Ch 24

Chapter 24 had a different opening the rest in this book. It caught my attention right off the bat because it started talking about Barbie and Ken. This isnt usual in a world history book. We are all familiar with the barbie dolls and as for girls atleast have bought them and played with them. Although never thought of the conterversy it had behind them. To start with, some people think Barbie is a bad influenced on young naive girls. Since it presents an image all girls try to attain. The common, blonde, blue eyed, with fair/tan skin is the stereotypical image society believes is beautiful. I can see how this could have a negative influence on girls because then they are pressured to look like Barbie makig themselves insecure of themselves and what is expected fro society. However, a more problematic issue with the dolls is the race. When dolls frst came out they were all fair skin, implying that white was the superior race. Now there is different colors of the Barbie but not for a long time was the original barbie white. Then we get into the issue of Barbie and Ken being a couple. In some nations it is wrong for a woman to be so independent and and have an unmarried companion.So instead of having the big Barbie ken phenomenon in Iran they have Sara and Dara, sister and brother twins. They teach values like helping each other problem solve, and looking to their parents for guidance. This relationship is totally different than that of ken and Barbie, the values are the opposite; the way they dress is opposite. This is an example of how values differ all across the world, and how industries like that of Barbie have to alter their products in order to sell in different parts of the world.