BARBIE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE FOUR WAVES OF FEMINISM

Abstract

Barbie has been a doll that has been played with and collected by millions of children and adults. Academic articles and columns have been written about her, and she has always been at the center of debates since she first appeared on the market in 1959. This doll also left its mark in the summer of 2023 with a film bearing its own name. In this article, a feminist reading of Barbie and the Barbie film is made in line with the basic arguments, interests, and solution proposals of the four waves of feminism. However, before starting the analysis and comparison, it is deemed appropriate to give a brief explanation about the design process of Barbie and to answer the question of why the wave classification, which draws attention to the periodic characteristic of the differentiations within feminist thought, is preferred in the article. Through Barbie, the waves of feminism are explained, and the arguments of these waves are tried to be concretized. Barbie and her film have been put under scrutiny in line with the basic arguments, interests, and solution proposals of the waves. However, it should be carefully stated that the article only aims to make a determination of the situation, and in this respect, it is hoped that the article will be a source for the next works to be written on Barbie and feminism.

Keywords

• Feminism
• Woman
• Gender
• Barbie

FEMİNİZMİN DÖRT DALGASI BAĞLAMINDA BARBİE

Abstract

Barbie, piyasaya ilk çıktığı 1959 yılından bugüne milyonlarca çocuk veya yetişkin tarafından oynanan, koleksiyonu yapılan, hakkında akademik makaleler, köşe yazıları yazılan ve her zaman tartışmaların odağında yer alan oyuncak bir bebek olmuştur. Bu oyuncak bebek, 2023 yazına da kendi ismini taşıyan bir filmle damga vurmuştur. Makalede feminizmin dört dalgasının temel savları, ilgileri ve çözüm önerileri doğrultusunda Barbie ve Barbie filminin, feminist bir okuması yapılmıştır. Fakat analiz ve karşılaştırmaya başlamadan önce Barbie’nin tasarım sürecine dair kısa bir açıklama yapılması ve makalede feminist düşünce içindeki farklılaşmaların dönemsel özelliğine dikkat çeken dalga sınıflandırmasının neden tercih edildiği sorusunun yanıtlanması uygun görülmüştür. Barbie üzerinden, feminizm dalgaları açıklanmış ve bu dalgaların argümanları somutlaştırılmaya çalışılmıştır. Dalgaların temel savları, ilgileri ve çözüm önerileri doğrultusunda Barbie mercek altına yatırılmıştır. Fakat dikkatle ifade edilmelidir ki makalede sadece bir durum tespiti yapılması amaçlanmış olup, bu yönüyle makalenin Barbie ve feminizm üzerine yazılacak sonraki eserlere kaynaklık edeceği murat edilmiştir.

Keywords

• Feminizm
• kadın
• toplumsal cinsiyet

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