Designer: Ruby Parra
The Barbie Effect is an information design project that addresses a very important issue that now more than ever is affecting women. The Barbie Effect is based on research about the effects Barbie dolls have on girls around the age of six to eight. The research showed that many of the girls who played with Barbie dolls usually ended up with skewed perceptions on what their bodies should look like. Many girls, as early as six years old are resorting to eating disorders and later in life, a strong desire to have an appearance similar to that of Barbie's , rather than to be themselves.
This project is a call to action not just for little girls and their mothers but for all women. The point is not to put Barbie dolls down or to say that it is an evil toy. The Barbie doll is just an example of the way the media tends to portray women and skew the perception of what they should be. My goal was for women to step into the box and feel that they can be beautiful being themselves, instead of being what society says they should be like.
