How often did you play with your Barbies in family scenarios?

"There was probably at least one family with a 'married' mother, father, children. At that time, I was familiar with divorce, single parents, and single parents with boyfriends/girlfriends. The only type of family I didn't really do was gay, since I was unfamiliar with that yet, and step families."


-Sarah, 20, Caucasian, heterosexual female from Boston, MA, USA 

How did other people influence the way you played Barbies?

"I played with 2 of my friends-- one was a closer friend, and I tried out some of my more unique scenarios with her (gay parents, disabled parents, etc.) with her. With my other friend, we mainly played historical stories."


-Rose, 15, Caucasian, questioning female from the USA

Has playing Barbies as a child affected who you are today?

"Totally. it contributed to my feministic views. i remember how i used her to act out my sexual and lifestyle fantasies as a kid, and i still have the same inclinations to this day. another thing- we were poor growing up. i had a couple barbies, and no ken. ken was more expensive. so my barbies were lezzing it out in the sink i referred to as the "hot-tub." i wouldn't mind being in a human version of that playtime to this day..."


-Shelly, 36, Caucasian, bisexual female from the USA 

How often did you play with your Barbies in family scenarios?

"I had single mothers, never single fathers (I didn't like my Kens as much as my Barbies, so I usually picked a woman)- I believe I had some "orphanages", some teen moms, and of course homosexual relationships"


-Denise, 14, Caucasian, pansexual female from the USA

Has playing Barbies as a child affected who you are today?

"My Barbies kissed each other. My Barbies slept with each other in the same bed. And had they been able to talk, they would have told you that this was normal. And when I grew up, girls kissing girls was still normal."


-Doreen, 18, Caucasian, lesbian female from Canada

How often did you play with your Barbies in family scenarios?

"My Barbies were frequently in family scenarios. When I was very young my Barbie families were heteronormative - mother, father, and children. However, once I was a little older I had single-parent, blended, and gay/lesbian Barbie families."


-Glenda, 24, Caucasian, queer female from Connecticut, USA

How did other people influence the way you played Barbies?

"Nobody influenced how I played with my Barbies. All I remember, is that I never had a Ken doll, so I would make my Barbies kiss each other, and have fashion shows and weddings with each other. It was incredibly homoerotic."


-Doreen, 18, Caucasian, lesbian female from Canada

"As a young child my Barbies held traditional gender roles, but as I grew older this changed (I specifically remember ripping one of my favorite Barbie dresses trying to put it on Ken and then hiding it from my parents because I knew they wouldn't approve)."


-Glenda, 24, Caucasian, queer female from Connecticut, USA