How ethnically diverse were your barbies?

"Not very diverse. I only received barbies as gifts at birthday parties, I think when your parents invite over their friends to their 8-year-old's birthday party they just assume to get a white girl a white barbie."

-Erin, 19, Caucasian and Native American, heterosexual female from San Fransisco, USA

How did you feel about Barbie as a kid? Did you like her? Hate her?

"I LOVED her. I also loved these other dolls I had (I think they were called Get Real Girls or Get Real Dolls?) that were all like soccer players or scuba divers. They were really muscular and came in a wider variety of body shapes and races than Barbie did."


-Maureen, 20, Caucasian, gay female from Oregon, USA

Did you ever wish to look like Barbie?

"I wasn't interested in blonde Barbie. I always liked the more "ethnic" looking dolls. I don't think I grew up with particularly low self-esteem, but I know I didn't look like Barbie and I also knew that Barbie was "perfect". But I still didn't want to look like her. I thought that the darker Barbies with darker hair and skin were prettier anyway. But I was envious of the doll's face. I still have issues with how I feel towards my profile. And theirs were so dainty and perfect."


-Melinda, 23, multiracial (Hispanic/Caucasian), bisexual female from Indianapolis, IN, USA

Was there any particular Barbie you asked for specifically?

"I specifically remember wanting a Barbie that came out in...probably 1995 or 1996? A Barbie in a wheelchair. I wanted this Barbie very badly because, as a child, I was very concerned with having a widely diverse population of Barbies. However, my mom apparently thought I shouldn't have this Barbie because, even though I asked for it for my birthday AND Christmas and also showed it to my mother every time we were in the store, I never got it. (Of note, my mother also generally refused to buy me Barbies of color, even though I asked. I had to recruit friends and extended family members to get me these dolls.)"


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

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

How did other people influence the way you played Barbies?

"My friends were freaked out by the bondage (I was always contriving some way to get them tied up-guys and girls alike) and crime related plots. My siblings were annoyed by my obsession with fantasy, insisting that wizardry and hobbits not be involved. Also, my father's failed attempt to get me to give up my favorite doll (who was black) and comments by some kids was something that influenced how I thought of racism (mainly that the doll was still as beautiful and perfect as ever, but that people were mean)."


-Reese, 22, White and Native American, genderqueer individual from the United States