Barbie – the new architectural role model
January 20th, 2010 | by awinston |Much has been made over the years of the fact that there a far fewer famous female architects than male ones. Now it looks like a woman could become the most famous architect of them all, even though she’s not real…
In an inspired move Mattel, the manufacturers of the doll that feminists love to hate, have launched an online poll to choose Barbie’s next profession.
Those that care can vote between five different options – environmentalist, surgeon, architect, news anchor or computer engineer – each with a handy little description to explain what they do.
In case you weren’t aware, “an architect designs buildings and make sure they’re safe, sturdy and cool-looking”. It’s actually not a bad way to sum it all up. We weren’t entirely sure what an Environmentalist was, although it did bring to mind a vision of Barbie in pink hemp and matching Birkenstocks. Apparently they work to protect the planet, conserve energy, help animals and more.
Architecture My Ninja PLease has done a fairly throrough analysis of each option here. Elsewhere, Archidose is wondering what architect Barbie would design.
Barbie has had more than 120 different jobs, including air hostess, doctor, vet, race car driver, ballerina, baby sitter and dentist. She’s been a busy woman. If Barbie becomes an architect, she’ll have to circumvent the usual seven years of training, but I don’t think anyone will hold that against her as long as she doesn’t start churning out pink buildings.
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11 Responses to “Barbie – the new architectural role model”
By Mhairi on Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
If Barbie is to be an architect, what would her outfit be like? Surely she’s too cool for cords and a black roll neck.
By Angela on Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
Barbie is not a bloke architect.
She would step away from cords and roll necks just like the rest of us non-blokes.
By Elly on Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
Go Barbie! I quite like pink buildings.
By Yo Majesty on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
nice legs
By Pat Ford on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
She won’t last …. long hours, no spare income for clothes and cosmetics, and too much swearing and leering on site.
We should be encouraging our daughters to do something more rewarding.
By Karen on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
Some 30+ years ago my sister’s Barbie had the Saarinen Tulip table and Chair set. If Architect Barbie can hark back to her cooler roots, her architecture could bring cutting edge design into kids lives – the chances?
Check out some alternative Barbie careers from the pink PSP playing blokes at:
http://www.ilovebarbieclan.com/index.html
The closest profession was Designer Barbie:
“He likes to do landscaping with explosives, and interior decorating with bullet holes. Getting shot at, knifed and being blown up are some common past times of his.”
By Yo Majesty on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
fit
By M on Jan 22, 2010 | Reply
Nobody ever mentions the fact that the male female ratio in architecture courses are quite balanced, particularly in degree. If females tend to want to dropout as the course (or working) becomes more demanding, its not anybody’s fault.
By Cynthia on Jan 23, 2010 | Reply
Dear Pat Ford,
I am glad you do not live in any structure, or else you would depend on an architect.
Barbie can be anything, hopeful she powerdresses if she is an architect.
By IndieArch on Jan 24, 2010 | Reply
Issey Miyake, iconic Mondrain prints..it is good to focus early but do the sums
By awinston on Feb 15, 2010 | Reply
Sadly it seems we will never know as architect didn’t prove a popular enough option – she’s now a computer engineer and a news anchor.