BARBIE INSPIRING WOMEN COLLECTION:

CHALLENGES TO EMANCIPATORY EMPOWERMENT IN GIRLS' EDUCATION

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/revufg.v26.85605

Keywords:

Barbie Inspiring Women, Cultural-historical psychology, Empowerment

Abstract

This study set out to examine both the consistent aspects and the implicit/explicit ruptures in the concept of empowerment as presented in the Barbie Inspiring Women collection, while also considering the prevalence of behavioral patterns for girls in today’s society. To conduct this research, a qualitative and bibliographic research was developed, based on the theoretical frameworks of Vigotski (2000) and Freire and Shor (2013). The analysis revealed that the central issue lies in the gap between the notion of empowerment and what Mattel actually offers to empower girls, particularly as a capitalist enterprise operating in a neoliberal, consumption-driven society. In conclusion, the study argues that, unlike Mattel's portrayal, empowerment should refer to the attainment of freedom for individuals subjected to any form of economic or physical dependency. Therefore, true empowerment must fundamentally involve the liberation of the oppressed.

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Author Biographies

  • Emmanuel de Paula Ferreira Rocha, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Filosofia, Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil, emmanuel_ferreira@discente.ufg.br

    Graduado em Licenciatura em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de Goiás (FAFIL/UFG); mestrando no Programa de Pós-Graduação da Faculdade de Filosofia da Universidade Federal de Goiás (PPGFil/UFG); pós-graduando em Psicanálise e Laço Social pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás (PUC-GO).

  • Sheila Daniela Medeiros dos Santos, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil, sheila_medeiros@ufg.br

    Graduada em Pedagogia - FE/UNICAMP, Mestre e Doutora em Educação - FE/UNICAMP, Professora Associada - FE/UFG.

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Published

2026-06-24

Issue

Vol. 26 (2026): Revista UFG

Section

Artigos

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How to Cite

DE PAULA FERREIRA ROCHA, E.; MEDEIROS DOS SANTOS, S. D. BARBIE INSPIRING WOMEN COLLECTION: : CHALLENGES TO EMANCIPATORY EMPOWERMENT IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION. Revista UFG, v. 26, n. 32, 24 Jun.2026.