Measuring Up

Time for another post about Barbie. She's just indomitable. Now, we've all heard the argument that Barbie's measurements are not anatomically possible, but have you ever visualized it?

http://mightyhips.wordpress.com/barbie-doll/

There you have it. :)

Now, I don't actually think this is what Barbie would look like as a real person. I think she would look more like what's represented here:

Still, looking at that top image is a great reminder about the importance of proportion. We feel uncomfortable when we see things that are out of proportion. Or we laugh. We get camera lenses with hilarious distortion effects, or we hang out in front of fun house mirrors.

Regardless of our reactions, we know what an acceptable human form is. Diseases that cause people to have over-sized features or diets that shrink body parts down give us the heebie jeebies.

Most of us, though, don't see these anomalies on a daily basis. We do, however, constantly size ourselves up, literally. "My (fill in the blank) is too big/small." Says who? Have you actually measured the part in question and compared it on a medical chart? Do you honestly think people are looking at you and seeing a distorted image that defies human proportions?

Usually, the answer to the last two questions is "No". That first question goes to the heart of what this blog is all about. Who decides what is beautiful, or even what is normal?

When I look in the mirror or at a photo of myself and complain about how small my head is, what is actually bothering me? Am I really upset that my head doesn't take up as much space as the person's next to me? Or am I comparing my head size to the "ideal" version of me that exists in my head?

Here's a better example: when I complain about my flat chest, what am I comparing myself to? That's easy: Barbie. Marketing and media have determined the most beautiful proportions for women. If I don't measure up (ha!), I feel less womanly, and less human.

Head size hasn't exactly been marketed, but clearly I have some idea that heads should be a certain size. Whenever I watch the newest Pride and Prejudice, I can't help but laugh at how small Keira Knightley's head looks next to Donald Sutherland's.

It comforts me to know that a beautiful, well-loved actress appears to have a pretty small head.

So you might be wondering, "How small is her head?" Well, here it is. This is a picture of me with my students last fall:

There I am, on the bottom row, second in from the right. It's a small head, right? :)

Why am I so self-conscious of my head? Can we allow ourselves, and others, more room for varying measurements without getting squeamish? Even though that life-size Barbie doll looks ridiculous to us, what if there were really someone in the world who looked like that? Could we make room?

Proportions are useful inasmuch as they are functional. If a person is up and walking around, smiling and breathing, why should their measurements matter?

Lots of questioning and disconnected thoughts here. Care to weigh in?