SLP Barbie: A DIY Project Exploring the Image of an SLP

Before you read any further, ponder this question and then close your eyes and note what you see: What does an SLP look like?

That's a question we recently considered in the Purposeful Rebranding of Speech-Language Pathology Facebook group. Before we show you what we picture, we want you to clearly imagine it for yourself. Obviously, the physical attributes of individual SLPs vary. SLPs can be any race, religion, color, creed, or gender (though it is worth noting that the field still has issues with diversity in the U.S., as it is predominantly female and predominantly white - see asha.org for more information). Instead, our SLP image questions focused on the default associations that pop into our heads when we picture a profession.

It's pretty easy to picture a firefighter, police officer, or mail carrier as those professions each have uniforms, but not all professions with salient visual images do. Picture a teacher. What do you see? A chalkboard in the background? An apple on the desk? A pointer in hand? Several children in the room? Perhaps your mental picture of a teacher differs in key ways from someone else's but there are usually distinct commonalities. You can try the same task with imagining a lawyer, receptionist, car dealer, and other non-uniformed professions.

If these professions have items that are strongly tied with their job's concept imagery, what would those items be for SLPs and how do they fit together? What is our gestalt imagery (a concept Lindamood-Bell, the company behind Visualizing and Verbalizing, defines as "the ability to create imaged wholes")? If I asked you to draw an SLP, what would you add? Mental imagery is crucial to concept formation, language skills, and an institution's BRAND. Remember, a brand is not necessarily what we want others to think about us, but the visuals, attitudes, and feelings our name evokes in conjunction with AND in spite of our efforts to shape other's impressions.

So without further ado, here is how I personally view myself as an Outpatient Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist.

How many SLP related items do you think you see in this picture? AT LEAST 40!

While we are woefully aware that using a Barbie doll to help us illustrate this point, treads close to a stereotype about SLPs being the young, prim and proper girls of their workplaces, we also found it to be a fun and clever way to illustrate a mental concept with deliberate use of real 3D miniature items.

We would love to see your mental images of SLPs in various settings. Share your SLP drawings, SLP Costumes, SLP dioramas, and other visualizations with us!

Answer Key of SLP-Related Items Pictured

Job-related:

Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, Speech-Language Pathologist sign, articulation poster, brain poster, swallowing poster, audiogram poster, clipboard, writing utensil, SLP data, model mouth, mirror, binders or books (of Diagnostics, Disorders, Treatment, and Research), file folders with HIPAA codes, tongue depressors, apothecary jars, computer, penlight for oral mechanism examinations, full calendar, Post-It Notes, headphones, patients, books, toys, lab coat, SLP (caduceus) lapel pin (or an SLP name tag), tote bag full of additional papers and supplies, and last but not least ..."My friend, Mr. Bear."

Impression-related:

Tunic, leggings, boots, infinity scarf, Starbucks cup(s), sink, TV screen, key, and in jest we say Super Powers - a nod to the magic people believe we can and often do perform (see Wonder Woman pin on the tote bag).

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