User talk:Melancholyvagrant

La Princesa Plastica by Karen Goldman
La Princesa Plasticais an article written by Karen Goldman it analyses the development of Barbie over the years. The initial Barbie was Caucasian and designed to be ethnically neutral. In the Article Goldman explains Mattel developed a Barbie that would appeal to the greatest target audience number in the 1950’s that meant Barbie would appeal to While, middle class America parents and daughters. The social environment of the time and the typical middle class family was Caucasian with blonde hair, light skin. In Princesa Plastica, Goldman points out that over the years Matter has attempted to market ethnic dolls but because Barbie continues to go through minimal changes and it continues to use stereotypical marks. The ethnic Barbie’s and it Caucasian counterparts continue to be similar and have the same features. Ethnic Barbie’s predominant differences are its clothing and skin colors but the Caucasian features are noticeable on all ethnic dolls. Goldman describes the depiction of minorities as stereotypical, Hispanic Barbie is dressed in a white peasant blouse, a red rose tied around her neck and a mantilla over the shoulders. The predominant difference of the original Hispanic doll Teresa from her Caucasian Burnette counterparts is the paratextual items. The difference is the Barbie’s accessories, clothing and because the dolls are dressed in stereotypical dresses of the cultures it represents Mattel assumes that doll is of that culture according to Goldman. What is most disconcerting is that Barbie is not correctly portraying other cultures or ethnicities but the dolls are purchased around the world and it remains a big problem with Mattel’s Barbie dolls.

Methodology
Author Karen Goldman used a qualitative method of research when writing Princesa Plastica. Goldman used primarily exploratory research such as Forever Barbie (1995) an unauthorized biography. Developing an understanding of the reasons opinions, and motivations and achiecing an insight to what Barbie represents. Goldman used articles, television shows and Magazines of the Mexican culture such as Pocho magazine which is aimed to people with Mexican heritage in the United States.

Critiques
La Princesa Plastica is a criticism of Mattel's Barbie dolls lack of change to reflect the all cultures but has chosen to leave the Caucasian features of its dolls while only adapting its clothing and hair color. The article is single sided and fails to mention that Hispanic mothers are 77% more likely to buy a doll for a child

"The study - which covered both Barbie(R) and the competing Bratz(TM) dolls from MGA Entertainment - shows that ownership of both doll brands is higher in Hispanic households; 77% of Hispanic mothers (with daughters ages 17 or younger living at home) report that their families own a Barbie(R) doll, compared to 65% in the general population. Hispanic ownership of Bratz(TM) dolls is more than 50% higher than among the population at large (57% versus 35%)" (Unk, 2009)

Mattel has captivated the Hispanic audience and is a traditional toy that has inserted its brand to households allover the word. Goldman fails to mention that in 2002 Mattel introduced a new redesigned Barbie, the doll is more approachable and multicultural with features that are childlike and a less of a surgical Barbie. "Faced with the fact that its icon is slipping in popularity-Barbie didn't make the top-five-selling dolls in August-Mattel is introducing a line of My Scene dolls, including a more approachable and multicultural Barbie aimed at older girls" (MacArthur, 2002)

Use and Definitions of the Key Terms
"The personification of the all-round American Girl" In the 1950's it mean Barbie had to be Caucasian because the middle class at the time was primarily Caucasian and that was the audience Mattel's Barbie was targeting.

"Americanness" - it was a term used to associate the middle-class Caucasian femininity to the American society.

"Language of infinite possibility" - It is to emphasize the need for children to play with toys they can project their imagination according to Erica Rand.

"Dream accessories, dream car, dream kitchen, dream house" - all terms used by mattel to emphasize to middle-class Americans that already owned these things that they had accomplished the dream of the "white-picket fence"

"Doll's of the world" - in 1988 Mattel introduced a Black and Hispanic dolls in an attempt to embrace all cultures.

"Tint of the plastic" is what Ann duCille calls what Mattel has done by not changing the ethnic dolls features but allow the Caucasian to stay and only changing the color of the skin of the dolls and the accessories.

Links to Other Wiki Pages

 * Barbie Careers
 * Mattel
 * Barbie