Exposure to Barbie: Effects on thin-ideal internalisation, body esteem, and body dissatisfaction among young girls.

Abstract in brief

• The study found that young girls exposed to Barbie dolls, whether through physical play, observation, or print media, were more likely to internalize a thin ideal body image compared to girls who played with a control toy.
• Despite increased thinideal internalization, exposure to Barbie did not significantly affect girls' overall body esteem or levels of body dissatisfaction in the short term.
• The findings suggest that while Barbie exposure may promote a preference for thin bodies in early childhood, the immediate impact on how girls feel about their own bodies is not evident, and the long-term effects remain unclear.]