7.

Growing up, I never played with Barbie dolls.  I also have always been taught that everyone is beautiful in their own way and there is not one single definition for beauty. Maybe it is because of those reasons but as I read this piece, I felt as if some of the views Prager has on how Barbie has affected society are a bit extreme.  Prager’s notion that Barbie has led to the popularity of breast implant surgery and that Mr. Ryan designed Barbie “as a weapon” to fight the feminist movement just seem slightly unconvincing to me.  Barbie is a toy.  There are so many other influences that could have led to the increased popularity of breast implant surgery such as celebrities and social media! The section of Prager’s piece that I found the most absurd was the ending. “How do you think I felt, knowing that no matter how many water beds they slept in, or hot tubs they romped in, or swimming pools they lounged by under the stars, Barbie and Ken could never make love?” Dolls can’t have babies.  Even if both Barbie and Ken had proper genitals, they still could not make love. In addition to this, I also find how Prager thinks there is a “loneliness about Barbie’s situation” a little strange.  Dolls don’t have feelings.  Barbie isn’t lonely!    

Because of all this, I am lead to believe that this piece, “Our Barbies, Ourselves”, was written satirically. Prager exaggerates her point and uses extreme examples to assert that gender equality is an issue that needs to be addressed.  This use of exaggeration to prove a point is similar to how O’Brien amplifies events in The Things We Carry.  In order to convince her audience of the imposed gender norms that persist in today’s society effectively, it is necessary for Prager to use this sarcastic tone to communicate her ideas successfully.