BARBIE TALES IN THE LIVES OF PRIMARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
BARBIE TALES IN THE LIVES OF PRIMARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Summary/Abstract: According to an extensive research I have recently concluded, Barbie is one of the most popular fairy tale heroes among little girls in Romania. The present case study examines the set of values transmitted by the main characters of Barbie-films and the ways in which Barbie becomes part of girls’ everyday lives. It also looks at the attitude of boys towards these films. Compared to Western Europe, in Romania and elsewhere in Eastern Europe differences between urban and rural media consumption are considerable and need further exploration. The present paper examines Barbie-interpretations of children and their parents living in a city, respectively a village in the Transylvania historical region of Romania, with the help of in-depth interviews and group activities. I mapped several factors that influence Barbie interpretations: residence (urban versus rural) crucially influences whether Barbie becomes a role model; however, media literacy and parents’ education are also significant.

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