tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post8963700478042874636..comments2023-09-23T04:02:58.985-04:00Comments on May Day Cafe: BarbieNerissa Nieldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07681807422024958132noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-29004053624255604762009-04-23T10:07:00.000-04:002009-04-23T10:07:00.000-04:00Hi!
I just found your blog and I am enjoying it ve...Hi!<br />I just found your blog and I am enjoying it very much. <br />My newly three-year-old bean hasn't latched on to Barbie or princesses beyond a peripheral awareness that, a.) They show up occasionally on other kid’s sneakers and lunchboxes, and B.) They’re supposed to be “be-yoo-tiful…” While the Bean has a healthy amount of appreciation for bling, she just isn’t as into dolls and frou-frou as I was when I was her age. She’d rather be smooshing up pinecones and trying to feed them to the dogs. I’m not entertaining any fantasies that I’ve dodged this bullet yet- I know that three is just barely the tip of the gender/aesthetics/identity/body image iceberg. <br />I do, however, have a secret plan up my sleeve, should Barbie get her little, plastic, flipper-mitts on my girl. I’m thinking of telling the bean that Barbie is a drag queen. As a girly feminist, I loooove drag because it takes glamour and puts it in a transgressive context. Drag highlights the idea that glamour is artifice- an illusion that is temporary. <br />Besides, who else would wear stilettos and a pink lamé gown to the grocery store? <br /><br />(Congratulations on the big girl underpants, by the way!)michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17922245006114221774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-30569824524249121752009-04-21T13:54:00.000-04:002009-04-21T13:54:00.000-04:00I had one Barbie, Angel Haired Barbie... died blon...I had one Barbie, Angel Haired Barbie... died blonde and brown hair, a beautiful gown... I think I even broke her arm off once by accident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-67375260912733916672009-04-21T09:25:00.000-04:002009-04-21T09:25:00.000-04:00Oh gosh, if I had a nickel for every time I berate...Oh gosh, if I had a nickel for every time I berated myself for being too fat, too short, too ugly, I'd be a wealthy woman. What's funny is that I don't know where it all comes from sometimes. I have a husband who loves me, imperfections and cellulite and all, and has found me attractive at a whole myriad of different weights. And yet, the self loathing remains. Are we conditioned from childhood to hate our bodies? Can we protect the young ones from it? I don't know. <br /><br />I did play with Barbies as a kid. I think they indirectly fostered my early skills as a playwright because I'd invent such elaborate plots for their plastic little lives. I suppose that's one good thing that came out of it, that and the memories I have of me and my friend Bridget sitting on the floor of my room, playing Barbies for hours and hours and hours.inflammatory writhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923322007776358065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-47653509277151150672009-04-20T23:34:00.000-04:002009-04-20T23:34:00.000-04:00http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjjDog33HBc
Actual...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjjDog33HBc<br /><br />Actually, almost anything by Cosy Sheridan is probably relevant to this post. I originally had the song "How will the Center Hold" in mind, but couldn't find it online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-32939204956727610942009-04-20T23:16:00.000-04:002009-04-20T23:16:00.000-04:00Lila's probably not old enough to appreciate this ...Lila's probably not old enough to appreciate this yet, but Amy Poehler's online show, "Smart Girls at the Party," offers some great examples of young girls who are confident and wise. Only 7 min./episode, too. Originally (and ironically), the show was sponsored by Barbie. When I've watched a few episodes recently, though, I haven't seen the ads. <br /><br />http://www.onnetworks.com/videos/smart-girls-at-the-partyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8418939.post-9269531269393911512009-04-20T22:31:00.000-04:002009-04-20T22:31:00.000-04:00Hi Nerissa,
When my sister and I played with our ...Hi Nerissa,<br /><br />When my sister and I played with our dolls as children, we always pretended that the Barbie dolls were the stupidest ones among the residents of Doll-town. As an adult, I find it amusing how we, at such an early age, picked up on the stereotype of the beautiful, buxom, blondes as being flakier than Special K cereal. Our mom (who was a baby boomer and part of the feminist movement of the 70's) taught us that brains are more important than looks, and that it's what's on the inside that counts. Although her lessons served us well, I still today often look in the mirror and say, "I'm too fat. I need to lose weight. I have too many pimples on my chin. My hair looks gross. I look ugly today." Unfortunately, I think it's a part of being a woman in 21-st century America and I think it's something that all of us think from time to time. <br />But as a very wise colleague of mine once said, if someone else were to say to us, "You look ugly and fat," it would be considered abuse and we wouldn't put up with it. Yet we frequently criticize and abuse ourselves, and self-abuse can be just as damaging to our self esteem as abuse from others.<br />Right now, as I sit and type this, I am listening to the slow version of "Easy People" on your live album and remiscing about the wonderful time I had at your house on Saturday night when we all sat around your living room and sang along with you. It was such a blessing to be able to share such a wonderful experience with you and your family. I thank you for that gift and for the wisdom and knowledge I have gained from you not only on the writing retreat, but since I have started working with you and through your music, books, and blogs.<br />God Bless you!<br />Love,<br />BeckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com