I, a man, always felt that the popularity of Barbie etc meant something. Your have revealed that meaning beautifully.

Thanks skeptic!

Now I'm curious, what has Barbie meant to you, as a man? It seems to me that Barbie as such a ubiquitous cultural text/ presence would have had some kind of relevance to boys too.

Katie

Katie,

I never had a toy or longed for one. When I noticed Barbie, here in Australia, I was an adult who still had frightening nightmares about going hungry.

It was the age of ‘boogies’ and ‘wedgies’ and Barbie who sort of sprang to view by boldly piercing the fabric of their society.

On reading your article I realized how a doll can be a figurine around which girls defeat fear and wrap their hopes and dreams. Thanks again