Pop-Culture Feminist Warriors

I consider myself a feminist.

I have always considered myself a feminist, even before I knew what the word meant. I was, to be certain, a weird little boy. When I was seven I wanted Wonder Woman underwear more than anything else in the world and my parents, being obliging and open-minded, bought me a pair. A picture of me posing in them sits on top of the desk in bedroom now. Of course, I also had Superman pajamas that I proudly wore, so I represented both sides of the gendered coin.

Being a father to two lovely girls has only reinforced my commitment to feminist principles. You know, the radical idea that women are human beings deserving of the same treatment and opportunity as men.

Which brings me to... Barbie?

Yes. Barbie. As a rule, I abhor Barbie. Mind you, Barbie is not the problem, but rather a symptom of a much more insidious illness within society. It is the illness that makes women feel bad about the way that they look, that makes women believe that there exists an unattainable ideal for which they must strive and suffer. This false idol of beauty is omnipresent: Disney princesses, singers, actresses, and, of course, Barbie dolls.

There is a new ad for Barbie out, entitled Imagine the Possibilities, that offers a new take on playing with Barbies. While the ad makes no effort to alter the physical impossibilities of Barbie's shape, it does promote the endless possibilities of empowering young women, and for that, at least, I am pleased.

Check it out.

Remember: you are you. The way you look is perfect. You don't need to lose weight in order to look better. You don't need a different nose. Lipstick does not make you more appealing. Waxing is not an evolutionary imperative. Be yourself. Love yourself. Fuck anyone who demands something different from you.