Barbie dolls and weight issues

[ChinBristles]

Hello,

I was clearing out my mum's loft and came across my old Barbies from the mid/late 1980s. One had a whole load of bathroom accessories - hairdryer, towels, etc. And a set of scales - set at 120lbs which is 8.5 stone. I was so horrified that I threw it in the bin! I now wish I'd kept a picture.

Anyway, just thought I would share that with you.

Comments welcome!

How tall was she?

8.5 stone is a healthy weight for many heights...

I've certainly been that weight and lower as an adult

I was 8.5 stone for years, I’m average height and it’s a very normal BMI.

8.5 stone is a reasonable weight, until about a year ago I had only ever weighed more whilst pregnant. Barbie is meant to be 17 - 18 isn't she and average height I would assume? It is hardly a dangerously low weight for a teenager.

Although I agree that dolls should not come with scales!

25cm

Oh yes, I'm not disputing that it's a healthy weight for some adults. I suppose it was the inclusion of bathroom scales at all, and especially ones actually showing a weight which seemed so off to me.

Google says Barbie is meant to be 5 foot 9. And actually says she was mean to be 110lbs. (so just under 8 stone) rather than 120lbs. But either weight is underweight on the BMI chart.

Actually maybe it was 110 rather than 120 that the "scales" showed.
Either way, the concept just seems so odd to me, in these modern "body positive" times!

25cm

I’ve just calculated her BMI and at 25 cm and 120lbs she’s extremely obese.

We live in a society plagued by obesity and over eating. What's body positive about that?

So you found a set of old scales, can't remember what they actually said, and are surprised that they don't reflect modern values?

@FelixBrown I know a lot of mums on here are the same as me, brought up in the 1980s so I thought it might be an interesting "Chat" topic.

@GiltEdges I agree. I struggle with my weight a little myself. I don't agree with the "body positive (obesity is ok)" movement. Mind you, I'm also concerned about the impossible standards of beauty on Instagram for impressionable young people.

It's just it would sooooo never be allowed today for a toy to be sold with this type of accessories!

I was an 80s child too op and there was quite a lot of body shaming about over weight kids in my school.
i haven’t heard it from my primary aged girls so maybe times have changed for the better

Wonder what they'd be worth on eBay

Barbies proportions are extremely unrealistic for the vast majority of women (awaits half of MN insisting they have the same RL proportions) both now and in the 1980s

I doubt the Barbies would be worth anything. They were very well played-with! Certainly not box-fresh mint condition. And not limited edition or anything. I've given them to my cousin's kids. I suppose I was mostly horrified they would see the "scales" and it could open up a can of worms. (They are 6 and 8)

I was in a tk max with my mum when my eldest (now 10) was a baby, and browsing through the kids toys section, and found a ‘Hello Kitty’ set of bathroom scales -I was horrified! This was 2012, (I’m also an ‘80’s kid) surely someone somewhere along that production line might have at least raised an eyebrow and mentioned that might not be suitable for children 🤷🏼‍♀️