Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental Term Paper

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 927 words ( 3 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 2

Page 1 of 3

S. woman." (288).

In response to this negative impact of Barbie not being found in the 7 1/2 to 8-1/2-year-old girls, the researchers admit that the finding was unanticipated and assert that, "For these older girls, if they have already internalized the thinness ideal, then the depiction of a full body could represent a possible, but feared, future self." (290)

The study is weak in several areas. The research sample is small, predominately white and middle class and comes from the same geographic region, causing one to wonder how much socio-economic factors play a role in the results of this study. it's not clear if the use of picture books rather than just dolls introduced bias into the study. Clearly, the researchers tried to emulate similar scenes for Barbie and Emme, but there are differences such as there as the use of an image of Barbie in the supermarket and Emme in a dress. The biggest flaw in the study is the interpretation of the results, particularly Emme, not Barbie, causing 7 1/2 to 8-1/2-year-old girls wanting to be thinner. Rather than admitting that this finding disputes that Barbie is to blame for negative effects on the body image, the researchers subjectively conclude that earlier exposure to Barbie must have caused future fears.

Nevertheless, this is an important study because there are few other experimental exposure studies that assess the impact of the sociocultural thinness ideal on very young girls.

Stuck Writing Your "Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental" Term Paper?

View All Our Example Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental Term Paper

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



The study began with well formed questions and finding the answers was supported with three different age groups and two different images, Barbie and Emme. The study suitably used a control group and tried to eliminate biases in the picture books. Response formats, "smiley faces" and coloring in figures, were age appropriate and reduced possible interpretation issues.

It is ludicrous to assume that Barbie is the only factor that contributes to the body image of five- to eight-year-old girls. The results of the 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 age group illustrates that there are probably many other societal influences.

Yet, the results of the 5 1/2-6 1/2 and 6 1/2 -7-1/2-year-olds show that Barbie does have an impact. For this reason, this research by Dittmar, Halliwell, and Ive is important in studying the root cause of psychological problems in women such as low self-esteem and eating disorders.

In summary Barbie does have a negative impact on the body image of young girls, 5 1/2-6 1/2 and 6 1/2 -7 1/2 years old. However, by the time girls are 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 these same negative impacts are more influenced by size-16 Emme. Certainly, there are a lot of societal influences other than the dolls that are causing negative body images in young girls. More research….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental" (2007, March 19) Retrieved June 4, 2026, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/barbie-jennifer-fleitas-noone-kirkpatrick-39239

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental" 19 March 2007. Web.4 June. 2026. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/barbie-jennifer-fleitas-noone-kirkpatrick-39239>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Barbie Jennifer Fleitas Noone-Kirkpatrick Developmental", 19 March 2007, Accessed.4 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/barbie-jennifer-fleitas-noone-kirkpatrick-39239
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example