The intersection of female beauty with art, culture, and industry.
Gallery 204 and Lower Level
Virgins, Goddesses, and Barbie
VIRGINS, GODDESSES, and BARBIE comprises a series of exhibitions, interactive timelines, and special events that explore gender and beauty ideals across cultures and the impact of Mattel’s Barbie as a cultural icon. This multifaceted project, developed by university faculty, students, museum staff, and the SJU Women’s Center, takes a deep dive to question and uncover ...
- How are the standards of female beauty in art and industry manifested. When is it problematic, when is it empowering?
- Using Barbie careers as a timeline, why did Barbie represent certain careers for girls at different points in time since 1959?
- How is beauty perceived across cultures? Has the iconic Barbie look evolved enough or is it too little, too late?
Works from the museum’s permanent collection as well as loaned Barbies from the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia will be featured. This exhibition will be on show through November 2024.
image: The Goddess, 2022, Carole Feuerman,
Lacquer on epoxy, 51 x 21 x 32 in
Women have choices, and girls have choices. Get a doll that you love and you identify with, and pretend with it. That's how we grow. That's how we discover what we want to do."
![Barbie]()
Ruth Handler, Co-founder of Mattel, creator of the Barbie doll
