Effects of Dolls for Young Girls - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal on the Effects of Dolls for Young Girls Introduction Dolls have played the significant influence on the livelihood of children in different generations. In this regard, diverse cultures have varying appreciation of dolls and their effect in understanding sexuality and gender roles. According to the Paleolithic culture, different societies had different technologies in creating ancient dolls. This paper therefore seeks to evaluate the effect of dolls on young girls’ understanding of sexuality and appreciation of the ideal woman (Webster, 2012). In this regard, the paper will evaluate the role of Barbie in the current generation understanding of an ideal woman, and the Venus of Willendolf in understanding appreciation of the ideal woman in the prehistoric periods. Moreover, dolls have played the significant influence on the livelihood of children in a current generation. In this regard, most parents have a pessimistic view of the role played by dolls in their children’s life. Dolls have affected the children’s lifestyles in terms of clothing, body appreciation, decoration and perception of gender roles. In this regard, the emergence of action packed comics has created doll characters for young boys such a Spiderman doll, Superman doll and other American heroes in the United States. In young girls, the introduction of Barbie and other cartoon dolls has influenced their perception of social responsibilities. Most pre-adolescent girls age between 5-7 years have adopted the Barbie doll illusion lifestyle that involves the use of expensive hair extensions, wearing latest fashion labels, putting on thick facial makeup and false nails in an effort to reconstruct their image to fit that of their favorite dolls (Webster, 2012). As a result, the socialization of the American Society has adversely influenced young girls’ perception of extensive sexual maturity levels that are far beyond their current age. Unfortunately, the society has accepted to integrate adult sexual motifs into children’s clothing, as well as other children’s products. The integration involves creating attractive marketing strategies in children’s products containing adult sexual motifs. The transition has bridged the gap between children’s products with those of adults, ultimately creating an ideal woman with attractive sexual allure that may harm young girls. In this regard, toys such as Barbie have created a negative perception of appropriate physical appearance for the modern day woman. In the eyes of young girls, all girls must grow up having attractive facial and physical body appearance (Webster, 2012). Concerning personal appearance, young girls form an adverse attitude towards body weight and diet as well as the strong attraction to beauty products that satisfy a given sexual appeal. Specifically, Barbie dolls with shorts and mini skirts are more preferred to conservative Barbie dolls. The young girls accept the association with nudity as a belief that they are the most acceptable form of dressing. In addition, Barbie dolls with bigger eyes that are layered with conspicuous eye shadow, rouge-colored lips, and highlighted long hair are more favored compared to classic dolls (Webster, 2012). Statement of the problem Many sociologists have criticized the role of dolls in children’s understanding of sexuality and gender roles. In most boys, dolls on comic heroes are idolized as the main male gender roles. In this regard, body structure, masculinity and handsomeness are viewed as the most appropriate features that a man should hold in order for him to attain social recognition and appreciation. On the other hand, young girls aged between 5-7 years have adopted the Barbie doll illusion lifestyle that involves the use of expensive hair extensions, wearing latest fashion labels, putting on thick facial makeup and false nails in an effort to reconstruct their image to fit that of their favorite dolls (Gerber, 2009). This has adversely affected their perception of sexuality and the ideal woman feature. Additionally, young girls have a strong attraction to beauty products developed extreme consciousness on body weight and diet that satisfy a given sexual appeal. Though many research papers support this hypothesis, understanding of the effects of dolls on sexuality and appreciation of the ideal woman through the transition from the Venus de Willendorf to the Barbie doll has been ignored (Gerber, 2009). Additionally, many sociologists have described the combination of these descriptions as a depiction of a young woman in a night out and not on an ordinary day activity.Increased preference for such dolls, most young girls have increased body dissatisfaction especially when they compare themselves with the dolls. The toys create an ideal adult sexuality and physical body structure that cannot be attained in normal day-to-day activities. In most cases, the ideal woman requires to be extremely curvy, gorgeous and tall. In an effort to achieve this, most girls engage in unhealthy eating habits as well as consumption of dangerous beauty care products that result to fatal eventualities in adult life. Despite the adverse effects of dolls on young girls’ perception of body appreciation and sexuality, sociologist does recommend complete banning of dolls as an appropriate method of child protection. Instead, adequate evaluation of the efficiency of the dolls should be made since they also assist in active education, especially on gender roles and participation (Webster, 2012). Background of the study Background of the Venus de Willendorf The Venus of Willendolf doll has been historically analyzed as a major doll presentation an ideal woman figure. The doll is an incredibly small limestone sculpture of a naked woman who is slightly overweight and probably pregnant. The doll when compared to other prehistoric dolls made before it (that were clothed) indicate a transition period where ancient Greeks understanding of an ideal woman. The doll, therefore, represents a strong appreciation of beauty and modesty of the Greek women. The doll is entirely covered with a basket or woven hair. In this regard, curving detailing of the hair indicate that the artist must have identified how their women took great care of their hair and appreciated their beauty (Witcombe, 2009). Additionally, the doll small size and nakedness allows an individual holding the doll to feel the adipose mass of flesh, and the soft texture give an idealized feeling of holding a woman. The doll nakedness emphasizes more on reproductive organs and the lack of facial details exhaults the mother goddess. Since the doll is small, fleshy and overweight, one has the feeling that the doll represents fertility and thereby provide a strong appreciation of women (especially those who are pregnant, or obese) as having the power to bring forth future generations (Witcombe, 2009). Conclusion Barbie doll is a plastic made doll that presents a different perspective of the modern woman’s body image and self-concept. In this regard, the doll emphasizes more on physical female beauty and achievement of the American dream. The toy that was first conceptualized by Ruth Handler was meant to help young girls to transition through adolescence, teenage and into adulthood successfully. In this regard, the doll enables young girls to understand social features such as relationship with the opposite sex, fashion, appreciation of family and friendship. However, the doll has faced sharp criticisms, especially in their representation of the ideal woman. In this regard, the doll promotes unrealistic and increases the risks that girls engage in unhealthy eating disorders in attempting to attain the preferred body shape (Dittmar, Ive & Halliwell, 2006). Additionally, the doll’s white skin and facial appearance have been criticized in the United States since it does not represent the racial diversity. The transition from Venus of Willendolf doll to the Barbie doll is phenomenal since it shows the significant difference in the perception of the ideal woman and appreciation of sexuality. The Venus of Willendolf doll represents an ancient era that composed of ancient technology and appreciation of the Greek religion. The doll’s presentation of an obese woman in an era where food was scare indicates a desirable fat woman as a sign of fertility (Seshadri, 2012). This unlike the Barbie doll that has a small waistline indicates overall appreciation women, irrespective of their body shapes. In a contrasting view, the Barbie doll effects more on the ideal body shape of women in the society as well as their careers and other aspects of modern lifestyles. References Dittmar, H., Ive, S. & Halliwell, E. (2006). Does Barbie Make Girls Want to Be Thin? The Effect of Experimental Exposure to Images of Dolls on the Body Image of 5- to 8-Year-Old Girls. American Psychological Association Magazine. Vol. 42, doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.42.2.283 Essex Department of Sociology. Print Gerber, R. (2009). Barbie and Ruth : The Story of the Worlds Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her. Pymble, NSW: HarperCollins Collins Business, New York: doi 9780061341311 Seshadri, K. G. (2012). Obesity: A Venusian story of Paleolithic proportions. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 16(1), 134–135. doi:10.4103/2230-8210.91208 Webster, A. (2012). Living in a Sexualised Society. The Effects on Young Girls. University of Essex Department of Sociology. Print  Witcombe L. (2009, July 29). The Venus of Willendorf. The Art History Blog. Retrieved from http://arthistory.we-wish.net/2009/07/29/the-venus-of-willendorf/. Read More