Unrealistic RCMP beauty standards

Those riding breeches really emphasize her curves

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers have a new, impossible beauty standard to live up to. And they thought it was hard keeping up with Commissioner Bob Paulson . . .

Barbie, the doll with the disproportionately small hands, feet and waist and disproportionately large breasts, is having a limited-edition run, as part of Mattel’s Dolls of the World collection, in RCMP drag. The doll has proved popular: the shop at the RCMP Heritage Centre sold 100 RCMP Barbies in less than 48 hours.

While also celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police (precursor to the RCMP), founded in 1873, the RCMP began to accept women as regular force members in 1974, which means next year will mark the 40th of women being allowed into the organization.

Michael Lyons is a queer-identified, chaotic neutral writer, activist, misanthrope, sapiosexual, and feline enthusiast. He is a columnist, blogger and regular contributor with Xtra and has contributed to Plenitude Magazine, KAPSULA Magazine, Crew Magazine, Memory Insufficient e-zine, The Ryersonian, Buddies Theatre blog, Toronto Is Awesome blog and Fab Magazine and more.

Read More About:
Power, Canada, Vancouver, Policing, Ottawa, Toronto

Keep Reading

Trans issues didn’t doom the Democrats

OPINION: The Republicans won ending on a giant anti-trans note, but Democrats ultimately failed to communicate on class

Xtra Explains: Trans girls and sports

Debunking some of the biggest myths around trans girls and fairness in sports

How ‘mature minor’ laws let trans kids make their own decisions

Canadian law lets some youth make medical or legal decisions for themselves, but how does it work?

To combat transphobia, we need to engage with the people who spread it

OPINION: opening up a dialogue with those we disagree with is key if we want to achieve widespread social change