"The Ken Problem"

[@DarlingDollz]

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[@haandotexe]

Hell yea GET that sponsorship!! I'm so glad to see your channel growing and becoming more monetizable!

[@NOT.NEREIDE]

The obsession with Ken's lack of genitalia is so odd considering Barbie doesn't have any either

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

She's got them bewbs tho. They're her primary sex characteristics! Lol

[@20bluebug]

Exactly!

[@maximillianlylat1589]

Gi joe doesnt have any either and yet its supposed to be the more masculine franchise

[@3veraj]

I completely agree. However, I see the other side of it too. I mean Barbie is allowed to at least have what I’ll call the illusion of breasts being there’s no nipples and one would assume a genitalia under the molded on undies, but Ken isn’t allowed to have the illusion of a genitalia with a bulge in his molded on undies? The whole thing is both a weird double standard while also being just a weird “why does this even matter it’s a goddamn toy” mentality to it.

[@Æuvelity]

@@3verajit’s funny because Lol Surprise dolls are anatomically correct 💀

[@safia6830]

mattel should make a goth ken period.

[@laranadesign4764]

OMG VAMPY KEN LET'S GO!

[@miguelstarboy5572]

there was a collector Ken in collab with fashion designer Gareth Pugh he slayed that goth look

[@ThePopo543]

Yessssss! Also we need femboy Ken!

[@IkramJoieetBonheurIkram]

@@ThePopo543 he already is a femboy 😍😍😍

[@selkiefluff]

Barbie 2 pitch: the Kens start acting uncanny because, as it turns out, ever since the events of the first movie adult women in the real world have been passionately writing fanfiction about them.

[@KingOfGaymes]

GOD NO 💀

[@marzettik]

Rofl! I can see it! I mean the Barbie movie is someone’s fanfiction.

[@xXJoeyXxcoooool]

LMAO

[@thegayghost872]

Barbie 2: Barbie learns what gay people are

[@2doot]

​@@thegayghost872this made me laugh way harder than it should have 😭😭

[@bunnizamy]

I think mattel should lean more into the "perfect boyfriend" vibes If they want the appeal of girls, Just imagine Kens that are inspired by dating sims and fanfiction tropes

[@catmanmenace]

ngl while I am queer and not a good example I always thought girls in the target demographic of Barbie were just too young to have any interest in boys whatsoever. Aside from the queer readings of children's Barbie movies where she has a Girl Best Friend Situation, I actually think it is just a more realistic fantasy for a 5-10 year old girl to imagine living with her bestie forever like in Diamond Castle than to get married to a man. Kids that age are like ''I wish my best friend was my sister and we could have sleepovers every night'', I don't think they are usually that interested in dating sims and fanfiction just yet. I stopped playing with Barbies right around the time I hit puberty, which is when people normally start to find romance appealing. This is common across a lot of girl media for that age group... I was a brony for instance (lol), but I felt like it was much more natural that the ponies encompassed little girl fantasies like 'being a fashion designer', 'cool and sporty', 'being super good with animals', and the male presence was minimal. That feels more realistically like the types of scenarios girl children will connect with, because those are interests they are pretty likely to have. Imo Ken was not just unpopular because his fashion was bland or because he was stuck between masculinity and appealing to girl children... but also because girl children didn't need him for their play? I never had a Ken because the stories I played out with my Barbies were never about romance. They were about fantastical adventures and magical battles against evil. Isn't the most common way of playing with Barbies making an elaborate role play story? I guess some kids probably want a romance arc with a Ken but idk how common that is. I don't think I even played with my friends' Kens.

[@bunnizamy]

@@catmanmenace You have a good point tho, I was indeed thinking about a age demographic much higher than what most Barbies are actually appealing to (Teenage audiences already think Barbies are for younger kids) I agree that Ken arent really necessary to the stories that kids play with their Barbies, mostly wouldnt envolve boy characters and if you have any other male toy avaliable it would get along just as well.

[@wordydird]

​@@catmanmenacebig agree. I was never what one would describe as 'girly' but by the time there was any remote interest in boys (or girls) it was at an age where I didn't play with toys as much anymore. They're best off just making him fun and varied like barbie is. Some fun (maybe even a bit fruity) outfits, some reserved, let him wear dresses, have careers idk.. You know. Just.. show that boys can do whatever they want too. Even if it's not stereotypically masculine. Or at least.. maybe not the best but I think it sounds nice.

[@retrossk]

​@@catmanmenace this is very empowering as somone who still wants to live in a castle with my best friend. but alot of kids i knew back in school had "girlfriends" and "boyfriends" [not really] with their close friends. Although this was probably becuase we were influenced by adults in life and tv shows

[@ariadnefrolich7243]

*thinks about what that would look like* Damn, he'd be prettier than Barbie!

[@Nomarura]

I feel like parents underestimate how much their girls might want boy dolls. My sister and I certainly would’ve appreciated a few more male dolls but it just never occurred to us to specifically make it clear lol

[@2doot]

I feel like most little girls are a bit embarrassed to bring up that they want a boy doll to play with their Barbies but the demand is definitely there. How else was I supposed to carry on my multi-layered plastic soap opera if I didn't have the full cast for it 😭

[@neb.9489]

Throughout my childhood, I had two Kens and a Bratz boy doll, so alot of my Barbie’s ended up lesbian 😅 I remember when I a Barbie’s hair off to make her look like a man

[@thisbeem2714]

I remember wanting more Ken dolls as well. I’m an 80s child so my only real options were Barbie and Ken. At least that’s all my parents bought me. So, I wanted Ken. I got a few if they came in a set with Barbie. And a couple knock offs.

[@papermintairplane]

If they really wanted to be doll-accurate with Ken in the movie, they should have overly gelled his hair so it was just a solid unmovable dome molded onto his head. 😅

[@Emmuzka]

My parents refused to buy Ken dolls for us. If they were already shelling money for a light-up Peach Barbie, the boyfriend accessory was where they skimped out. We had to make due with a Lone Ranger doll that came with a horse that my sister got. The Lone Ranger was a head shorter than Barbie, but it didn't lessen his masculity 😁

[@KingOfGaymes]

Me and my sister had kens but very few, so sometimes we’d use our brothers GI Joe’s 😭

[@grossberglawoffices9910]

We need more short king dolls

[@Ysckemia]

would have taken a Lone Ranger over a Ken, had i been presented the choice. 😆

[@Diana-mu7pc]

@@KingOfGaymes Same!!! Because my two brothers had plenty of GI Joes they didn't use, and I also grew up in the early 2000s Ken-desert. My first boy doll actually was Blaine, but I thought all boy dolls were called Kens so I called him Ken LOL.

[@Borg2364]

Exactly this! We bought knock off ken dolls that were made of that thin hollow plastic like dollar store dolls because my parents didn't buy us kens. Eventually we each did get a ken but it was only after saving up allowance money.

[@roxannerose9918]

Okay, the Ken Problem is fine as a phrase, but I really feel like you've really missed a Kenough style pun opportunity - The Kenundrum.

[@kybunnii]

This > . Haha

[@silhouettoofaman2935]

GENIUS

[@icaro_andstuff]

Omg blessssss

[@ratzandfrogz]

“While everyones been sleeping on ken ive been sleeping on my helix matress” best ad transition ever

[@lorafrisch8395]

I graduated high school in 1959 so I was before the Barbie generations. My mother always acted as if sex had nothing to do with dating. My paper dolls had a secret life. I had one book with two girls and one boy. In the hidden paper doll world the boy made one of the girls pregnant. He continued dating both of them. I wonder how many Barbie and Ken dolls have had secret sex lives.

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

❤

[@ThePopo543]

I grew up in a very s- xually repressed conservative region where everything remotely related to the lower areas was considered a "taboo topic," and yet I and my cousins made adult film reenactments with our dolls. Worst part: we were all between the ages of 10 and 13 and we only knew about this stuff cuz we had accidentally watched someone's "secret" video tapes thinking they were movies. So despite everyone trying to shelter teh chirrenz from the great evils of s- x, we ended up getting corrupted anyway.

[@thisbeem2714]

My Barbies had secret sex lives as well. I was little, like 10/11. But, yeah, I’m sure my parents and my friends parents would have been shocked and appalled. 😮

[@sockpuppet5676]

On dolltwt almost everyone is annoyed at Ken getting all these releases but on the doll facebook groups everyone is eating him up.

[@kameronpan2939]

Because Twitter is a miserable, man-hating shithole full of ppl who don't touch grass ever

[@alonsotoon]

I personally find Ken dolls to have such a BORING choice of fashions. Like, Barbie used to have amazing gowns, beautiful dresses, and incredible outfits, meanwhile Ken just had to make do with a samey jacket, a normal suit or a boring black tuxedo. I bought the faux fur jacket Ken from the movie not because i find Ken super endearing or cool, really, but because its literally the most creative and original look Ken has ever gotten in his entire history. More of that and i might consider getting more Kens in the future.

[@em84c]

And under his jacket his pants and shirt were connected like a weird jumpsuit. And the top had no sleeves so you couldn't take the jacket off

[@Jhud69]

It's because they had to walk a tightrope where they couldn't make him too fashionable or "flamboyant" or people (mostly bigoted parents) would think Mattel is promoting "homosexual agenda" but also not too masculine or no young girls would want to buy him.

[@NoiseDay]

Men's clothing has been boring since the French revolution

[@Biogrrrl]

I literally resorted to sewing my own Ken fashions. 😂

[@ToastyNoneofyourbusiness]

Like you said, a lot of boy dolls (not just Ken) have a hard time selling because they have to toe the line between looking appealing to young girls, without being too "gay" for the parents. This results in them often being too bland and basic because the company plays it too safe. Due to Ken being an "accessory" to Barbie, he has been allowed to be a bit more flexible, but, well, we've seen how the media has reacted to that. I feel like the best way that a doll line could've gone would be to make them resemble boy bands. Unfortunately that only could've worked in the 90s and 2000s, the peak of boy band popularity.

[@phoenixfritzinger9185]

I mean boy bands are still a big deal in K-pop

[@DoIIyMama]

​@@phoenixfritzinger9185the bts dolls still flopped

[@neb.9489]

@@DoIIyMamaNot really. My target was always sold out. I managed to get only one. Also, the BTS dolls were really mostly for fans. If you weren’t a BTS fan, it wasn’t likely that you’d get one.

[@DoIIyMama]

@neb.9489 they were heavily discounted in other places, I saw some people find those higher quality and pricey collector ones at discounted stores

[@Biogrrrl]

​@@neb.9489I don't know anything about BTS, but when I saw the Jungkook doll with the pink hair, I had to have him. He had such a nice face sculpt compared to so many other dolls. I also liked that he had some makeup too, and articulation. My only complaint is that he's shorter than the BMR 1959 Kens. Some of the Barbie collecting accounts I follow on Instagram also got the BTS dolls, but I still get asked about him all the time by other collectors who never saw the release. I always wondered why so many Barbie collectors missed out, and I think you're right, they were marketed towards BTS fans.

[@casir.7407]

i find it kind of interesting how, in his two big roles in more mainstream popular movies (toy story 3 and the barbie movie) he has been a sort of antihero or villain that becomes redeemed. i think it speaks a lot of how writers seem to think that he naturally resents barbie in some way or feels victimized or threatened by his supposed lack of assertion. which i feel might be speaking of some insecurities from the writer's part... which also feel related to the honestly insane fixation on making ken anatomically correct. barbie isn't, so why should he be? i thought we were all terrified of sexualization of children's toys? anyway, i think the best course of action with ken should be the barbie in the dreamhouse-approach: make him as likeable and sweet as possible. that's arguably what mattel has been doing for years, but maybe by giving him actual interests (the way barbie is, supposedly, fashion and performance) they could fix the fact that he's incredibly bland. and i know barbie is sort of bland too, but that's also an issue to fix. ken will never reach barbie's popularity, i think, just because he will always be associated as barbies boyfriend, and thats shouldn't be a source of emasculation or embarrassment. wouldn't it be the best to just lean into it and make him the best possible boyfriend there could be, just as barbie represents this sort of hegemonic "ideal woman"?

[@Infinitysquaredorsomething]

My sister scribbled all over my Ken doll when I was little, but I had Ken clothes and he was important to my barbies' lore so I asked my dad for a Ken doll for my 10th birthday and he looked and couldn't find one. When I was 12 I looked for myself and yeah, I only found one and I think his swimsuit was molded, or his hair was stupid or something

[@sailorcat]

I actually had a few Kens as a kid (and even an Allan), but mostly from Barbie movies. I mostly saw him as Barbie's love interest though. I love him in the newer series' and movies, he's so nice. He turned out to be one of my favorite characters. And of course he was great in "Live in the Dreamhouse" and The Barbie Movie.

[@pinkfoxboi1331]

I think if Ken could have a better representation of the wide breath of fashion amongst men that could definitely help. Like maybe a Scottish Ken who wears a kilt or a Roman gladiator Ken or a boy band Ken or a barbecue Ken or even a experiment new age fashion Ken or a gender neutral or gender non conforming Ken or a deep sea diver Ken or a pirate Ken and lastly how bout a cross collab to make a power ranger ken.

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

Yes, more fantasy would be nice. In the '60s you could get fantasy Ken fashions. There was a pirate, for example. I'd love a Ken in a kilt, like Jamie Fraser from Outlander, but for $30, not a collector doll for $50+.

[@ThePopo543]

We need Femboy Ken. The end.

[@dreamiskylight4928]

The doll world deserves actually thought out boy dolls. The only brand I seen do boy dolls justice is LOL Surprise

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

Yes! A little bit of fantasy glamour is very appealing. Rocker boy, Greaser boy, Skater boy (possibly trans!), I've got them all. There has been one kinda punk Fashionista Ken, but he was just in a tank top(?) so I actually purchased him a leather jacket on Etsy! Sheesh! But I do love the greenhaired BTS Ken.

[@katielinzie7444]

The Monster High boy dolls are nicely designed as well. Gen 1 Gil’s tank, Porter’s see through head and hands, Jackson and Holt’s clashing color schemes, Gen 3 Deuce’s snakeskin and hair. On the flip side, the Ever After High boys were pretty bland. They were all princes, so they all kind of looked the same. One good thing about that was they could be versatile. My Hunter and Alistair dolls traveled often between my doll types when I needed extra boys.

[@88marome]

Action Man❤️

[@miguelstarboy5572]

and RH / SH

[@ThePopo543]

​@@katielinzie7444I'm still mad we didn't get a Hopper doll with a softer femboy body type >:(

[@Pinkyyyy13]

my problem with ken dolls was that all the ones i had had molded hair. i always liked him though, from the original barbie movies to his modern vlogs. he's cute, he's sweet, and i really like his relationship with Barbie. i don't think Ken was ever specifically the problem.

[@ThePopo543]

Yeah it's the parents/karens and the toy companies themselves who are too scared of taking risks that are the problem. That's how they ruined MH and downright mvrdered EAH.

[@yokhawanha]

I always saw Ken as barbie love interests in a movie when Barbie is the main character, I never see him as someone who doesn't have a job or doesn't have his own life, I saw him as someone who as successful as barbie, but it never get mentioned because the movies focusing on barbie.

[@Ririi17]

Everytime I forget the patriachy something remindes me that "Oh, Yeah this world has been horribale too women and girls and aren't really allowed too have /had dreams outside of the house."

[@kameronpan2939]

If you think the patriarchy still exists today (at least in Western countries) when women on average both out-earn men and make up barely a fraction of every negative statistic (suicide, homelessness, death from work accidents, etc.) compared to men, then you're truly delulu (If you bring up the Middle East and Africa in any potential replies, I'm going to assume you're arguing in bad faith because everyone already agrees those parts of the world treat women terribly)

[@LagoonaScreams]

​@@kameronpan2939Your argument sounds like "Men are most likely to die bc of war" When men are literally the ones starting wars. Also, suicide, workplace accidents and etc, are global issues, they don't aply just to men, but s3xual harassment, violence, hate crimes, violence in marriage, etc, are issues most likely suffered by women, not saying men don't, but the stats are crazy in comparison. So yeah, we live in a patriarchal society, and I'm saying this as a person who lives in Latinamerica

[@basilbat273]

​@@kameronpan2939bro used "delulu" in a serious argument about sexism

[@ann3923]

​@@kameronpan2939yeah, well the thing is patriarchy affects men too. Surprising I know. It's not like "patriarchy is bad for everyone" was one of the talking point of feminism for a long time. The more you know🌠

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

Women out-earn men now? Huh?

[@aquaralahermanni4892]

As a child I had one Ken doll, the one from the nutcracker edition. I really wanted to know what he had inside his pants since that was still a mystery to little me. I can't remember what my reaction was but I clearly remember the sheer horror when I realised that I wasn't able to put his damn outfit back one. He had to live the rest of his life pantsless, under my bed. Also known as the cave of shame. He had a nice kitchen down there (which had a container full of forgotten and spoiled milk) and a friend (who had a self made bdsm-outfit glued onto her).

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

😂

[@Speed_Zamaa]

i have so many questions

[@beaumainz]

17:35 Honestly, as a Jenny collector, I can't help but wonder if the Barbie/Ken branding could have actually benefited from a sort of rotating cast of boyfriends? Like, looking at older Jenny lines, you have a TON of different styles & romantic "types" reflected in Jeff, Tom, Leif, Mike, Charles, Takumi, etc. instead of having all of those things just being heaped directly onto Jeff. Like, Jeff is still the main boyfriend, but you get a ton of fun moments from other guy characters even if none of them were super popular on their own (little rivalry arcs, like Tom's release, for example). Takara could have done a better job with diversity, but in terms of what would appeal to which buyers (collectors & kids) they had SO many bases covered with these guys!

[@Girly_girl_4EVER]

That’s a wonderful thought

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

That's interesting. Thanks for the information!

[@KingOfGaymes]

I’m honestly happy for Ken finally getting the spotlight. I also find it ironic and pretty funny that the most loved part of the “Barbie movie” is K E N. Who would’ve expected that xD

[@kameronpan2939]

Because Ken is basically the archon of the Average male Experience i.e. being treated like an accessory rather than a person, getting cast aside/ignored/looked down upon for daring to voice your feelings/a differing opinion, being ignored when homeless (this is specifically referencing how the Kens don't have houses to sleep in like the Barbies) while seeing homeless women get so much support and assistance, trying to change things so that your male friends are more supported and being faced with ridicule and hatred from (what seems to be) the majority of society, etc. This is all my second-hand experience from comforting my boyfriend through patches of bad mental health and hearing the experiences of many men online who feel this way, so please don't disregard any of my points even if you disagree as that's further hurting the men who experience things like this 🙏

[@b.c4440]

Ken was my favorite doll growing up. I wasn’t very interested in Barbie herself. I found her friends way more fascinating. She was the doll I played with if there was no one cooler. I loved Ken’s clothes the best. His comfy sweaters, his jazzy suits and magnificent prince costumes. Just fabulous. My favorite Ken was Big Brother Ken in his very 90s windbreaker.

[@creature_maria]

Can't speak much for the 60s-90s, but since the 2000s young girls have always been super into boyband celebrities, romcom love interests, men-written-by-women types of characters (plus all the hot male characters we ship in gay ships, though that type of play would probably not be officially advertised). I don't know why Mattel apparently didn't think of simply leaning into that. Those Blaine and Fashionista Ken dolls seemed to be going in the right direction - only they were still kinda not hot imo lol

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

Ooh how about a Jamie Fraser (Outlander) style Ken? ♥️

[@Cool-eo1oe]

My impassioned Ken comment: I have always liked Ken, and I now have a pretty good Kenllection. I have always been interested in the different Ken eras. Growing up though, I didn’t like Ken because I thought he looked too old (ex. who is this old guy with Barbie). I think more modern ken matches Barbie pretty well, both collector Barbie and Playline. The ever changing image of Ken, with him still remaining at intersection of “potential boyfriend”, boy-next-door/not too handsome and “non-threatening male”-ideal of the era is always interesting, and I enjoy seeing interpretation. I think for anyone it’s an impossible standard. I think Mattel has learned that Ken cannot be “cool” if he is to meet the previous three standards. (As we know Earring magic Ken was an attempt to make Ken “cool”) Ken is/should always the ideal “boy friend” and sometimes potential “boyfriend” of Barbie (depending on who plays). Blaine and Ryan and other male characters can be the contrast to Ken, the Veronica to Ken’s Betty. And I will say personally, as a Ken fan I was upset they made him the jerk in the movie but there will always be “Life in the Dreamhouse”.

[@dragontatoes]

Because the way I played with dolls was essentially "Sims, but acoustic", Kens were mostly suburban dads. But I never cared about Ken as a character dating/marrying Barbie as a character. I never paid attention to character names - all women were Barbies and all men were Kens. They were just gender categories, just like the most recent Barbie rebranding has done. So I actually prefer the most recent Ken fashionista concept (even if I don't love the current designs), and my biggest critique of movie Kens is that their faces and hair don't look right. I definitely wish I had a "Kenough" Ken, but I'm not paying up for it.

[@IsomerMashups]

I think "Sims, but acoustic" is really how Barbie should be trying to market themselves if they want to widen the brand appeal.

[@Mah-LonCreativity]

Ken market is adults. Once they realize this fact. We can get the Ken's we always wanted. More MTM skin tones and body types means more characters we can make.

[@kathrynobrien693]

Growing up I only had the Kens from barbie movies, otherwise that was it. My Barbie’s dated the Flash and Batman, and sometimes Superman. It was never Ken.

[@CoffinFullOfBees]

The biggest issue with the Barbie Movie direction of Ken is that when they're done selling Barbie Movie Ken dolls they'll still have the same problem on their hands, he still doesn't have a clear direction and now he's very independent of Barbie. He's the Ken that adults love, but I don't think this movie that is so thoroughly aimed at an older audience is going to save him. Life in the Dreamhouse Ken was perfect. He loves Barbie, and he'd do anything to make her happy. He's not doing anything we have reason to believe she can't accomplish, but she's so busy. He isn't a useless accessory, there's plenty of humor that transcends age barriers, and he's a goofy guy who is always trying his best to wow the woman who has everything. His flaws are endearing, Barbie appreciates him, and kids who saw the show had a clear social role for him in their own personal Barbielands. He is a supporting cast member in Barbie's life, he's never going to make it all on his own, and that's fine. He is also Kenough.

[@katie_and_her_dolls]

I've always loved Ken! To me as a kid there are boys and girls in the world so in order to play dolls you have to have boys and girls. As I grew older and became a doll collector I continue to think this way. I love 1960s to 1977 Ken's so much! I don't mind the ones from the 80s either they're pretty cool. But personally I think the kids when I was a kid, the early 2000s-2010s really did struggle because he was thought too much as an accessory. I hope Ken is eventually marketed more like he was in the 60s and 70s again.

[@BillyVell]

The new Ryan Gosling face mold for Ken is so good, it makes me sad that they released a bunch of movie Ken dolls with that other random smiling face before 😭

[@Silly_Sulky_Seli]

imo they're just also what's up with the fem fashion VS masc fashion like the most obvious example is super detailed ball gowns VS a black tuxedo with a new flower every release but it goes to other less obvious things like "oh yeah this is yet again just a shirt + pants+ jacket" does he even get any bags? I don't remember! I believe that's a reason close to the core of the problem

[@thrillhouse4151]

10:45, there’s a lotta problems when it comes to the 1970’s, but the fashion was definitely not one of them.

[@NIGHTGUYRYAN]

i subscribe to the idea that, like many young ladies, Barbie had fallen in love with a gay man - the coordinated outfits, the perfectly coifed hair, the earring... and that when ken and barbie broke up...they remained friends. also like many girls, she was the last to realize this 😂 aww, poor barbie. you live and you learn. no hard feelings 😂❤ they can still be paired up as friends in matching outfits. everyone knows barbies real main squeeze is gi joe, duh

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

😂

[@elderemowitch]

Not me kicking off my day with a video from one of my favorite doll channels. ❤

[@blanket4763]

I personally love the mod 70s ken, imo I think that's the best he ever looked even though it was really just a experimental time. Who doesn't love mustached Ken?

[@cauldros2572]

I'd love to see a video on the wider history of boy dolls, there's so many doll brands with great boys that were completely overlooked, the Bratz boyz in particular had such good masculine fashion even nowadays the lol omg boys are so good

[@helenakhudyna2360]

I don't know, I've always loved Ken. And vintage Allan! I believe, people just do what they do great - project their thoughts, feelings and fears on the doll. In our case - on Ken.

[@tottallyok]

I remember girls in my elementary school would just cut an old, crusty Barbie’s hair short to play a boy roles. But there was one girl who actually had a Ken doll and it was seen as the coolest thing. For playing out real life and romances, of course boy dolls are needed. Yet most little girls I knew just resorted to…basically “repurposing” less cute Barbies.

[@RainbowNanaki]

I had two secondhand Beverly Hills 90210 dolls as a kid that I assumed were just Ken dolls because I was like 6, but I can confirm that they were very popular with both my own and my friends dolls LOL

[@TealCheetah]

4:56 the cat approving of the mattress is legit info I want to know about a mattress

[@RainbowNanaki]

I don't think I ever actually had a ken doll growing up, but I did always prefer the look of the ones with the rooted hair. While I know short rooted hair is annoying to produce and style, I love how it "matches" Barbie, and it's more interesting to touch than molded plastic. I distinctly remember wanting the California Girls Blaine *because* he actually had hair, though in general I really liked the California Girls line due to the focus on horses and beach/street fashion. I did have two male dolls as a child, a pair of secondhand guys that I later learned were Beverly Hills 90210 dolls, but despite their dreaded molded hair, I liked that they had a bit of a different look to Ken, almost...More handsome? More realistic? Plus one of them had green eyes, which was unheard of in the Ken realm! Another issue I have with Kens is that they VERY rarely have more than the 5 points of articulation, and the clothing tends to be pretty flat and lacking detail. I also wouldn't be surprised if at least a little bit of the problem is parents seeing Ken as an expensive accessory, when children engaging in imaginative play see him more as a new character option. There are far more stories to be told if there was at least one boy around than if there were a car, you know?

[@Aros4]

I feel like you hit the nail on the head with how giving the Barbie characters personalities and stories would’ve made Ken sales way higher than they’ve ever been. Like Im looking back and I would choose a Max Steel or a Woody or Buzz doll over a Ken and I think it’s precisely because they had a theme and a story behind them. I knew Max Steel was a spy that had all these gadgets and was cool and stuff and was about the size of a Ken, Woody and Buzz of course were characters I knew and loved. The thing is, I think, that as a girl playing with this toy that was directed to girls, barbie was me, she was my surrogate in the doll world therefore she doesn’t need a clear personality or story, but I’m not Ken so I needed that extra character that made him interesting to girls.

[@LadyPrincessDiana]

One thing I'm curious about is why Ken's appearance has changed so much over the years? Like, Barbie is always blonde with blue eyes, so why is Ken sometimes blond and sometimes dark-haired? Maybe his lack of a consistent, recognisable identity is partly to blame for his lack of popularity.

[@kimberry2010]

I've ALWAYS loved Ken. I can't imagine Barbie or any of her friends (!) without him. Got my first Ken for Christmas 1970 and I've been purchasing him since. Nice to see him get some shine.

[@CaraBolsaSTUDIOS]

FUN FACT: Here in Mexico we say the Max Steel is Barbie's boyfriend

[@redwhite9832]

This still remains my favorite piece of International Barbie culture. Max Steel is so cool.

[@SodaPopxx124]

As a kid i had two Kens. they were identical except one had rooted ashy blonde hair and one had rooted dark brown hair. I would always make them fight over the barbie i was playing with in the current "story" (it would change every time i played). I would always make the blonde one be ditzy and hopeless and the brunette be charming and kind 😭. i always played with my two kens growing up in the early 2000s and i don't know how i would have played out these scenarios without them tbh. my brothers mega man 8" figure just didnt cut it lol

[@tigeranne4051]

I've heard of girls buying a GI Joe or Action Man to be their Barbie's husband, because they thought Ken was just dumb. x)

[@lucify8148]

I feel like ken would be liked more if he had real hair and not a blob of plastic

[@rosy-dolly]

I fully believe this; I actually had a Ken doll with real hair when I was a child, and I remember playing with him quite a bit. I know for a fact I had one or two molded hair Kens, and I barely touched them lol

[@Iliana_9339]

Im sick and couldn’t go to school so I needed something to cheer me up, when I saw this video I clicked as fast as I could. Thanks for being here today 💖.

[@MotherGapshin12]

Ken should just open his yoga studio and get into herbal healing, crystals and vegetarianism like a real southern californian man with way too much time and money.

[@CheesyPaninie]

That helix mattress mention made me laugh! I like how the calm delivery of your lines make your punchlines unexpected and funny XD

[@lilianaruivo6513]

i always wanted a ken doll when i was kid because is always good to plays and i always liked more "manly" fashion so i wanted also dress a ken on my own way, but kens were rare on the shops around me and internet shopping wasnt a thing when i was kid so i used my brother action man but for sure the issue with ken always was that his fashion choices are to safe, to blonde... isnt like mattel cant do well because they did some amazing ken dolls with designers but when is just basic ken they just put the basic stereotypic man clothes on him

[@dinosaursprinkles9669]

One of my favorite Barbie verse dolls as a kid was Midge’s husband from the Happy Families line. I think he was called Allan too? But I might have that mixed up. My sister had most of the dolls from the line, I think she was just missing the grandparents. And I LOVED them all. With the family theme, the pregnancy, the stroller, the boy child, Midge’s red crimped hair… I want to try to re-buy them all one day, but they’re so expensive. I might be able to find a few in my parent’s attic and restore them, bust just the thought of how much work it would be to look through the junk when I might not find them, or might discover they are too far gone for a rescue, makes me want to lie down.

[@madamminalost]

Yeah the focus on Ken in the Barbie Movie really bugged me too! It's this weird thing where the Kens over all complaints weren't really fixed or anything (seriously, they still don't have anywhere to sleep) , but they were still in the wrong and the climax of the movie revolved more around Barbie consoling Ken. It DID lead to her realizing stuff about herself, but it was still Ken focused.

[@kameronpan2939]

Good point about the Kens! Another thing I noticed which was really odd/gross was that the "brainwashed" Barbies appeared happier than when they weren't brainwashed, which made it seem like "un-brainwashing" them was purposefully making them miserable for the sake of Stereotypical Barbie's satisfaction, which seems extremely reductive of career-women who actually like the work they do

[@GUAGA0612]

I actually really loved the Ken in the dream house adventure - it takes two - 2023 era, his relationship with Barbie is sooo cute tho, he’s a shy boi and so funny

[@starchandstitches7903]

growing up in the 70s and early 80s, I had several Kens, but I was obsessed with romance. so when I was growing up with a single mom, barbie was also a single mom and going on dates with Ken and falling in love. when I was older and looking forward to high school, barbie was a high schooler going through high school drama like prom and boyfriends. so yes, he was a secondary character but integral to my playing. barbie had to find love so i needed kens for her. Edit: The fashion to me was a bonus, not the point of the dolls. my play was me navigating love and relationships. i think if I only cared about the fashion, ken would have been boring for me.

[@necronatalofficial2805]

A "some Ken releases are realistic regular dudes, some are super dreamy perfect boyfriend material and some are gigachad manly men" approach MIGHT work. More different types of men to pick from = more different scenarios that could be acted out by the kids playing with the dolls.

[@phoenixfritzinger9185]

That’s why people like dating sims

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

I also want slightly dangerous bad boy Kens, like the OMG Rocker and Greaser. A race car driver Ken would also work. Of course, there are collector Kens that are more edgy, but why not $35 playline baddies?

[@angelicadiabolus]

I have heard and read ‘Ken’ so many times, it doesn’t even feel like a word anymore

[@doesitmatterwhoiam8838]

Ken stole the show. I was indifferent about him before, but I loved him from the movie. I never watched LITDH, but it sounds like just animating him makes him more endearing to everyone.

[@kat8559]

As a Ken, I appreciate the Kenaissance

[@horrortheater3172]

To me a great Ken needs. 1 amazing style and 2 a personality

[@dantebudi9016]

I’ve always thought if Mattel markets Ken as a boy’s toy, you know like GI Joe, it’ll sell more. But that will come with other problems for the brand.

[@miguelstarboy5572]

I think that his best era was the 2000's from the new look Ken, he was very cute, young looking and super fashinable without being so cartoony as the 80's and stuff

[@dorianthekilljoy4092]

FINALLY! I LOVE MOD HAIR KEN! HE DESERVES SOME APPRECIATION. WHAT A KING.

[@quickgrawmcdraw2893]

I dont think Ken can ever be more than an accessory, since he just exist to be someone outside of what Barbie is, but of course Barbie is everything and so Ken would be everything else

[@miguelstarboy5572]

I love that you talk about this!! I started collecting Ken dolls only and found a small community of other usually queer men that felt so represented in a way by the doll as a fashion icon despite that not defining his sexuality which I think it's great! It made me then question myself a lot when I realized I also wanted to collect barbies and female dolls too, Ken kinda gave me the confidence for that and dressing how I like

[@RenTriggerRose]

Looking back, I had the most Kens of anybody I knew. He was always an important part of my games. Of course Barbie was the main character, because duh, but Ken always had roles in the story and played an important part. Like when I got a new Barbie doll I was ecstatic, but I would get really excited for a new Ken doll too.

[@andremedeiros2181]

The helix mattress introduction was so smooth

[@julianpeppers1889]

god i remember the ad or whatever with Blaine..."Sorry, Ken!" *splash* little me was SO pissed about the disrespect lmao. i didn't care about Ken necessarily but i thought the campaign was so mean and rude and was offended on his behalf. real celebrity shipping drama for 8 year old me. people are so weird about genitals also. masculinity so fragile people are upset a toy for kids doesn't have a penis. barbie had no nips and molded underwear, it's the same.

[@thee_junkdrawer]

It would be AMAZING if they actually spun off a completely separate "Ken" brand. 🥰

[@darkartsbyadrienne]

😱 omg, I never wanted to have a kid more than when you said, referring to the breakup press release, "my seven year old self was living for." Just adorable! 🥰 I agree Mattel should focus on the boon of the film and try to milk it as much as possible. That being said, the movie dolls should be less pricey and encompass as many characters as possible. But maybe in their archetypal sense. Like the artistic mom, of the rebellious young teen. Or fascist, man-power Ken. Like maybe they should take themselves even less seriously, because in a way, people like me who were never into Barbie dolls, might seriously consider collecting off-the-wall weird stereotyped dolls.

[@SisterWomen]

Loved the video. The very specific, entirely deflating answer is: only the actual consumers opinion matters. We can all wax poetic about what makes men attractive but if Mattel as a corporation tries to please people who don't buy dolls and therefore have no actual stake or interest in the outcome, they will fail. This is a consumer product. So it's for parents to decide what man they are comfortable being alone with their very young daughters. Thats the only metric that actually matters because they are the real consumers of the doll. Because everyone else, point blank, doesn't actually buy the doll. This is about the child consumers of the doll and what is appropriate for them.

[@pastel-sunrise]

I feel sorry for the poor kid who finally got a doll named after him too, only for that doll to be romantically paired with the doll named after his sister. I wouldn't be surprised if both kids were upset by this. :/

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

I know Barbara was upset to even have the doll named after her, but eventually she got over it, allegedly.

[@redwhite9832]

Barbie 2 Should have Blaine (the Cali girl line version) played by Chris or Liam Hemsworth as a rival to Gosling's Ken

[@chibiktsn3]

The person who wrote about grilling Ken was clearly projecting. My favorite Ken growing up was the one from the 90s with rooted hair who could have facial hair with warm or cold water.

[@xcar0982]

Now that I'm thinking, out of the movie dolls, I don't remember when was last time I saw a Ken on my local Walmart.

[@Spidrick]

I've always liked Ken and the various iterations of his design. I don't have as many Kens as I have Barbies, but I have a good number. Excited to see the attention he is getting after the movie.

[@user-yv6vx]

I would love a diverse line of made to move ken bodies. I reeeeally want a super skinny lanky body and also a chubby, softer body.

[@helenmoreno5631]

I've always loved Ken! ❤ I have a huge collection of Ken dolls. My favorite Ken, when I was young, was Winter Sports Ken because he was articulated. (And, he was a dreamboat.😍).

[@thebunnyfoofoo]

I loved my Barbie and the Rockers Ken. I also loved the Jen story lines for the male folks.

[@stillhuntre55]

Can I just say, I am loving your content. I don't collect dolls - never even had many growing up - but as an artist, I really love the modification/customization videos of creators like Poppen Atelier. They fascinate me, as it's a form of art I have no experience with. Due to me binge watching doll customization channels, youtube suggested your content. For the first few videos, I didn't really understand what you were looking for in desirable dolls. The ones you liked and the ones you panned looked the same to me, but your intelligence, quick wit, and personality kept me coming back. As I watch more, I'm starting to see what you see - I'm seeing the differences in quality, in face sculpts, in cohesion of clothing sets. Thank you so much for being my window into something new! I'll never collect dolls, but I'm appreciating it greatly, and I'm already planning my next art project. It'll definitely be an articulated doll.

[@cornerspider2477]

I was gonna comment about how adorable your cat is but then I realized the irony of commenting about a cat that was on screen for maybe 3 seconds while the whole rest of the video is on Ken- I feel like this proves some kind of point.... 🤣

[@everythingchannel9950]

He will never be KENOUGH!!!❤❤ He was the best part of movie….

[@PandoraHearchu]

Late reply is late, but my biggest gripe with every male doll being Ken is that the Barbie movie could be a lot more interesting if Gosling Ken's jealousy was directed towards Blaine (Barbie's actual ex) and not towards some rando? Not to mention that the whole "every male doll is Ken and every female doll is Barbie" thing is... weird, because Allan and Midge also exist in Barbie world.

[@JotkaJulitkaJula]

Its always a darling day when DarlingDollz uploads!

[@merefinl6914]

As a kid in the 2000s my awareness of Ken was almost zero. I know I had a barbie in the nutcracker Ken doll, and the big detachable nutcracker head was fun to play with, but I was barely into dolls in the first place. Does he have a career line? If not I'd start there, a key aspect of the dolls is aspirational play, right?

[@justinejarvis6313]

Definitely bring back rooted hair. But it’s tricky because although my sister was the Barbie I quite liked the look of him in his black,white ect tuxedos. Make him a stand alone character e.g “Ken and the boys” with sports, camping, beach , racing etc but also keep the “ideal, dream boyfriend” image. But I’ll admit it’s tricky because times change and certain things will come across as “outdated” Or maybe they should make a bearded (rooted hair) Ken with tattoos 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@magdlynstrouble2036]

As an adult collector, I was so excited by long-haired surfer Ken, but I saw how he didn't sell, hung around on shelves, got discounted. 😢

[@lavenderwyvern]

I cannot figure out why doll companies haven't tried to make actually cute/"hot" boy dolls. tween girls would be all over a stylized Monster High Kpop boy style doll line. Make it all boys and hire an artist that can design actually hip/cool mens clothing and handsome features. It's so weird to me how they've mastered beautiful girl dolls but failed over and over with handsome boy dolls. They should take some notes from Japanese anime figure sculptors and BJD sculptors. This is such an untapped market.

[@denmarklondon6829]

I was always a Ken collector especially Black Ken's.. Nice everyone else is catching up.. Nice vid keep em up

[@DangerDave-e7u]

Ken knows how to have fun!

[@BloodyBraces]

You should do a video on the rise and fall of Barbie Fashionistas

[@austin8436]

I’d love to see an tour of your collection sometime!

[@em84c]

My mum had 3 dolls as a kid in late 60's. 2 Barbies and a Ken. He was disco Ken and I still have him. He looks like mod Ken with brown hair. When I was a kid in the 90's all my Kens came from thrift stores. Derek was one of my favourites. I think he was from the 80's. The only new ones I asked my parents to buy was 90210 Dylan and a Steven. Black kens weren't sold in Australia then so we got a neighbour to buy him when she was going to US. I remember the Blaine thing 😆 I actually want to buy him off eBay I just preordered Kenough Ken!

[@scout8145]

As a kid, I made up my own stories with my toys, so a flexible “cast of characters” was important. Male-presenting dolls like Ken often had ages that were too visually distinct. Barbie could play the role of a teenager, young adult, or regular adult. But Ken felt too cemented in “young adult” for me, and it made it hard to pair them together flexibly. Actually, Ken was kind of the least bad option for this. I found the male Bratz and Polly Pocket fashion dolls even more age-coded. This is a big reason why I drifted away from human-shaped toys and towards animal-shaped toys like LPS, because a little plastic cat could easily be any age, gender, or status I wanted.

[@Goleon]

I adore Barbie Movie Ken. Ryan Gosling is too perfect in the role and ngl his song is very good. I don’t know if I had any Kens growing up but I got one from the Barbie Movie (the beach one who’s the only one still in stock) and there’s a Fashionista one I’m tempted to get because he looks like a character from a series I’m a fan of.

[@pastelcatnip]

OMG you have a fiancé? I had no clue! (I don’t go on social media often). Congratulations! Best of luck to both of you! 😊

[@kayleighbrown459]

I really did not bank on Ken from the Barbie franchise learning the same lesson as Renfield this year but here we are living in that reality.