dolls of our childhood have molded the definition of beauty that we will carry for our entire lifetime.
However, Her Campus American is hopeful that this notion of beauty standards is subject to change very soon. According to Forbes magazine, Mattel just announced that it will begin to launch Barbies in different body types, skin colors, eye colors and hair styles. The company has announced this new diverse set of Barbies will finally hit stores after getting slandered by the public for decades. The line will be called “Fashionistas” and includes four different body types with seven skin tones, twenty four hairstyles and twenty two eye colors. Not only do these new Barbies differ in their physicality, but they also feature a modernized wardrobe. The changes to Barbie don’t stop here. Barbie’s feet have also been altered so that they are no longer shaped to fit high heel shoes. The global general manager of Barbie stated that Mattel has a “responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty.” Finally, the prayers of parents everywhere have been answered.
Now, here’s the thing. If the face of Barbie can change, why can’t we too alter our perceptions of beauty? My answer to this question is simple: if Barbie can broaden it’s definition of beauty, my mind can and should also be able to broaden the standards of beauty that I set for myself. January 1st may have come and past, but it is never too late to change the resolutions you have set for yourself. It isn’t about being skinny, having the “perfect” body, and living Barbie’s dream life. So, Her Campus American encourages you to consider making a February 1st resolution: to love yourself and to try to be the best version of yourself while inspiring others to do the same. Finally, remember that it is dangerous when a woman discovers her self-worth and beauty because the life she lived before the moment of realization doesn’t compare to the one she lives from that moment on.