why does my 13 year old daughter want to look like a barbie doll?

Question

even her freinds call her barbie

Answer 1

Maybe she wants to live Barbies fantasy world.

Answer 2

First, notice her friends call her Barbie. Who do kids want to impress or get the approval from? Think about it. If she thinks they like Barbie or encourage her to dress like the doll, could this not be the motivation for her desire? Their view of Barbie might be no different than that of the actresses or fashion models which are on tv, movies, and magazines. There are many styles of Barbie. Just a broad generalization is not specific enough. There are the well dressed professional, the beach type, the vintage type, or the too sexy style. Some do it just because it annoys their parents as an act of rebellion. It may be not that big of a deal. You need to talk to her and listen to what she has to say. Instead of being criticizing and argumentative, be inquisitive and caring. Let her feel comfortable sharing the reason she likes to dress in that style. This can lead to a discussion between the pros and cons of her choice of style. Listening is very important.

Answer 3

Hi,
first of all, you're lucky she want to look like a Barbie doll; my step-daughter of the same age wants to look like a hoodlum gangster and gets excited when there's talk of a stabbing in the community. Barbie's not so bad.

Anyway, more specifically, it is entirely normal that your daughter want to like someone. A role-model for appearance is very common at all ages from puberty onwards. The question is ... why Barbie? Why blond, why so much makeup, etc etc...? Well, it's unlikely at 13 she's gonna have good taste and want to look like a sultry continental sophisticated chick, so she's gone for what's more immediate and obvious. Her youth and lack of taste means she's gone for loud and garish and obvious - this is logical: she's 13. Being that she's so obsessed with appearance now, she's bound to get into more serious fashion as she gets older and could even end up stylish. You should just chill and let time take it's course.

If you're question is larger, however and you mean: 'why is my daughter so obsessed with appearance and seemingly so shallow? then you ask deeper questions about our society. Let's face it, kids today have no religion, belief system, sense of society, discipline, aesthetic sense or pretty much any positive influences anywhere. If this is the case of your daughter, then try and change a few things: remove messenger, mobiles etc, introduce reading hour, or failing that - move to a country where people are more chilled and cultured.

Hope this was of some use to you.

Answer 4

Clearly she sees Barbie as a representation of an ideal that appeals to her. She has bought into the concept that the physical appearance of that doll is positive and desirable, even though the natural blonde/blue eye combination is highly unusual in nature and the figure (breast size, waist measurement, waist to hip ratio) is pretty much a physical impossibility.

Are you letting her bleach her hair? Is she dieting to try to maintain a Barbie-slim figure unnaturally? Are you buying her clothes that are Barbie-stylish? Is she actually blonde, blue eyed, slender and developing a large bust?

Is she preoccupied with Barbie and looking like her? Has she suggested colored contact lenses or plastic surgery to be more like Barbie?

Are you encouraging her in doing anything unnatural, unusual or expensive in order to maintain her Barbie connection?

Answer 5

Because in her mind Barbie is beautiful. She doesnt realize the implications of what she is saying. Those Barbie dolls set girls up for totally unrealistic expectations. At least the Bratz are more realistic.

Answer 6

Well girls play with dolls and dolls are learning how to be a grown up and role models...

So she thingks thats how to get freinds, boyfriends, love and a nice life.

Plus now she shes the like of Paris Hilton all rich and Glamorous as the media favours her over those with er talant.


She is also growing up and becoming a teenager...

Lol fun time for you not...

Now comes boys, kissing, tanturams, boys, sex, blow jobs, music, stress, boys, sneaking out to parties, interest in alcohol, risk taking... more boys...

Dont you remember what you were like at that age?

Oh and of course falling in love with some boy band member worshiping them like a god.

And arguments over what she can wear ie she will want as skimpy and boy magnetty as possible... You will be like no way are you going out in that.

Then we have tattooos, piecings and bright pink hair....

You may want to point out the main job for Barbie types are porn models and pole dancers which may not be that bad if thats what she genuinely wans to do in 5/6 years time for a while (pole dances can earn £800 a nigt which equates to nearly £200,000 a year and keeps fit... its not long term so would need fiancial advice. (ie no nose candy)

And for porn stars she would need to be with a legit company to be safe and not messed around.

Laughing at the horrified look on you face reading this... Note I judge people on how nice they are and some acquantences are jelly wrestlers in nice backpacker bars.

Paris is where she is as had a rich daddy.

Barbie dolls may still get any job they want but get prepared for eating disorders and pre empt them...




Heres a tip... She wont believe anything you say so tell her to do a survey of all the boys in her school.


Who would you fancy most? and be the best girlfriends

Barbie girls like Paris Hilton
,
Lara Croft/Jessica Alba (in Dark Angel), Buffy, fiesty girls
Biker babes.
Adventure Action girls
Skater/surf babes
break dance girls


etc...

Answer 7

The media puts alot of pressure on young girls to look a certain way, and at her age they are vulnerable and thinks its good. Give her time and she will eventually grow out of it as she is just going through a fase...i suppose theres nothing really to worry about. Would you rather her dress like a barbie or a boy ??

Answer 8

just a suggestion Ask Her! maybe she thinks barbie is pretty and she wants to fit in or maybe it is a deep down underlying problem and could start the cycle of anorexia or bulimia but the main thing is too ask her casually bring it up while you are driving her to school.

At that age i just wanted to fit in and it would have been great if my mother would have assured me everything would work out...Now i don't care what people think you either like me for who I am or you don't

Answer 9

She sees Barbie and probably thinks she is perfect and that she has everything and wishes she could have a body like barbie, a life like barbie, realtionships like Barbie. Barbie is her rolemodel and she wants to be just like her.

Answer 10

well its not really her thats changed, i think it's the barbie. every year the barbie changes to fit the media description of being "the perfect princess". Soon or later she's probably going to want to buy abercrombie and fitch clothings too