November 28, 2021 by Susan Lapinski · Family

Should She Give Barbie as a Gift? A Feminist Grandmother’s Dilemma

When Susan Lapinski's 5-year-old granddaughter asked for a Barbie, she contemplated the iconic doll's impact on her and her daughters and what's different today.

I was a tomboy in sneakers when I got my first Barbie doll at age 11. She was the original Barbie launched by Mattel Toys, a sleek brunette in a zebra-striped swimsuit and stilettos. But what was she doing in high heels if she was heading for the beach? I would have been so much happier if she’d had flat feet instead of arched and pointy ones. Then my Barbie could have worn water shoes or slip-ons or sneakers, just like me.

What was she doing in high heels if she was heading for the beach?

Because I was not a girly-girl growing up, I think I was a little less likely to fall under Barbie’s spell. Call it fledgling feminism. My first Barbie doll turned out to be my last.

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