Nafsiya Reflections: The Latest Barbie Frenzy

The Barbie movie has so far gained over a staggering $1.38 billion at the global box office. Barbie still stands at number 1 over the weekend at movie theaters. However, does this Barbie frenzy that has been unleashed have any agendas on our daughters? Let’s briefly take a look at how Barbie has or can impact our children.

The movie focuses on women’s empowerment. Barbie transformed into a source of empowerment for girls and reflects their career ambitions. We often view Barbie as this plastic doll that we can buy for our daughters at the age of 3, 4, 5, or 6. Ruth Handler founded Barbie in 1959 when her daughter would project her dreams and aspirations onto paper dolls. The philosophy behind Barbie was that a little girl has choices to be whatever she wants.

The idea of girls playing with dolls is encouraged due to bringing out their creativity, imagination, motherly instincts,motor skills, encouraging communication, and empathy. Girls have played with dolls for centuries. Our beloved Aisha (ra) used to play with dolls as stated:

عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ‏:‏" كُنْتُ أَلْعَبُ بِالْبَنَاتِ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، وَكَانَ لِي صَوَاحِبُ يَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي، فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا دَخَلَ يَنْقَمِعْنَ مِنْهُ، فَيُسَرِّبُهُنَّ إِلَيَّ، فَيَلْعَبْنَ مَعِي"

A'isha said, "I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and my friends would play with me. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, entered, they would hide from him and he would call them to join me and they would play with me."

However, there is a difference when innocence is taken away from our daughters due to greed and feminist movements to destroy the family structure all by a movie. Dolls in general encourage a sense of nurturing qualities by allowing the child to think it's a real baby and learning how to care for it by feeding, holding, changing it as well. It also fosters a sense of imagination by allowing the child to think that the doll is a baby that needs care or that the child is a teacher and the dolls are students and she needs to teach them all while developing communication skills and boosting self-confidence. It allows the child to believe that she can succeed and can succeed. We have even seen pictures where girls have placed the Hijab on their dolls and lining them up for prayer all the while she leads her dolls in prayer fostering the ties in the closeness to Allah (swt).

The Barbie doll has not lost any influence even after 64 years of its presence. Barbie has shown girls starting at the age of 3 what are the beauty standards. Some may even say that it may be detrimental for young girls. One may ask how it can be detrimental?

The beauty standards that this doll has portrayed to young girls at the prime of their innocence building self-esteem, boosting confidence, and loving themselves all while knowing that Allah (swt) is the best of creators. However, when these girls are constantly playing with these dolls it can enlighten their innocent minds to the narrow and idealized image of femininity. These girls start to compare their bodies to Barbie’s thin unrealistic body. One study showed that girls exposed to Barbie reported lower body esteem and greater desire for a thinner body shape than girls in the other exposure conditions. In reality if one wanted to have Barbie’s body weight compared to the height she would have an eating disorder and unlikely be able to menstruate.

The fashion statement of Barbie: The short provocative dresses or skirts that are sold for Barbie where these girls are dressing their Barbies makes them think that these are the standards of beauty and that it is accepted for girls to dress like this. Sadly, even footwear is advertised on what the standard of beauty for a girl/woman to put on their feet. The movie shows the actress stepping out of high-heeled shoes and being able to stand on her toes. This scene has caused a “Barbie feet challenge.” Many are trying to imitate the scene but some podiatrists have mentioned that this challenge has caused foot injuries and insisted that these challenges be stopped. High-heels often put pressure on not only the feet but also the back, spines, knees and toes; but with a $55 billion industry these capitalists don’t care for women’s well-being. Capitalism only sees Dollar Signs.

Barbie's age-defying image has deeply impacted women. We are seeing an increase in cosmetic procedures, adhering to beauty standards, in Muslim majority countries. The West has deeply affected the minds of Muslims trying to place the West’s standard of beauty rather than what Islam values of beauty is. Sadly, many of our Muslim sisters are revealing their beauty outside of their homes in order for the sake of imitation and unIslamic societal pressures.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الرَّافِلَةِ فِي الزِّينَةِ فِي غَيْرِ أَهْلِهَا كَمَثَلِ ظُلْمَةِ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ نُورَ لَهَا ‏"

Maimunah bin Sa’d who was a servant for the Prophet, narrated that The Messenger of Allah said: “The parable of the woman who walks to impress others in adornments for other than her family, is that of darkness on the Day of Judgment: There is no light for her.”

The list can go on! The movie Barbie which is rated PG-13 and cashed in over a billion dollars so far has introduced many corrupt ideas into the future generations mind. The movie has also portrayed cross-dressing, the Transgender idea as being OK. It is their personal choice, the right to dress how he/she feels is suitable for their own personal choice. We, again see the hypocritical standards of the West. However, France wages war on the Abaya, a piece of cloth, but yet so Feared!

We as Muslims believe that Allah (swt) has guided us in all aspects of life and parenting is of course not an exception. As parents, we are commanded,

[يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًۭا وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ]

“O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones...” [TMQ Surah At-Tahrim: 6].

This is now a Critical time for us as parents to talk to our children before their friends, teachers, or peers introduce corrupt ideas into their minds. We can’t afford to place our children in situations which are more than likely going to affect their thoughts, values, behaviors, health and connection to Islam. We know of the ayaat and ahadith on Tabarruj yet see our daughters leaving the home in such a matter without mention thinking they are still young. We forget that the Prophet (saw) has praised the one who ages while on Islam and also how much he honored the elderly, how can we then idealize remaining youthful forever? Yes, Islam has guided us as an Ummah and set a standard way of living but we as an Ummah are going in the direction of the Days of Ignorance. We should be more aware of the concept behind this movie is larger than the plastic doll.

We are like travelers in this world and this world is like a prison for us.

«‏ الدُّنْيَا سِجْنُ الْمُؤْمِنِ وَجَنَّةُ الْكَافِرِ»

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "The world is a prison for the believer and Paradise for the disbeliever."

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