On That Fall Day - Draft (255)

On That Fall Day
-Emily Edelenbos

It was November first of last year when I was kayaking on the Susquehanna River in my little yellow kayak. The trees were clad in their finest fall-colored leaves and the cool wind was gently brushing past my cheeks and rustling through my hair. It was at this moment that I felt comfort in my beliefs. When I was younger, I was always worried about my disinterest in church and traditional religious practices. My entire family is Christian, so my lack of religious affiliation had always disconcerted me. However, on that fall day last year, as I felt the wind on my cheeks, and as I witnessed the processes and cycles of nature commence all around me, I was able to feel comfort in nature. I felt very connected to all of the processes going on around me, and was glad to feel like I was part of the grand scheme that our planet Earth is the host of. The “gap” I had previously felt with my lack of beliefs had been filled with nature and all of its wonders. The belief in nature that I identify with is one in which I am able to be close with my spirituality and with God, just not in a traditional way.

I believe that God exists in everyone and everything in nature. I also believe that my temple is not in a church or in any building of worship, but in the beautiful mountains, rivers, or any place of solace that I come across in nature.

Are You a Barbie Girl?, Revised. (301 )

Since 1959, “Barbie” has been influencing girls around the world, specifically in the United States, to upkeep a warped image of beauty. The Barbie doll started as a teenage fashion doll, clad in her black and white one piece. However, Barbie quickly went farther and became an idol for young girls, although she is an inanimate object. This idolization of Barbie was tragic and unhealthy because Barbie is so disproportionate that if she was scaled up to human size, she would lack the body fat necessary to menstruate!

She has become an idol for girls because of her seemingly desirable body shape, and because of her evolution through the decades to become almost any profession that exists. Barbie is a doctor, teacher, astronaut, and many others. Who would have thought she could fit all of this into her schedule between trips to the shopping mall?

However, when keeping the historical context in mind, it is important to realize that Barbie did not become a professional until women started entering the workforce in society. This is a direct mirroring of culture, as the Barbie was created in 1959, when women were generally not in the workforce. Barbie actually started out as a “feminine toolkit” for girls to learn how to become proper women modeled after their Barbies. Clothing items such as girdles and wedding dresses, as well as physical features such as a large bust, red lipstick, and freckle-free skin all suggested how girls should grow up to be nice feminine women.

Barbie dolls are still popular among young girls. This makes clear Mattel’s good market skills and evolution as a company. However, before it’s too late, young girls, teens, women, as well as companies who appeal to them, should realize the damage that can be done when idolizing such an object.

Are you a Barbie Girl? (352)

Ever since March of 1959, the Barbie doll has been influencing girls and young women around the world, and especially in the United States, to upkeep an unrealistic image of beauty through the standards of a disproportionate little play doll. The Barbie doll started out as a teenage fashion doll in her black and white one piece swim suit, but quickly went past a fashion toy and became an object for girls to idolize and try to become. This idolization of Barbie was so tragic and unhealthy because Barbie is so disproportionate that if she was scaled up to the size of a human being, she would lack the body fat necessary in order to even menstruate!

She has become an idol for girls not only because of her seemingly desirable body shape, but also because she has evolved over the decades to become almost any profession that exists. Barbie is a doctor, teacher, astronaut, and many other things, and who would have thought she could fit all of these things into her schedule while shopping so often? However, when keeping the historical context in mind, it is important to realize that Barbie did not become a doctor or teacher until women starting entering the workforce more commonly. This is a direct mirroring of culture, because the Barbie started out in 1959, when a woman in the workforce was more of an unheard-of phenomenon. Barbie actually started out as a feminine toolkit for girls to learn how to become proper women based off of their Barbie dolls. Clothing items such as girdles and wedding dresses, as well as physical features such as a large bust line, bright red lips, and freckle-free skin all suggested how little girls should grow up to be nice pretty feminine women.

Barbie dolls are still very popular among young girls, a fact which makes clear Mattel’s good market skills and evolution as a company. However, before it’s too late, young girls, teens, women, as well

as advertisement companies who appeal to these aforementioned populations, should realize the damage that can be done when idolizing such an object.