Now here is a Barbie that you don't see everyday. This one was done by Loanne Hizo Ostlie. She is a bad-ass artist who sells Barbies on ebay with the hair re-rooted in diverse styles that are more representative of Black women today.
I often have this image on my desktop because it's the closest image of Barbie that resembles my look and we all need a little affirmation every now and then. It's not to say that Barbie with locs is problem free. But this work is an important contribution and it should be acknowledged.
I don't know if I am on a hair kick because I am still reeling from Chris Rock's Good Hair shenanigans, but I can't help thinking about this image in the wake of the disappointment regarding these new black Barbies that were released this month.
Here are just some of the notable quotables about the hair texture of these new Barbies:
A 'So In Style' hairstyling set that allows girls to straighten their dolls' hair completely has alarmed observers, who say it will fuel the "beauty issues" that many black girls have ."Black mothers who want their girls to love their natural hair have an uphill battle and these dolls could make it harder," said Sheri Parks, an associate professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland.
Barbie's skinny figure has long come under fire for promoting an unrealistic body image. But Kumea Shorter-Gooden, author of Shifting The Double Lives of Black Women in America, said the diminutive, primarily Caucasian frame of Barbie dolls had a more negative impact on black girls.
"They are already struggling with messages that 'black skin isn't pretty and our hair is too kinky and short'," she said.
Mattel needs to employ Loanne as a consultant if they truly want to create a doll that represents black women.
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Its easy to nitpick but I have a long enough memory to remember when we didn't have a choice. Its a nice step forward...as far as Barbie goes. Not sure I'd want my daughter playing w/ Barbies when she could be playing basketball.
Woah, this is gorgeous! I'm caucasian myself, but I want this Barbie because of the rich skin tone and stunning makeup. I really like her hair, too.
It's still definitely better than the Blonde, Blue-Eyed Cookie Cutter Barbie doll, for sure
I love the dark skin tone and the hair.
I also love the dark skin tone and hair, but why is it "still definitely better than the Blonde, Blue-Eyed Cookie Cutter Barbie doll"? Personally I feel that the focus should be on diversification, and so that children are seeing themselves reflected*. In terms of blonde and blue-eyed, there are kids out there that have these traits. As well as many other ethnicities and body shapes. I don't think it should be about one type of Barbie being "better" than another because of her skin tone and hair, it should be about increasing Barbie's representation in all areas (race, ethnicity, body shape, ability, etc.).
* and I am certainly not promoting that girls should only play with barbies that match themselves. Just ensuring that there is no "one" look.
I also love the dark skin tone and hair, but why is it "still definitely better than the Blonde, Blue-Eyed Cookie Cutter Barbie doll"? Personally I feel that the focus should be on diversification, and so that children are seeing themselves reflected*. In terms of blonde and blue-eyed, there are kids out there that have these traits. As well as many other ethnicities and body shapes. I don't think it should be about one type of Barbie being "better" than another because of her skin tone and hair, it should be about increasing Barbie's representation in all areas (race, ethnicity, body shape, ability, etc.).
* and I am certainly not promoting that girls should only play with barbies that match themselves. Just ensuring that there is no "one" look.
ok I want this Barbie http://www.flickr.com/photos/24223273@N00/213246871/in/photostream/ with sandy brown hair that comes to her shoulders. Then she's like my little twin!!!
When I was little, I really wanted a black Barbie because she had dark hair. I'm white, but with brown hair, and I thought the black Barbie was closer to me. I also liked Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and Mulan.
My parents bought me the black Barbie, and she was my favorite. Now, it's interesting that I put so much stock in "dark hair" while ignoring skin, eyes, etc.
I can't speak for you personally, but I've come to learn that in general kids ignore skin color and things that make us different when they're little. My school was primarily black, and so were all of my friends, and I never understood my racist parents wouldn't let me have my friends over on sleepovers or to dinner. I didn't see how they were any different from me, even when my mom told me how.
Unfortunately, I wish this was a trait that passed to everyone to adulthood.
Louanne should be designing all Barbies as far as I'm concerned. We need more artists like her to mold the very same dolls that our children play with.
Do the mass produced Barbies even use different body molds for the different looks, or do they just add color dye to the same molds?
I agree with the others that this custom Barbie looks quite nice. Thinking about it, this hairstyle actually works better with the way the hair is attached to those tiny plastic heads, anyway. Falls more normally.