Barbie is one of the most popular toys on the market today, achieving a profit of more than $1.5 billion in 1999, according to the Mattel Website. Average American girls between the ages of 3 and 11 own ten Barbie dolls, which are available in more than 150 countries worldwide. Debates constantly exist as to whether or not Barbie is an asset to today's youth. Essentially the notion of playing with Barbie is beneficial, but the actual image she portrays …showed first 75 words of 552 total…

…showed last 75 words of 552 total…sizes and shapes, so that girls can get a real sense of reality and the different types of beautiful women in the world, not just one specific kind. With the ability to see so many types, girls can then use their creativity and imaginations to help them discover themselves and the world around them, which is the essential factor in having a toy available to children that is truly an educational asset to their lives