It was a good visit again. On some level it’s hard to not just start attending because some of our best friends attend, but I know we have to wait for God’s word on our church…so we wait.
Okay, so I’m reading the Sunday edition of our fine newspaper (albeit a bit right of center), but acceptable at least for the ads and travel section. Right on the front cover was a story titled “GOOD EGGS” and it had a large picture of Barbie on it…let me see if I can take a photo of it…one moment please!
This article talks about the qualities the egg donors that are considered ideal would possess…and I didn’t have a problem with a majority of the criteria. It included a high IQ, an acceptable psychological exam, healthy egg supply, nonsmokers, able to pass blood tests…then it said ‘good looks’. My issue with ‘good looks’ is that is a fairly subjective quality. Beauty to one is clearly NOT beauty to another and in the words of Forrest Gump… “Beauty IS as Beauty DOES”.I just cannot believe my city; my major newspaper would have a picture of Barbie for the ideal egg donor comparison. This is the same Barbie who clearly struggles with aging and settling down in marriage. She has been known to be a bit reckless; at least she was in my toy chest. Add to that, she may have an eating disorder, because I don’t ever see her eat.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the people who run our newspaper would select a blonde haired, blue eyed DOLL as the ideal egg donor. If you’re wondering what I expected I would have to say either NO picture, or a collage of many different woman, or at least many Barbies.
I promise you if it weren’t for the coupons I clip each week I wouldn’t even subscribe to the newspaper. I have to just glance at a NY Times occasionally or Washington Post just to be certain intelligent life and newsworthy stories still exist. I do love this city and most of what it offers; I’m just struggling in the aftermath of my reaction to this cover story.
So, what rides the front page of your newspapers on a Springtime Sunday issue?
5 comments:
That is incredible. I never even let Kristen have Barbie and she still ended up with anorexia! I could not agree more with your disgust. Are you writing a well thought out letter to the editor??
Very typical isn't it! Barbie is the all-american gal! At least we are starting to come around, forcing super models to have a slight percentage of body fat, etc, but the damage is long since done.
Interesting how I was just reading an article this morning on 'egg donation' too. How it is not illegal for women to sell their eggs but it is illegal for someone to buy them (here in Canada anyways)
PS I loved playing with my Barbies when I was a little girl but not because they were beautiful, just because I loved make-believe. Loved Care Bears, Fisher Price etc equally as much!
Well, let me see if I can defend the newspaper's use of this Barbie pic. (Think of this as an exercise in forensics.)
If the article was about the mixture of traits we'd want in perfect eggs, then I'm assuming they chose Barbie because she also represents a combination of desirable traits. They didn't choose her for the reason we immediately assume when we see her -- she's skinny and beautiful. They chose her because of what she represents.
As we all know, Barbie is smart. How else could she have so many careers -- doctor, cruise director, etc. She's caring -- you've seen how she is with her little niece Kelly, right? She definitely doesn't smoke. She's psychologically healthy. People like her and she's popular with the boys. Plus, Barbie drives several extremely cool cars (not to mention a motorhome and a cruise ship). And she's an amazing actress! Did you see her in "Barbie in The Nutcracker"? Or how about "Barbie in Swan Lake"? The list goes on.
I don't know about you, but if I were going to hand-select eggs to possibly become my offspring, I'd definitely choose Barbie.
Just as long as the other half of the equation comes from Ken. Now those would be some perfect children!
Actually, now that I think more about this, the newspaper's use of Barbie could have been a brilliant & subtle satire. How better to mock our obsession with "building the perfect baby"?
unbelievable!!!
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