Comparing Handler's The Good The Bad And The Barbie

The Good the Bad and the Barbie shows the creation of the Barbie, and how it changed and how it reflects from what time it is from. Showing each Barbie from its time and how and why it was created, such as how each style and job occupations Barbie had was based on the views and standards of that time. This book, set in today, and the Barbie today. Though it does show the past of Barbie, and even Ruth Handler (the creator of Barbie) it is as an informative of its past or compared to today’s Barbie. Though this was designed for young adults as an audience. While it is a quite short book, and it is in an almost “children’s book-ish” format its topics cover very in-depth within the creation, evolution, and controversies of the “Barbie”. But, due …show more content…
Next, a purpose of The Good the Bad and the Barbie purpose are centered on the impression and influence Barbie creates for us, and to inform us on how and why it was created to what it means now today. It does not seem to try to persuade, as it covers the problems with Barbie, while also explaining its positive impacts. Such as how it describes how it could be stereotypical how it portrays women in carriers, while also going on the state the vast improvements and diversity it has created with careers and Barbie. The main speaker or the Author or Tanya Lee Stone, narrates the story through her research on the creation, evolution, and meaning of Barbie. Although, she includes many quotes from the creator of Barbie, and others, such as mothers and children on the topic of Barbie’s influence. These quotes help to widen the viewpoint, seeing not just a singular author’s perspective, but some other firsthand experience with …show more content…
She has written many books on the topic of gender and race, just like this one (though not focusing of Barbie). Which means that she is very experienced on this topic, and that her information can be very well put together. Despite this, it can also mean a very strong bias. Many of her other books have defended similar points, similar to some of the points of The Good, The Bad, and The Barbie. In the beginning it is surrounded on Barbie and Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie. Yet, later though as she broadens her scope, she includes more quotes from mothers, children, and experts on Barbie. Though it is still her voice here, it seem almost to be a group of ideas, since none of the quotes or idea are the same, covering different viewpoints. Creating a nice broad look into Barbie. One example of an effective quote(s) was a women talking about how the body of the doll did not matter to her or her friend, yet it was the outfits. The girl would compete to see who had the most outfits not if they could look like Barbie or not. This quote was put alongside women commenting on the unrealistic body types of Barbie, and how it hurt children and that is all they remembered from Barbie. Drastically different ideas. Another example would be the quote used “Barbie has been the #1 most destructive force on self-image of women all over the globe” (-Dr. Carole Lieberman, page 6), right on the next page a disagreeing