Barbie strikes 'unapologetic' pose in Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition By: Lauren Mosby

Barbie caused a stir when Mattel and Sports Illustrated revealed last week that she would appear in the 50th anniversary edition of its annual swimsuit edition, which hit stands Tuesday.

The revelation has sparked large reactions from the public The revelation has sparked large reactions from the public. Nonprofit executive Alia Salem said on Twitter, "People who say it is just a doll obviously don't realize how it shapes thinking while playing house, if the image of what (you're) imagining yourself as is never attainable and is billed as what to strive for, you'll always be disappointed.“ Many critics also believe that it’s “creepy” or tone deaf to include a children’s toy in a magazine targeting adults.

Occidental College professor Lisa Wade said, "It's actually kind of perfect. Both Barbie and the swimsuit issue have been making women and girls feel inadequate for decades. It's a perfect partnership."

A Mattel spokeswoman said, "This is not a program targeted towards girls. As a brand that is always a part of the cultural conversation, Barbie, for the first time, has an active voice in the debate with her #unapologetic stance. The goal of the campaign is to empower fans to engage and celebrate all that makes them who they are,"

Barbie being featured in the swimsuit edition of Sports Illustrated has many saying it is a literal example of the objectification of women and promotes the wrong idea about beauty while Mattel argues otherwise. Considering this recent controversy, write a well-developed essay in which you defend, refute, or qualify the extent to which body image is affected by popular culture in the media and magazines.

MLA Citation Grinberg, Emanuella. "Barbie strikes 'unapologetic' pose in Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition." CNN Parents. CNN, 19 Feb 2014. Web. 25 Feb 2014. <http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/14/living/barbie-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-edition-parents/index.html?hpt=us_r1>.