In Doctor Gilman’s lecture on whether racism is a product of mental illness, which it is not if you were wondering, an interesting study called Dolls that was conducted by Kenneth and Phipps Clark was discussed. This study was used to observe children’s attitude and preference towards race using four dolls. These dolls were identical except for their skin color, two were colored and the other two were white. On being asked which doll they preferred to play with, and which doll looked the nicest, two-thirds of the Negro children chose the white doll (Clark 175). However, when told to pick the doll that they racially identified with, 9 out of 10 picked the colored doll (Clark 171). These children could identify dolls by color but preferred the white doll and attributed positive characteristics along with its color. Even when racially aware of their own skin color, the children still chose the white doll. From this study the Clarks concluded that formation of racial attitudes begins in childhood (Clark 177). This study is interesting because it can be applied with the idea of “Becky and Barbie” in Garland-Thomson’s article Integrating Disability, Transforming Feminist Theory. Most young girls had a Barbie in their childhood, playing with these dolls as young children creates a vision in our heads as to what a “normal” doll or person should look like. Barbie represented the able-bodied doll and Becky was the disabled, who was bought as an accessory to Barbie (Garland-Thomson 266). Young girls want Barbie who is a sexualized, feminine icon because she is socially accepted as normal; however, they do not want Becky who is not sexually objectified or viewed as normal (Garland-Thomson 266). This vision of “normalcy” is developed early in childhood like attitudes towards race and disability. As a society, we attribute positive notions towards what is “normal” and consequently our attitudes toward what is “abnormal” is negative.
Clark, Kenneth, and Mamie Clark. “Racial Identification and Preference in Negro Children.” Socialization of the Child.
Garland-Thomson, Rosemarie. “Integrating Disability, Transforming Feminist Theory.”
