The voluptuous Barbie doll has been criticized in the popular media, as well as by feminists in academia, who say her exaggerated proportions cause children to be anorexic and that her manufacturer, Mattel, perpetuates hegemony through its marketing strategies to sell more dolls. These arguments for a negative interpretation of Barbie are rooted in the general marginalization of anything traditionally "feminine," such as gaudy make up, glittery clothing or any other kind of excessive ornamentation. I argue that Barbie can be interpreted positively as a creative muse, as the adult Barbie collectors profiled in this paper see her. The same aspects of the doll that are criticized--her inherent sexuality and femininity--are the same aspects that lead to her creative use by collectors, making her a representative of how women can reclaim the traditionally feminine from the margins of culture.
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