Have you heard about all the new Ken dolls that girls can choose from? It’s a new day in doll play! How interesting to note what used to be called “husky” is now called, “broad”. I guess in the world of man-dolls being called “broad” is a good thing, as opposed to being called “a broad.”
It’s not that boys will be buying these toys, it’s that little girls can now choose the boyfriend of their Barbies. The days of the one-size-fits-all Ken are over!
If only Life reflected Toys! In the 50-something world of man choices, it’s a little different. The set of “Reals” I get to prospect involves weeding out “Grey Chest Hair” Ken, from “Recent Knee Replacement Limp” Ken, to “Orange-Tanned Bald” Ken.
I swear I am not trying to be mean. Gals of a certain age have their own changing physicalities for men to deal with. However, the “still-foxy” scale is tipped in our favor, due to the humongous industry catering to all of us “Aging Barbie Boomers.” It involves magnetic eyelashes, spray-over-grey products, face lifts that use electric pulses or something, cellulite sucking vacuum procedures, age spot correctors, teeth whiteners, chin hair removers, skin-“brightening” creams, finger nail vitamins, need I go on?
These Next-Gen Kens have been realized to teach young girls that their “ideal” man can come in all colors and sizes. I will be interested to see which of the New Kens sells out first. “Man-Bun Slim Ken?” or “Corn-Rows Original Ken?”
The weird thing is, I don’t quite understand why they are all named Ken, but identified by their body type and hair style. Is this payback for all the years we gals have been identified by our hair and body types?
This focusing on Ken’s looks is an odd message. There’s no Dr. Corn Row Ken or Astronaut Man Bun Ken. I don’t want to be the person criticizing Mattel’s attempt at diversifying the toys girls play with, I just wish that advertisers at large would stop telling ladies of a certain age that we can’t just “BE.” We have to nip, and tuck, and cover-up and squeeze our bodies into something resembling, well, Barbie. That old Barbie that we all grew up playing with. The blue-eyed, blonde Barbie with the tight waist and tip-toe feet built for high-heel wearing. Haven’t we been through enough???
I do not want to be encouraged by advertisers to be the middle-aged version of the original Barbie!!!!
Oh the irony of the phrase, “getting all dolled up!”
But congrats to the little girls who get to grow up choosing which man-doll to play with and the realization that there are all types of Kens in this world to match perfectly with their own personal version of a beautiful doll.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, the ad on television is telling me I need to go cover up my spider veins.
We all go through major life transitions when relationships end… Through this website, I will share my thoughts as I walk the path of “New-Self” discovery. It doesn’t matter which side of 50 you are on. The real question is, Are you ready to live life? To forge a Path of Your Own Making (For a change!)? Then stop dwelling over the What-Might-Have-Beens and join me. Share your thoughts here, comment on mine, and let’s do this together!