1. Barbie, G.I. Joe, and Play in the 1960’s by Gary Cross

2. Contradictions . . .
“G.I. Joe began as a celebration of an all-male world of realistic combat.
But Joe encountered deeper contradictions in the 1960s than did Barbie and was forced to flee into fantasy.”

3. Contradictions . . . Hero Wars Star Wars Realistic Men’s Men
Conquer the bad guys
Star Wars
Fantasy
Men’s Women
Conquer the universe

4. Playtime imaginations
Boy becomes Joe
Girl becomes Barbie

5. Play doesn’t happen in a vacuum…
G.I. Joe seeks
The hero in himself
The Barbie in his mate
Barbie seeks
Perfect figure (etc.) in herself
The hero in her mate

6. W “ e all participate in weaving the social fabric; we should
therefore all participate in
patching the fabric when it
develops holes – mismatches
between old expectations and
current realities.”
-- Anne C. Weisbert and Carol A. Buckler
Everything a Working Mother Needs to Know

7. Let’s Explore Holes in the Social Fabric Patching the Holes
What are some other unrealistic expectations we place on others?
What’s wrong with unrealistic expectations?
Patching the Holes
What can we do?