I’ve been thinking a lot about body image lately.

It all began when Caroline melted down during a recent jean shopping outing because she felt fat.

She is nine.

And she is not fat.

It is true though, that because of her height, she is having a very hard time fitting in to jeans. The style cut for her height is skinny, skinny, skinny. So skinny that they are, in fact, too small.

She has begun to look at herself more critically in the mirror, noticing things that a nine year old should not.

I have always blamed super models, television and film and fashion magazines for our obsession with thin-ness.

I am in no way letting these groups off the hook. Instead, a new group is angering me.

As I read the wonderful Modern Mrs. Darcy’s recent post on LEGO Friends, I learned about a fascinating series of posts called Evolving Skinny Toys. In this series. Rachel Marie Stone has written about a terrifying trend in toy manufacturing. She details the staggering evolution of Queen Frostine (on the Candy Land board), Strawberry Shortcake, my Little Pony and Polly Pocket. In each example, she shows photographs of the toys from the 80s onward. And in each case the dolls have become staggeringly thinner and sexier.

I want to give credit where credit is due so I am not including photos here. Please go and look at Rachel’s work to see the pictures. My words do not adequately explain what has happened to these toys over the years.

Please, take a minute to read Rachel’s post.

And then come back and tell me what are we, as mothers, as women, as humans to do? Something must change.