For example, an article by Elizabeth Sweet, a sociologist, wrote an article for The Atlantic that highlights Sears ads from 19 that market domestic tools like brooms and sewing machines and cookware, claiming, “Every little girl likes to play house, to sweep, and to do mother’s work for her.” These types of toys worked to make a young girl into a “little homemaker” rather than “to inspire the limitless potential in every girl” as Mattel claims to do with Barbie. For nearly a century, toys that simulate or depict domestic chores and housekeeping items, the “rough housework” Barbie didn’t do, have been marketed to American girls. I, for one, played house many times in my day. Many a childhood, especially those of the female population, included toys like kitchenware, vacuums, baby dolls and the like.
But why was there a need or want for a toy to teach children this lesson? Well, that’s because many other toys girls were playing with were painting a much different picture of women’s place in society. Barbie has always set out to teach girls “independence” and “all that could be.” It was a major point for Mattel that the Barbie doll did not “teach to nurture” or do housework, but rather to pursue careers outside the home and become strong women. Actually seeing that she can makes all the difference.” The idea that Barbie can show young girls all they can possibly become is nothing new. In bold pink letters on the Role Models page at, one can read the statement “Imagining she can be anything is just the beginning. Kim is now featured as part of the Role Models line of Barbie dolls, alongside other female professionals like conservationist Bindi Irwin, model and body activist Ashley Graham, and historic aviator Amelia Earhart. This achievement was apparently significant enough to raise her status to Barbie-worthy.
She won first place in the women’s halfpipe event and brought the gold medal from PyeongChang home to the United States. Just last month, Chloe Kim became the youngest gold medal winner in Olympic women’s snowboarding history at 17 years old.