Comments on: How relevant is computer engineer Barbie?

By: The computer engineer Barbie makes the web buzz | Sebby on the Webby

The computer engineer Barbie makes the web buzz | Sebby on the Webby — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:14:31 +0000

[...] How relevant is computer engineer Barbie? – Veronica Belmont [...]

By: Ndrag76

Ndrag76 — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:08:28 +0000

@Nicole
No he´s just old fashioned, believing in out-dated research.

@Veronica
Very interesting article, hope this small step is still big enough.
Besides i really like the fluent and cheerful, still clear and precise style of writing.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 01:04:36 +0000

Kumar, you are a prick.

By: Pappaous

Pappaous — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:32:41 +0000

[For historical reference] The BRAT and “WHAT THE WHAT” comments were a response to your “Systems Engineer” comment in Texas. Just saying…

By: Brittanny

Brittanny — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:48:59 +0000

I think this is a great idea and I plan on buying one. I am 27 and have no kids so I plan on keeping it on the box. I do agree that if this doll existed 10 years ago, there would be many more women in the tech industry today. It’s is significant and hopefully the doll inspires young girls to learn more about computer technology.

By: THINKING PINK: Musings on Barbie, blankets & laptop covers :: erica ZUCCO

THINKING PINK: Musings on Barbie, blankets & laptop covers :: erica ZUCCO — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:02:17 +0000

[...] and I think Belmont is incredibly intelligent, witty and awesome. I read her blog often. And I read her full comments on computer engineer Barbie written in March here, and I think they’re all really [...]

By: Seth Goldstein

Seth Goldstein — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:44:39 +0000

Veronica,

This is a step in the right direction. Barbie, though not as influential as in previous generations still influences girls. Having her have a more techie job is great to get girls into Technology.

I say the more the better!

-Seth

By: lue

lue — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:03:13 +0000

i did a double take when i read “The Society of Women Engineers”, like it was a secret society that engineers women.

What’s the popularity of Barbie in other parts of the world? From my understanding, its majority of funding for marketing is done mostly outside of the US.

By: Recovering Technophiliac » The Babbler #6: fish bone phobias, toy nostalgia, and the iPad: To all trains

Sun, 04 Apr 2010 18:44:06 +0000

[...] nostalgia I was browsing around my friend Veronica’s website, and I came across an interesting blog post about not only how toys influenced the way we develop as kids, but also the way he toys have [...]

By: Kumar

Kumar — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 07:42:58 +0000

The sociocultural differences past and present between men and women boil down mainly to the bio-evolutionary differences between the genders. There are more men with tech interests because men are the “production” gender whereas women are the “reproduction” gender. Men compete and cooperate to produce and win reproducers(women). Women compete and cooperate to reproduce and win producers (men).

Of course there are atypical women who don’t fit the “gender” mold but these are exceptions proving the rule.

And of course In our modern society with its egalitarian ideals, these bio-realities are politically incorrect and troubling, but they are what they are.

Tech barbie and women like her (and like yourself, actually) strikes me as abusive – trying to have their cake and eat it too – to have all of the entitlements of traditional girly women (but none of the obligations) and all of the entitlements of men (but none of the obligations). But it shouldn’t surprise me, as such brattiness is how feminism manifests itself in the real world.

Also, geeky nice guys are at the bottom of the male hierarchy and usually don’t get the type of attention from girls that the popular alpha males do. So it’s no wonder why there would be resentment and resistance (manifested as sexism) against women coming into those industries. Women don’t like geeky nice guy beta males, and IMO, it just makes sense why they/we feel justified in not being overly accepting of women (who mostly hate on geeks as much as the alpha male bad boyz they lust after).

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:55:25 +0000

Explain Veronica.. do i get this to spray on myself to get a guy? or does a guy spray this on himself? or does a gay guy spray it to get straight guys?

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/032210-New-Scent-Boasts-Vaginal-Aroma

By: Luke Chung

Luke Chung — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:37:44 +0000

Maybe there’s hope for 21st Century male society if a “girls’ icon” like Barbie can be made technologically and functionally relevant in today’s Internet-driven world…at least I’M hoping so!

By: Veronica

Veronica — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:57:24 +0000

Hmm… I’ve been on LinkedIn for years, but thanks!

By: Leon Davis

Leon Davis — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 02:33:07 +0000

Since you are now a IT girl, you should get Linked In

here is the link http://linkedin.com

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:41:43 +0000

I have 2 little girls. One is all about Dora the Explorer. Being that so many little girls LOVE Dora I wonder how much the brand will go the way of Barbie as she goes on? Not sure that it’s worked very well for Barbie.

By: Pappaous

Pappaous — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:52:04 +0000

…besides, BRAT!, she should have been a Systems Engineer. They get all the cashe’ without all the work. WHAT THE WHAT?

By: Pappaous

Pappaous — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:54:58 +0000

I cant argue that this type of marketing doesnt work. Maybe not as effective as it once was before Internet 2.0, but still works… I find it interesting about the target niche they are proposing. It doesnt take alot of thought or imagination to figure-out what they are shooting for. Quest has been way out on the bleeding edge with this. They never assigned an average or ugly girl to their big accounts, and the girls wouldnt last long, 2-3 years max. Interesting… So why not just go to the Playboy Manson and recruite right out from under Heffner? He is too far gone to notice, and with the advent of Cloud computing, SAAS, SOA, none of those girls couldnt fail to fool 90% of the customers. I guess it al boils down to the H2B problem. Set Qualifications to exaspirate domestic hireing and get your visa’a expanded. So, how would you go about showing a Playgirl is more qualified? Without blowing your cover…

By: Atif

Atif — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:40:39 +0000

Nice article Veronica. I think technology and symbolizing it with Barbie would be a different thought in itself. When I was a kid, I was much obsessed with computers and sci-fi tech movies, dreaming that one day they will be creating something like iRobot or Terminator as well (haven’t done that so far, though ). Similarly, I believe the concept of encouraging computers with toys during childhood will make a remarkable impact when the kids grow up. I’m not a perfect writer, nor I’m from any journalist fraternity, but a programmer, and I tried to convey a similar message too when I was writing the article “Programming: Are you mad??” (http://atifsiddiqui.blogspot.com/2009/02/programming-are-you-mad.html). Indeed the author of Girls can’t be programmers (http://girlscantwhat.com/girls-cant-be-programmers) might take some motivation from you.

Cheers, Happy Programming!

By: edabug

edabug — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:56:59 +0000

I’ve had an issue as soon as I saw the pictures of the new Barbie. While it’s great that Mattel decided to give Barbie a CE character, she still wears pink outfits, carries a pink laptop and wears pink glasses – in other words, a very girlie girl. Its surprising how much the sexes are segregated and aware of their differences even from the earliest of childhood. Girls aren’t taught to understand “how stuff work”, and maths and science aren’t cool. Unless those things change, just having a CE barbie out there wont bring more girls to engineering..

By: Phillip

Phillip — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:18:53 +0000

Growing up I had race cars, sailboats, and GI Joes as toys. I loved them, but I also loved to dress and re-dress my neighbor’s huge barbie collection. I studied fashion design in college, worked in the industry, and later taught fashion. (Presently I work as a video editor and webmaster). I think Barbie influenced my career path, at least in part. Not sure if that relates to this discussion, but for all of the feminists who like to speak out against Barbie- STFU because it can have a positive influence.

As for the race cars and sailboats? Formula One and Americas Cup are two of my favorite obsessions.