Ch 24

Ch 24

Wow I cant believe that we have finished the textbook already, I don’t think that I have ever read an entire textbook in my whole life. After two semesters of world history I have learned a lot of interesting information. People say that if you don’t know the history of the past then history will just repeat it self, and the same mistakes will be made. I think that this course has taught me a lot and looking and discussing in depth about very important topics of history I feel like I am more knowledgeable about the history of the world.

Chapter 24 opens up talking about Barbie and Ken. I think that this topic is very interesting as I used to play with barbies when I was younger, I had never really realized the debate over the dolls before. I had both ken and Barbie along with other dolls of other ethnicities. Some don’t like barbies because they say that she has a negative influence over young girls. Arguing that barbie’s body is unrealistic and that girls will try to have that body when the chances of having that body type is 1 in 100,000. Also, the fact that Barbie is so much into her looks and her style, many people argue that it does not matter whether she is beautiful or ugly, but what matters is how her personality is and what iconic things she does for young girls. While others, say that Barbie is beautiful and smart and that this is encouraging for young girls, especially because Barbie has had many great jobs for example a doctor, a vet, a teacher, a paleontologist etc. Those who argue that Barbie is a positive influence over young girls say that Barbie allows girls to use there imaginations, to dress Barbie however they wish, they can make Barbie walk and talk how they wish. However one looks at Barbie, the toy is still a multi-billion selling industry and will remain that way for a long time.

            Another debate about Barbie is the one that concerns ken. Barbie and ken, Ken and Barbie, these names are known almost all over, but is this relationship healthy? Sure, some parents in America like the relationship, it shows that Barbie can be independent and stand on her own feet, because she is not married. But others in countries like Iran for example people believe Barbie is not a good role model because she has an unmarried companion. So instead of having the big Barbie ken phenomenon in Iran they have Sara and Dara, sister and brother twins. They teach values like helping each other problem solve, and looking to their parents for guidance. This relationship is totally different than that of ken and Barbie, the values are the opposite; the way they dress is opposite. This is an example of how values differ all across the world, and how industries like that of Barbie have to alter their products in order to sell in different parts of the world. I really liked how the textbook used this example in order to make the concept of the chapter clear.

           

          Another important aspect of this chapter was the paragraphs concerning feminism. In the 1960 feminist organizations came out with strong opinions. They argued that they no longer wanted to be seen as the “other” or deviant. Women are human just like men; we are not some alien forces that should be viewed differently than men. Women began to speak out and fight for their equality. Also women wanted to be able to control what happens to their bodies. That’s where the big debates of abortion really began. Whether I agree with that issue or not, I understand where women were coming from with the start up of this debate. Women were also fighting for equal rights in employment and education. I think that its kind of sad that it was roughly only 50 years ago when women were beginning to be looked at as equal to men!