'Barbie' movie hits nerve with some, but columnist says 'lipstick has no effect on our character'

Jul. 20—C'mon, Barbie — let's go discuss the impact that the fantastic, plastic doll and the beauty industry play in our lives.

No, it's not as fun as a party, but I think it may be necessary.

To coincide with the premiere of the "Barbie" movie starring Margot Robbie, I had a whole plan to do a fun column on all of my favorite products that connect with the beloved doll. Then, I saw some posts online bemoaning the "Barbie" excitement and bringing up the major gripes people have had with Barbie since her high-arched feet stepped onto the scene in 1959. They think Barbie is a poor role model for girls, she reinforces negative female stereotypes and she and her world are less than inclusive.

So, I decided to ditch my original column idea in order to explore how a doll became such a hot topic in cultural discourse. (But if you are interested in my Barbie beauty picks, visit the Hey, Beautiful blog at thetimes-tribune.com for a list!)

It's true that Barbie's origins were less than stellar, based on the "Lilli" doll, a German gag gift for men with a racy backstory. Barbie was presented entirely differently, though, as the wholesome, all-American girl next door. And while I'm not sure her creators intended for it to happen, Barbie — with her tiny waist, slim shoulders, long legs and large breasts — became a beauty standard.

Because of this, Barbie also was synonymous with someone who only cared about her appearance. Even though Barbie held more than 200 jobs, from doctor to journalist to president of the United States, she still drew ire from critics that her cute clothes and "perfect" body sent the wrong message to children who played with the doll.

Barbie's journey reminded me of the complicated relationship women in our culture have had with beauty. When I was a young teenager, if you spent time on your appearance, it meant you were vain and vapid and had no substance. Every woman I knew who took pride in their hair, makeup looks and fashion had to subdue or even hide it because liking traditionally "feminine" things was considered silly at best and "adhering to the patriarchy" at worst.

Then, somewhere around the mid-2010s, things started to change.

We rekindled a love of those traditionally "feminine" things as people began viewing makeup and skin care routines as rituals that gave way to a clearer mind and lighter spirit. And we finally started to admit we weren't doing it to fit a certain mold, but we were doing it for ourselves because it made us feel good.

Barbie herself also began to adapt to appear more like the people in our world. Mattel added millimeters of width to her thighs and waist and reduced her breast size in 2016. The dolls now come in all different skin tones with different hair types. There are also dolls with disabilities and dolls that have different body shapes. Our society started to see beyond one standard of beauty. It's not about the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl with perfect teeth and measurements anymore, but instead every skin tone, every hair texture and every body type.

Beauty is subjective and it can be anything, just like any Barbie is now "Barbie." Even in the "Barbie" trailer, we see every woman, each of a different background or style, greeting each other as "Barbie."

And while the film is maybe hitting on those deeper themes, it's not erasing its complicated past or taking itself too seriously. While it has kept its plot underwraps, its trailers and marketing materials seem to show it's in on the joke. As writer M.G. Lord — author of "Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll"—wrote in the Los Angeles Times, the movie's "zany, self-ironic production design suggests that (director Greta Gerwig) is not only well-versed in feminism but also in camp, an aesthetic sensibility that values artifice, exaggeration and parody."

I'm not saying that all of our culture's biggest problems are solved because we obviously still have a lot of work to do. I am saying that Barbie, like most of us, has made some mistakes, but also has learned from them. No, it wasn't great to show girls an unrealistic standard of beauty for as long as Barbie did, however, things are moving on and only getting better.

That being said, we've also discovered that it's perfectly OK to be excited about traditionally "feminine" things like makeup, skin care and even the hot pink aesthetic of the "Barbie" movie. Yes, we are so much more than our appearance, but liking lipstick has no effect on our character.

Today's Barbie, like most women, is doing her best and being true to herself — whoever she may be that day and in whatever way she wants to express it. And that always deserves to be celebrated.

Gia Mazur Merwine is a staff writer for the Lifestyles Department of The Times-Tribune. Contact her at gmazur@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9127 or @gmazurTT on Twitter.

Contact the writer: gmazur@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127; @gmazurTT on Twitter