Do children’s earliest messages about body image come from their dolls?
If so, Barbie has become thinner and thinner since she debuted in 1959.
According to one study, if a modern Barbie were given life-sized dimensions, she would have a 16-inch waist and could not walk upright.
In 1964, G.I. Joe would have had a 32″ waist and a 44″ chest, and a 12″ bicep.
But over the last decade, Joe has been adding muscle. Mattel has introduced an Extreme G.I. Joe, who has a 55″ chest and a 27″ bicep, impossible life-sized dimensions even for …Arnold.
