Would you buy Barbies for your children? Why or why not?

"I'd fight it a lot, but if my kids wanted them badly enough I suppose I'd have to give in. I think the best thing in that case would be to make sure my kids knew Barbies were toys, not role models."

-Nita, 23, Caucasian lesbian female from the United States

Would you buy Barbies for your children? Why or why not?

"Yes. They are fun toys and allow imagination to grow."

-Liza, female from the United States

Would you buy Barbies for your children? Why or why not?

"If my children wanted them, yes. I never had a barbie as a child as my mother could not afford them."

-Lenore, 17, Caucasian, heterosexual female from Australia 

Would you buy Barbies for your children?

"I definitely would. They were a huge part of my childhood and exploration."


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

Would you buy Barbies for your children?

"I would buy Barbies for my children if they asked me to. I would also buy them Tonkas if they asked me to. Toys are toys."


-Doreen, 18, Caucasian, lesbian female from Canada

Do you think Barbie is a good role model for children?

"I don't think that Barbie is a good role model for children, but I don't think she's a bad one either. As much as the Barbie company is releasing Barbie's that are ethnic, and alternative, they would need more "types of womyn" for me to consider them feminist."


-Doreen, 18, Caucasian, lesbian, female from Canada

Would you buy Barbies for your children?

"No... she is a terrible representation of an actual person. I want my children to grow to love how they turn out not grow up constantly disappointed that they aren't as "beautiful" as Barbie."


-Loraine, 19, Caucasian, heterosexual, female from the United States 

Would you buy Barbies for your children?

"If they wanted them, sure. Though not if i really disapproved of the particular model for any reason. Because thinking about my childhood, I just wanted one to fit in with the other girls and play dress up, and that's harmless enough."


-Emma, 20, Caucasian, heterosexual female from the UK 

Do you think Barbie is a good role model for children?

"Barbie's not a role model at all because she doesn't actually do anything. Barbie is a tool for a child's imagination, and in that definition, she should come in all sizes, colors, shapes, and occupations. Barbie allows a child to build their own role model. Unfortunately, the role model a kid can imagine is limited by the media, and what accessories the doll comes with."


-Marcie, 21, Caucasian, heterosexual female from the United States

Do you think Barbie is a good role model for children?

"No! I don't look like that and I know that the majority of women don't look like that so why would I want my child to think she should look like that? If Barbie were a real person, she would be 6' 0", weigh 100 lbs., and wear a size 4. Her measurements would be 39"/19"/33. That is not healthy and not realistic."


-Loraine, 19, Caucasian, heterosexual, female from the United States