Barbie is fat

The images we share with girls are not only airbrushed pictures of celebrities but as this article in the Guardian by Laura Bates discusses today, toys are giving unrealistic portrayals of women and girls too.

Bates mentions one child who said that Barbie is fat compared to her Monsters High doll.



Therefore, is it surprising that the Girl Guides Association Attitudes survey (2013) found that 87% of women age 11-21 think women are judged more for their looks than ability.

Surely we can do better to give our children positive role models? I'm working on a post about historical women role models - there is currently a petition for Edith Cavell to be represented on the new £2 coin,  but following the abuse received by Caroline Criado-Perez following her campaign for Jane Austen to appear on £10 notes, will women be put off supporting such a proposal?