Today’s society has been negatively conditioned to associate the term “Barbie” with someone valued more for their looks than anything else. The iconic doll’s unrealistic proportions and permanently made up face are clearly different from what the majority of real women look like. Mattel in the past has gotten a lot of criticism for their unfeasable design of the doll, which creates unrealistic expectations for young girls to look a certain way. There have even been studies that discovered a real life woman with the proportions of a Barbie would have feet the size of a 3-year-old and be unable to do simple tasks like walking and running.
It looks like Barbie is trying to change this image, however, with their newest commercial. The adorable ad features little girls in a variety of professions, with the public’s reactions being shown through hidden cameras. The young girls appear to be bright, clever, and self-assured as they carry out their professions. The clip ends with one of the girls playing with her Barbie in the situation she imagined herself in. The commercial proves to be surprisingly sweet and empowering, conveying the message that young girls are able to do anything they imagine. Check out the cute video below and you might start questioning your perception of Barbie.