Comments on: Computer Engineer Barbie: Geek Chic?

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:53:53 +0000

I worked in IT for over 25 years and now am lucky to be able to work with young women as a professor in the Computer Technology program at a top university. My (few) female students and the young high school women I work with love the new Barbie. I voted for Computer Engineer and love anything that gets girls to think about computing as a cool career. Our only complaint was that we don’t know any “computer gals” who wear bluetooth headsets!

By: Kathy

Kathy — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:50:55 +0000

I think this is a move in the right direction. We need little girls to know how cool or glamourous or interesting it can be in our career! They have already made up their minds on dream jobs by the time they are 10 years old. Although I dislike the stereotypical figure of Barbies, girls are going to own and play with these dolls despite our opinions so let’s teach them as they play.

By: Dawn Korade

Dawn Korade — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:03:49 +0000

Donna,
I think they vote for Barbies every year, so let’s start campaigning :)

And Hi Jon Spangler – In answer to your question, there are few Korades, so I would like to know the City attorney. My mother in law is Carole Korade, but not that Carol that you mentioned. Look up Academy for Science and Design in NH and contact me on Facebook if you have any interest in helping our students, or knowing more about the school.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:41:07 +0000

FYI Everyone
No toolbox or engine yet for Barbie. But Computer Engineer Barbie was the top vote getter in a poll Mattel ran online in January. If they run another poll, I say we all vote for Auto Tech Barbie.

By: Jenny Maurer

Jenny Maurer — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:47:04 +0000

Go Barbie!
We participate in SMARTGirls at my college and anything that gets girls interested in math and science is great.
As a girl, I played with Barbie. I never did the makeup thing but liked fashion. I didn’t realize liking math wasn’t a good thing until College. I was in computer classes with 4 girls and the rest were guys.
PS my netbook is red.

By: Jon Spangler

Jon Spangler — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:33:56 +0000

“Does Barbie have a wood shop yet? or a toolbox and a half dismantled engine?”

Dawn, I like your style! And thanks for being a teacher. That’s a job that you didn’t take on to get rich or get an easy life…

By: Dawn Korade

Dawn Korade — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:52:10 +0000

I have always been a tomboy and never liked make-up or the latest fashions. I made my own fashion and it was usually utilitarian. My mother had a Barbie of the original sort- real hair and heavy plastic eyelids. I don’t remember having one of my own, but my friend had plenty and we played with them. I now own all the military Barbies (I am a veteran) and have ordered the engineer Barbie. Most girls are into fashion and makeup and identify with Barbie more then I ever did. Maybe she’ll help us get more girls into the computer and other engineering fields that I now teach. My female students do respond better to me if I wear makeup and earrings and talk about the chemistry of lipstick, who invented the dishwasher, and the structural integrity of high heels. Does Barbie have a wood shop yet? or a toolbox and a half dismantled engine?

By: Jon Spangler

Jon Spangler — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:51:24 +0000

Like much of America and USA culture, Barbie is superficial.

(I never wanted to date her, much less marry her, and have never thought of her as an ideal.) For being an unrealistically-proportioned plastic doll,

I guess she is a more progressive role model than she once was, but I am really glad to know many real women who are smart, tech-savvy–and who have much better fashion sense, too.

I don’t think it takes much good sense for a guy like me to prefer real, three-dimensional women with intelligence, skills, wit, and depth over a caricature. But I am continually amazed at the popularity of the caricatured Barbies that still abound in our culture. Call me clueless, I guess…

By: Roberta Lefler

Roberta Lefler — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:50:04 +0000

Little girls are still going to want Barbies. I’d rather they see her as a lovely, intelligent career woman, than a “little mermaid!” I have 4 granddaughters. They all love playing with their Barbies. So, I think any chance we get to help our daughters/granddaughters see that being intelligent and aspiring doesn’t mean unattractiveness, is a good thing! – Barbie, you go, girl!

By: Joan Dannenhoffer

Joan Dannenhoffer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:19:41 +0000

I love it. Real world women engineers are pretty and fun. We don’t all wear grey sweatpants and crouch over a boring computer. The image that being an engineer precludes one from being sassy and hip is a problem.