"Every Barbie Doll is More Harmful Than an American Missile"

Every Barbie Doll is More Harmful than an American Missile"

"Every Barbie doll is more harmful than an America missile", the very first line in chapter 24. 

After my initial shock at having read this in a history book, I am then immediately transported to a time of tea parties and dolls.
While I was quite tomboyish growing up- I did have my occasional affinity for such girlie things as dolls and dress up parties.
In retrospect, the effect tat these particular dolls can have on a child is one of materialism just as much as one of vanity. I remember playing with the dolls' flamboyant wardrobe and flashy cars and thinking that "boy, it sure would be nice to have the same things one day", somehow relating such possessions to some measure of attainable happiness-  if only. 

As impressionable kids, our toys do matter in shaping who we are as adults.
Luckily i come from a modest family and my parents did not rely on toys to give my siblings and i a memorable childhood. I can only imagine a childhood submerged in Barbie doll culture, as a product of such, one could come to idealize the Barbie doll lifestyle, cherish the materialism and superficiality of it all. Growing up I only had a couple of Barbie dolls that I barely played with. So uckily I turned out alright. :)

I have appreciated Strayer's attention to these sensitive matters. His ideal perspective is necessary in dealing with the issues of modern day society; his affinity for bringing to the forefront of thought the social issues surrounding historical events is just the type of mentality we need to arm ourselves with as we continue into the 21st century. These are the values we need to inculcate in the coming generations- those of critical thought and discovery. Strayer's Ways of the World has been the best history textbook i have come across so far and wish to delve into it more thoroughly once the class is over.