Here at Behind the Thrills, we love us some Theme Parks. No doubt about it. However, there is a great big world out there, and sometimes we need to take a step out of the parks and look at something else. Join us as we take a look outside of the world of theme parks and into the world of movies, music, television, hotels…pretty much anything else we happen to stumble across.
However whatever we look at will have some relation to the theme park world, granted not directly…but in a round about sort of way.
So join us now as we lift up the harnesses, put down our cup of Butterbeer and take a walk…Offsite.
This week’s Offsite Adventure-Bald Beautiful Barbie
The Barbie Doll. She’s been a symbol for generations of girls growing up. Barbie started out in the 50’s as a symbol for consumerism, representing the new found financial freedom of those in the newly formed suburbs. Barbie had it all, a dream house, a hot new car, and all the clothes and shoes that she could buy. She was the perfect woman, and even had the perfect figure to boot. She was the ideal woman, living in suburbia being the perfect match for any man. A trophy wife. Women would strive to be just like her, trying to match her figure and status.
In the years that followed her creation Barbie has moved past being a perfect woman. She’s no longer a sex symbol, or the vision of a perfect woman. She’s now a symbol for girls and young women everywhere. Barbie is now a role model to young girls that they can do anything, or be anything that they put their minds to. Barbie has been a fashion model, a fashion designer, an executive, astronaut, Nascar Driver, SeaWorld trainer and even a Presidential Candidate.
Girls have been looking up to Barbie for many years, hoping to be just like her. Now a new Facebook Page is hoping that she can be something more to young girls. Hope.
Jane Bingham and Beckie Sypin created the Facebook fanpage “Beautiful and Bald Barbie! Let’s see if we can get it made!” and in just a few short weeks have skyrockted to over 100,000 likes.The purpose of the page? Not to make Barbie bald just to make her bald, but to bring awareness to childhood cancer. The creators of the page hope that by bringing enough people together, Mattel will mass produce the Barbie’s. But why bald? And most of all why Barbie?
Those undergoing cancer treatments, or those with Alopecia or Trichotillomani know that one of the side effects is that your hair falls out. This can be a devastating to a young girl. To those girl’s their hair is more than just a head covering, it’s a representation of who they are. And all that can be lost. It’s not only girls who go through this, young boys also go through a lot of emotional trauma when they start to lose their hair. Another big trauma can be when mom or dad lose their hair due to cancer treatments or diseases. This is what Jane and Beckie hope to change.
With a huge role model like Barbie going bald, it gives kids the message that it’s okay. There is nothing for them to be ashamed of. Even though we try to teach them this on our own, Barbie could give them the extra hope and strength to get through treatment. Mattel has given a blanket statement on their charitable contributions, which are all great and amazing, but has not acknowledged the power that a toy like Bald and Beautiful Barbie could have.
As for Jane and Beckie? Jane has lost her hair to chemotherapy during her battle with cancer, something that her daughter is having a hard time with. Beckie has a daughter going through chemotherapy, and hair loss has been an issue with her. They don’t want to get rich off of the doll, in fact money isn’t a factor. It’s their hope that Mattel makes the doll, and donates the proceeds to cancer research. But the biggest hope of all is that the doll gets made to help inspire hope to millions of girls and boys experiencing the same fight. After all, if Barbie can do it…so can they.
Become a fan on Facebook to bring Beautiful and Bald Barbie to stores.
Also, be sure to join the Bald G.I. Joe Facebook fanpage as well.
