Katniss Everdeen, Feminist Hero, Barbieified

[William769]

Everyone from The New York Times's Manohla Dargis to Nerdy Feminist is proclaiming The Hunger Games' heroine, Katniss Everdeen, a 21st-century feminist icon. In the book and movie adaptation, Katniss takes over as family provider following the death of her coal miner father (maybe she's Loretta Lynn's great, great, great, great, great granddaughter)--she hunts, she saves her sister, she rescues boys as she's fighting for her life in The Hunger Games, which pits 24 teenagers together in a fatal, televised duel.

So, does the fact that Katniss is now a Barbie lessen her fem-credentials? Mattel has decided to turn the character into a doll, complete with arrows and boots. It does help that the Katniss doll is dressed up for battle or hunting, not in one of the gowns she's forced to wear by the forces of the totalitarian Capitol (Katniss does use her beauty to her advantage, but it plays a smaller part in her survival than her brains and compassion).

http://www.shewired.com/box-office/2012/04/09/katniss-everdeen-feminist-hero-barbieified

[Starry Messenger]

1. I have to admit...

I want one now. I adored my Princess Leia doll when I was young Starry. I could see terrorizing my younger brother and our young male cousin who was his constant companion with a Katniss doll.



They eventually stole and buried Leia somewhere in the front yard, and she's never been found.

[William769]

4. Hell, I want one too!

[Warren DeMontague]

6. And she's probably a collector's item, now.

Ugh. The 1st edition star wars stuff I had from 77 or 78 would be worth bank at this point... If I only hadn't destroyed it, lost it, or had it disposed of by a parental unit.

[Starry Messenger]

8. I know, I really try not to think about it.

I'm sure she lost value as soon as I took apart her "cinnamon bun" hairstyle, but still. I'd like to have it back just because, too. My partner still has his Millennium Falcon that his dad got for him in '77 and I consider it part of his dowry.

[virgogal]

2. Liked the movie,loved the book.

[Lisa D]

3. I'd rather give a girl

a Katniss Barbie than a princess Barbie. Katniss is a young woman who relies only on herself and is both strong and smart.

Now how about an Eleanor Roosevelt doll or a Rosa Parks doll, Mattel?

[William769]

5. +1.

[DBoon]

7. and add an Emma Goldman doll too

nt

[Nay]

9. You know, I've never had a Barbie, but I'd love to have a Katniss barbie. nt

[Neoma]

10. I wanted to blow up my barbies with fireworks.

But my mom sold them off in a yardsale. At least I got to take off many of Ken's heads. I also wanted to use them for target practice with my brothers pellet gun. Ahhh, the good times I missed.

[stevenleser]

11. I think there were two main issues with Barbies.

#1 - The bizarre measurements if scaled to full size. "If Barbie were an actual woman, she would be 5'9" tall, have a 39" bust, an 18" waist, 33" hips and a size 3 shoe. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20055694-10391704.html



#2 - The roles barbie is generally assigned. (Princess barbie, etc)


Both of these do not seem to apply with the Katniss doll.

[Neoma]

12. I've seen that before.

Still gives me a chuckle.