People Are Now Waiting For ‘Dad Bod Ken’ Following Barbie’s Massive Makeover
It took 57 years for Barbie to undergo a radical transformation. Gone are the days when Barbie’s only known for her statuesque beauty because on Thursday, Mattel officially unveiled three new versions of the iconic doll: petite, tall, and curvy.
The renowned toy manufacturer believes the makeover is necessary to make the dolls more reflective of today’s women. Will the launch of the brand new Barbie dolls prompt Mattel to alter Ken’s appearance too?
People took to Twitter to express their desire to see Barbie’s beau sporting a “dad bod.”
Nice work Barbie. Now can we get a Ken doll with a dad bod and receding hairline who has socks that never come off?
— Sad Peruna (@SadPeruna) January 28, 2016
Really wanna give girls realistic expectations? Give Ken a dad-bod, a v-neck T, a hoodie, New Balances, and an XBOX controller. #Barbie
— Nathan Nix (@nathan_nix) January 28, 2016
I'm excited with all these changes to Barbie's figure and body size, because that means we're only months away from a "Dad Bod Ken."
— Nick Flora (@NickFlora) January 28, 2016
Urban Dictionary provides a description of what constitutes a “dad bod.”
“The ‘dad bod’ is a male body type that is best described as ‘softly round.’ It’s built upon the theory that once a man has found a mate and fathered a child, he doesn’t need to worry about maintaining a sculpted physique.”
Some argued that adding a few pounds to Ken’s Adonis-like physique would make him look good. Others quipped that the new version of Ken must come with “daddy paraphernalia” like a beer bottle, a griller, or an Xbox controller.
Many praised Mattel for finally listening to its consumers’ concerns about Barbie setting an unrealistic body image goal. Barbie’s sales have seen a dramatic slump, especially with the emergence of progressive dolls that are perceived by parents as more empowering and diverse. Some of the known alternatives for Barbie include One World Dolls, Lottie Dolls, American Girl Mini Dolls, Tree Change Dolls, Mixies, and Makies.
“Right now when you say ‘Barbie’ to someone, a very clear image of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, slim doll comes to mind. In a few years, this will no longer be the case. We’re exploding a system that’s been in place for 56 years and a heritage that’s been passed down from generation to generation.”
The whole project, codenamed Project Dawn, took 18 months to complete. The project was kept secret from most Mattel employees, and for this reason, the prototype dolls had to be transported around the building in sealed containers.
In a Time magazine article entitled “Barbie’s Problem Is Far Beyond Skin-Deep,” Jill Filipovic considers Mattel’s decision as a “feminist victory.”
“The Barbie of my childhood just got an extreme makeover. It’s a feminist victory, especially for parents who want to allow their kids the creative fun of playing with dolls but don’t want to send the message that looking like Barbie is something to which girls should aspire.”
With Mattel now taking big steps to ward off criticisms surrounding their toys, will they soon manufacture an equally realistic-looking partner for Barbie? The company might want to consider if it’s really necessary because most of the people currently talking about #DadBodKen appear to find the concept more hilarious than inspiring.
Mattel is now accepting orders for the 2016 Barbie Fashionistas Collection. Each doll retails for $9.99 while dolls with additional sets of clothes cost $19.99.
[Image via Mattel and Will McFadden]
