Karla's Kolumn

My husband and I are watching the news Thursday morning as we get the day started. The lady newscaster is reporting that Barbie’s manufacturer, Mattel, announced that the doll has three new body types — curvy, tall and petite, as well as more skin tones, eye color and hair styles. She remarks this is great for young ladies.

My husband queries why this is great. My reply, “I don’t know.” I know in today’s society there has been much talk about Barbie and the need to be politically correct and the fact that Barbie harms young girls’ self-esteem. I don’t know where this comes from.

I readily admit growing up I had self-esteem issues but it wasn’t because of the shape, color or hairstyle of my Barbie dolls. I truthfully didn’t give it much thought. My thoughts were more on wanting the Barbie van (mainly because as somewhat of a tomboy I’d have rather played cars and trucks than with my Barbie dolls).

Most young girls have self-esteem issues, some outgrow it quickly. Others, like myself, carry it with us through high school and even partly into college.

There’s a variety of reasons young girls, ladies and women struggle with self-esteem. It’s about learning to like yourself, not your Barbie doll. Young girls compare themselves to classmates, older classmates, actresses, their mother and sisters.

It’s not Barbie’s fault when, whether you’re overweight a little or a lot, family members continually talk about your eating habits. It’s not Barbie’s fault that every young girl is built differently, tall, short, thick hair, thin hair, curly hair, straight hair. It’s not Barbie’s fault that society decided what measurements were considered “beautiful.”

It is society’s fault for wanting everyone to be cookie-cutter images of Barbie. It is society’s fault for not accepting people as they are, always wanting to change people. That’s not to say we all can’t eat healthier and exercise and take care of ourselves, but everyone is built different, and we as a society need to accept that.

While I don’t believe Mattel’s Barbie made society not accept people as they are, maybe having Barbie’s of different sizes will help society accept the fact that we are all different. The more society accepts that, the more young ladies can accept that; and that, above all else, will help them with any self-esteem issues.

For me, it was learning to accept who I was and be happy with who I was and content with where I was in my life.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians that he learned to be content in any circumstance. The key word to me was learned; it didn’t just happen.

David wrote in the Psalms to the Lord, “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Those verses, those words are what young ladies need to hold on to, not what Barbie tells them, not what bullies at school tell them.

As a society it’s time we, not the doll industry, help young ladies believe in themselves and help them accept who they are right now.