Civil War Nurse Barbie
First of all, there's actually such a thing as a Civil War Nurse Barbie. (But no Civil War Soldier Ken, featuring horrific battle injuries).
Second, it's been pointed out in a number of places (such as here and here) that the doll is historically inaccurate. So it teaches kids bad history.
Dorothea Dix, Superintendent of Female nurses, famously set strict guidelines for all Union nurses: "They were required to be between 35-50 years old and plain-looking. [No attractive young nurses!] They were to dress in black or brown dresses and were not allowed to wear jewelry of any kind."
This is what an actual Civil War nurses' uniform looked like, complete with bloodstains:
Unlike the Union, the Confederates didn't have a nurses organization that defined what nurses should wear. But Confederate nurses tended to dress in simple, plain dresses, because that was practical.
Comments
Was the disco pose also prevalent during the Civil War?
Posted by Frank on 10/30/15 at 10:54 AM
Why do these idiot adults attempt to foist their warped views onto children's toys? What little girl (boys only play with "action figures") buys a Barbie thinking about how historically accurately she's dressed?
@Frank: You'd have to ask Disco Stu to be sure of an accurate answer to that question.
@Frank: You'd have to ask Disco Stu to be sure of an accurate answer to that question.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/30/15 at 11:17 AM
That's not a disco pose. She's about to use a karate chop to amputate an arm.
Posted by ges on 10/30/15 at 11:27 AM
Thank goodness the stars and bars aren't on display, else we'd have to shut this site down.
Posted by RobK on 10/30/15 at 11:44 AM
That uniform appears to come straight off a First World War recruiting poster.
Posted by KDP on 10/30/15 at 12:48 PM
Artistic license often prevails 0ver historical accuracy. As many of the current political want -to -be's from both parties have demonstrated despite the best efforts of neutral political fact check groups.
Ken should be included as a wounded soldier with Barbie.
Ken should be included as a wounded soldier with Barbie.
Posted by Gator Guy on 10/30/15 at 03:57 PM
Battle Wound Ken with detachable leg and arm. Squirting blood action, batteries not included.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/30/15 at 11:17 PM
I heard of a Barbie doll where she's a doctor. In fact, she's a surgeon. A plastic surgeon.
Posted by Joshua Zev Levin, Ph.D. on 10/30/15 at 11:22 PM
Well in Barbie Land she'd just be a general surgeon then, right? :lol:
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/31/15 at 12:08 AM
@Joshua: I bought a Pediatrician Barbie for our doctor's daughter who was getting her caduceus in the field. Barbie came complete with a little one to work on.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 10/31/15 at 01:20 AM
There was a pregnant Barbie too that came with a baby.
http://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M23fce261e1c67be08f42bf05c317a21fo0&w=154&h=105&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&pid=3.1&rm=2
http://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M23fce261e1c67be08f42bf05c317a21fo0&w=154&h=105&c=7&rs=1&qlt=90&pid=3.1&rm=2
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 10/31/15 at 01:39 AM
So, since the Confederates didn't have a regimented nursing corp dress code, couldn't this in fact be a Confederate Civil War Nurse Barbie.
@Expat47: Quite right, what kid is going to care. Once you peel the clothes off, Barbie is just Barbie.
@Expat47: Quite right, what kid is going to care. Once you peel the clothes off, Barbie is just Barbie.
Posted by GFnKS on 11/03/15 at 11:31 AM
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Category: Toys | War | Nineteenth Century