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Barbie's Feet Have Changed With The Times
- Researchers led by podiatrist Cylie Williams at Monash University studied 2,750 Barbie dolls made from 1959 to 2024 to analyze changes in foot posture and roles.
- They examined whether Barbie's foot design changes reflected a conscious shift tied to social changes, noting the link between high-heel posture and fashion versus flat feet and employment roles.
- The study found that Barbies had 100% high-heel feet in 1959-1969 but only 40% by 2020-2024, with 33% representing real-world jobs and increased diversity and disability representation.
- Williams expressed appreciation for Barbie’s new portrayal featuring practical footwear, emphasizing how the doll now chooses shoes that suit her activities throughout the day.
- The findings imply Barbie mirrors evolving social norms as women balance career and fashion, and researchers advocate focusing on footwear choice rather than condemning high heels.
46 Articles
46 Articles
The Secret Behind Barbie’s Feet — And What It Says About Modern Women
You might have noticed something strange about newer Barbie dolls compared to the ones from decades ago – many no longer stand permanently on tiptoes. The post The Secret Behind Barbie’s Feet — And What It Says About Modern Women appeared first on Study Finds.
Whatever happened to Barbie’s feet? Podiatrists studied 2,750 dolls to find out
elinaxx1v/ShutterstockWhat do you get when a group of podiatrists (and shoe lovers) team up with a Barbie doll collector? A huge opportunity to explore how Barbie reflects changes in the types of shoes women wear. It all started with the blockbuster Barbie movie in 2023. In particular, we discussed a scene when Barbie was distressed to find she didn’t have to walk on tip-toes. She could walk on flat feet. Soon, we had designed a research project…
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