Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
User submission
9.9K
74.2K
Meet Realistic Barbie’s Boyfriend – Dad Bod Ken
Barbie just received a complete makeover, with 4 new body types and several skin tones. Now, men around the globe are clamoring for an updated and more realistic Ken doll that looks like an actual, albeit out of shape, man. Reactions to this reaction have been mixed, but TheMarySue chips in with this practical overview:
“Ken’s origin story is a little different from his girlfriend’s,” writes TheMarySue. “[he] was originally designed to resemble designer Ruth Handler’s husband…Yale University psychologist Kelly Brownell wrote in 2006 that most men would have ‘to increase 20 in. in height, 11 in. in the chest, and 7.9 in. in neck circumference’ to achieve Ken’s look.’”
What do you think? Should Ken receive the same treatment as Barbie?
More info: The Mary Sue (h/t: neatorama)
RELATED:
“Most men would have ‘to increase 20 in. in height, 11 in. in the chest, and 7.9 in. in neck circumference’ to achieve Ken’s look'”
Image credits: Mattel / Will McFadden
The dad bod Ken is a response to the new curvy Barbie
What do you think about this trend?
74Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
DariaB 8 years ago
Actually, I thought about Ken too. But, please, don't make only chubby Ken to be the realistic one. Men vary on their shapes and sizes too.
JustAGirl 8 years ago
Yes, and make a colored Ken! I love Barbie's new change, but they still need a bit more diversity.
Load More Replies...
BrutalSun 8 years ago
Honestly? This reeks of MRA trolling to me. I think Ken's proportions are fairly realistic compared to Barbie. Whoever says his proportions are unrealistic obviously was a moron holding a GI Joe instead of Ken. Most Ken dolls have a fairly skinny neck, and no six pack (Mattel has been using this lightly-toned body for Ken for almost two decades now). Ken still looks more realistic than curvy Barbie, who still has tiny pencil neck. Moreover, curvy Barbie still looks hot. She is not the equivalent to this Photoshopped dad bod Ken.
DariaB 8 years ago
Yeah, GI Joe, or Action Man. But I still welcome Kens' modifications simply for the sake of diversity, because diversity is the true realism. On the other hand, I agree these Barbie dolls could be made even more diverse by, for example, as you suggest, adding different neck lenghts. However, being curvy-ish with a Barbie-long neck myself, just wanna remind this is not that unrealistic, it's just one of the curvy versions somebody can look like. But let's not be too demanding from the start. It takes a lot of different mold to create such detailed variety, it's technically difficult to be realistic.
Load More Replies...
TomaszEnder 8 years ago
Yeah, they should change Ken too. Or else all the curvy barbies will be looking for a still perfect Ken who is, pretty rare really :D.
EvansBaker 8 years ago
Honestly, body images is a global concerns for any age and any gender. While society has put more emphasis on women, men are increasingly feeling the pressure to look "right". That's the real trend in society. So this is not a bad move to bring the issue to the surface in a more humorous way for us to think about an issue that has been needing attention for so long...
TeoHoble 8 years ago
I think it's amazing how men picked up this simple, positive thing, that has nothing to do with them... and they made it about them. I'm sorry to let you guys know but "curvy" Barbie has wide hips and a wide chest, but she's still rocking an hourglass figure. Whereas your "dad bod" Ken is just a beer-belly piece of lard. If you think these two are equivalent then you've got a problem.
DariaB 8 years ago
I'd disagree it has nothing to do with them, but I like the second part of this comment. They are surely no equivalent, and indeed it's a problem that some people think so. But now that opens new possibilities for an actually overweight Barbie and various kinds of Kens, in their various kinds of body shapes and sizes. How about an average healthy Ken that has skipped the gym to start with? Just a suggestion.
Load More Replies...
Diandra“MistressDidi”Blackthorn 8 years ago
This trend sux. While the original Barbie was a ridiculous standard of "womanhood," the chunky versions are NOT supportive of healthy lifestyles.
Talise Snyder 8 years ago
being slightly "chunky", as you put it, is not unhealthy! everyone has their own healthy weight and you can talk to your doctor and find out how to stay healthy in your own body
Load More Replies...
SapphireDolphin10 8 years ago
Love it! Except make them have acne, eczema, stuff like that and every person doesn't have perfect facial features(mouth, nose, etc.)
InaMichel-Neda 8 years ago
Next time overweight barby and ken with accessories - insulin for diabetis and oversized pizzas?! I don't see nothing great in this fat cruisade which tells you 100 kg and unhealthy is fine...
VG 8 years ago
I agree. I have also noticed a trend: it is now socially acceptable for fat people to openly body shame slim people. WTF?!
Load More Replies...
JuanAlcorta 8 years ago
The curvy Ken looks like a chubby gay beach boy. Try making him a hard working man for a change.
Peter Nielsen 1 year ago
Barbie and Ken were used by my daughters to develop dreams of womanhood, for which Barbie and Ken's original shapes were perfect . . .
GlitterGlitch 8 years ago
Lol! that ken looks like Gay Ryan Reynolds in Just Friends or old Hilton Perez
Soon Tekh 8 years ago
THIS TREND IS F*****G IDIOTIC!! IT'S PROMOTING THIS F****D SOCIAL ENGINEERING CAMPAIGN OF THIRD WAVE FEMINISTS WHO ACTUALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT WOMAN!! Sure, it's not healthy to be too thin but it's not f*****g healthy to be fat either. If you want some logic, here is a good video portraying the truth about fat acceptance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2QB00ZXbpA
Kieleenterprise 8 years ago
I think this is something that should be recognized because there are not just skinny people in the world there are different sizes shapes colors everything this is brilliant. If people think you are overweight or too skinny they should be ashamed you are you . You are beautiful for who ever you are.
VG 8 years ago
Oh dear! Mattel proves once again they can only think in extremes. This doll is not just chubby – it is obese!
DariaB 8 years ago
Not Matel. This comes from a different source this time.
Load More Replies...
ChristinaFalkner 8 years ago
I'm sure Barbie would enjoy Dad Bod Ken pounding away on top of her. What's up with Curvy Barb she looks like Kim Kardashian.
catiekent 8 years ago
I like the new barbies but HATE the new ken do you think anyone is going to buy that?!
DariaB 8 years ago
It's just the concept, as far as I have understood, not the actual product. Or is it? Somebody, please, explain....
Load More Replies...
mydailyramen 8 years ago
that is perfect! XD Yeah we need beer gut ken to go with chubby barbie. that is only the fair thing to do.
MadisonRuss 8 years ago
I think they should change every thing about Barrie's and some of the names, I have never heard of a girl named Barbie.
DariaB 8 years ago
Barbie is nickname version of Barbara. Lots of girls carry that name.
Load More Replies...
GertieSmith 8 years ago
why couldn't curvy barbie date the normal ken? can plus size women date only overweight men? and why can't there be gay and bisexual barbies and kens? what about trans and genderqueer dolls? this is better, but it doesn't mean that the battle is over.
mydailyramen 8 years ago
Oh for the love of God. gay and bisexual barbies and ken? How about transgender ken and barbie? Why stop there? why can't we have barbies and Ken who are into BDSM? Aren't these people too. These are children's toys. Not our political correctness toys dreams come true. You want gay ken and barbie? buy a normal ken and barbie and call them gay or bisexual. Viola! Instant gay dolls. You didn't even need Mattel's help to achieve this simple goal.
Load More Replies...
Sarah 8 years ago
I have noticed a lot of people in comments sections, complaining about feminism yet they don't even know what it is or why it exists or just refuse to understand it. Instead they think it's about women who hate men, not women who know they deserve to be equal to their male counterparts in society.I guess that's why you don't see all the feminists here.
Load More Replies... DariaB 8 years ago
Actually, I thought about Ken too. But, please, don't make only chubby Ken to be the realistic one. Men vary on their shapes and sizes too.
JustAGirl 8 years ago
Yes, and make a colored Ken! I love Barbie's new change, but they still need a bit more diversity.
Load More Replies... BrutalSun 8 years ago
Honestly? This reeks of MRA trolling to me. I think Ken's proportions are fairly realistic compared to Barbie. Whoever says his proportions are unrealistic obviously was a moron holding a GI Joe instead of Ken. Most Ken dolls have a fairly skinny neck, and no six pack (Mattel has been using this lightly-toned body for Ken for almost two decades now). Ken still looks more realistic than curvy Barbie, who still has tiny pencil neck. Moreover, curvy Barbie still looks hot. She is not the equivalent to this Photoshopped dad bod Ken.
DariaB 8 years ago
Yeah, GI Joe, or Action Man. But I still welcome Kens' modifications simply for the sake of diversity, because diversity is the true realism. On the other hand, I agree these Barbie dolls could be made even more diverse by, for example, as you suggest, adding different neck lenghts. However, being curvy-ish with a Barbie-long neck myself, just wanna remind this is not that unrealistic, it's just one of the curvy versions somebody can look like. But let's not be too demanding from the start. It takes a lot of different mold to create such detailed variety, it's technically difficult to be realistic.
Load More Replies... TomaszEnder 8 years ago
Yeah, they should change Ken too. Or else all the curvy barbies will be looking for a still perfect Ken who is, pretty rare really :D.
EvansBaker 8 years ago
Honestly, body images is a global concerns for any age and any gender. While society has put more emphasis on women, men are increasingly feeling the pressure to look "right". That's the real trend in society. So this is not a bad move to bring the issue to the surface in a more humorous way for us to think about an issue that has been needing attention for so long...
TeoHoble 8 years ago
I think it's amazing how men picked up this simple, positive thing, that has nothing to do with them... and they made it about them. I'm sorry to let you guys know but "curvy" Barbie has wide hips and a wide chest, but she's still rocking an hourglass figure. Whereas your "dad bod" Ken is just a beer-belly piece of lard. If you think these two are equivalent then you've got a problem.
DariaB 8 years ago
I'd disagree it has nothing to do with them, but I like the second part of this comment. They are surely no equivalent, and indeed it's a problem that some people think so. But now that opens new possibilities for an actually overweight Barbie and various kinds of Kens, in their various kinds of body shapes and sizes. How about an average healthy Ken that has skipped the gym to start with? Just a suggestion.
Load More Replies... Diandra“MistressDidi”Blackthorn 8 years ago
This trend sux. While the original Barbie was a ridiculous standard of "womanhood," the chunky versions are NOT supportive of healthy lifestyles.
Talise Snyder 8 years ago
being slightly "chunky", as you put it, is not unhealthy! everyone has their own healthy weight and you can talk to your doctor and find out how to stay healthy in your own body
Load More Replies... SapphireDolphin10 8 years ago
Love it! Except make them have acne, eczema, stuff like that and every person doesn't have perfect facial features(mouth, nose, etc.)
InaMichel-Neda 8 years ago
Next time overweight barby and ken with accessories - insulin for diabetis and oversized pizzas?! I don't see nothing great in this fat cruisade which tells you 100 kg and unhealthy is fine...
VG 8 years ago
I agree. I have also noticed a trend: it is now socially acceptable for fat people to openly body shame slim people. WTF?!
Load More Replies... JuanAlcorta 8 years ago
The curvy Ken looks like a chubby gay beach boy. Try making him a hard working man for a change.
Peter Nielsen 1 year ago
Barbie and Ken were used by my daughters to develop dreams of womanhood, for which Barbie and Ken's original shapes were perfect . . .
GlitterGlitch 8 years ago
Lol! that ken looks like Gay Ryan Reynolds in Just Friends or old Hilton Perez
Soon Tekh 8 years ago
THIS TREND IS F*****G IDIOTIC!! IT'S PROMOTING THIS F****D SOCIAL ENGINEERING CAMPAIGN OF THIRD WAVE FEMINISTS WHO ACTUALLY DON'T CARE ABOUT WOMAN!! Sure, it's not healthy to be too thin but it's not f*****g healthy to be fat either. If you want some logic, here is a good video portraying the truth about fat acceptance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2QB00ZXbpA
Kieleenterprise 8 years ago
I think this is something that should be recognized because there are not just skinny people in the world there are different sizes shapes colors everything this is brilliant. If people think you are overweight or too skinny they should be ashamed you are you . You are beautiful for who ever you are.
VG 8 years ago
Oh dear! Mattel proves once again they can only think in extremes. This doll is not just chubby – it is obese!
DariaB 8 years ago
Not Matel. This comes from a different source this time.
Load More Replies... ChristinaFalkner 8 years ago
I'm sure Barbie would enjoy Dad Bod Ken pounding away on top of her. What's up with Curvy Barb she looks like Kim Kardashian.
catiekent 8 years ago
I like the new barbies but HATE the new ken do you think anyone is going to buy that?!
DariaB 8 years ago
It's just the concept, as far as I have understood, not the actual product. Or is it? Somebody, please, explain....
Load More Replies... mydailyramen 8 years ago
that is perfect! XD Yeah we need beer gut ken to go with chubby barbie. that is only the fair thing to do.
MadisonRuss 8 years ago
I think they should change every thing about Barrie's and some of the names, I have never heard of a girl named Barbie.
DariaB 8 years ago
Barbie is nickname version of Barbara. Lots of girls carry that name.
Load More Replies... GertieSmith 8 years ago
why couldn't curvy barbie date the normal ken? can plus size women date only overweight men? and why can't there be gay and bisexual barbies and kens? what about trans and genderqueer dolls? this is better, but it doesn't mean that the battle is over.
mydailyramen 8 years ago
Oh for the love of God. gay and bisexual barbies and ken? How about transgender ken and barbie? Why stop there? why can't we have barbies and Ken who are into BDSM? Aren't these people too. These are children's toys. Not our political correctness toys dreams come true. You want gay ken and barbie? buy a normal ken and barbie and call them gay or bisexual. Viola! Instant gay dolls. You didn't even need Mattel's help to achieve this simple goal.
Load More Replies... Sarah 8 years ago
I have noticed a lot of people in comments sections, complaining about feminism yet they don't even know what it is or why it exists or just refuse to understand it. Instead they think it's about women who hate men, not women who know they deserve to be equal to their male counterparts in society.I guess that's why you don't see all the feminists here.
Load More Replies... You May Like Flight Attendants Kick Out Passenger Who Barely Fits In Their Seat Due To Obese Seatmate Woman And Her Dad Demand Guy Raises Baby That's Not Even His “What The Hell Is Going On”: Parents Finally Meet Grandkids, Chaos Unfolds As Son Returns Early
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Mantas Kačerauskas
Jonas Zvilius
Related on Bored Panda
179
55