In the 1950s, Ruth Handler watched her daughter, Barbara, play with her paper dolls. She played with the dolls for hours, but Ruth wondered if there was another doll [similar to the paper doll] that her daughter could love. At the time, the only 3-D dolls available resembled infants, AKA baby dolls. Realizing there was a gap in the market, Ruth approached her husband, Elliot, co-founder of the Mattel toy company, and asked if they could make an adult-version doll older girls could dress up and play with when they have outgrown the baby doll phase. At first, Elliot was unenthusiastic about the idea. He knew it wouldn't sell.
I think we can all agree he was wrong. Very wrong.
Because this doll would become the iconic
Barbie.
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| Ruth Handler (photo/NewsyPeople) |
Sixty years ago, on September 6, 1959, the Barbie doll (named after Ruth and Elliot's daughter) made its debut in American stores. The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit, had the full name of Barbara Millicent Roberts, and she was made available with either blond or brunette hair. Around 350,000 Barbies were sold during her first year. Since then, Barbie's legacy has grown in ways Ruth Handler probably didn't anticipate when she first thought of the idea. She wanted to franchise a doll her daughter could relate to--and she did just that.
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| A vintage Barbie doll (photo/Fashion Doll Guide). |
She imagined a doll that inspired young girls to dream big and have fun. Barbie has become a cultural icon. I don't know a girl who didn't own at least one Barbie doll while she was growing up. Barbie is known for having many careers. There isn't a job she can't do.
For example, Barbie has held the following jobs:
- Registered Nurse
- Secretary
- Astronaut
- Doctor
- Teacher
- Businesswoman
- Firefighter
- Police Officer
- Pilot
- Dancer
- Dentist
- Veterinarian
- Chef
- Scientist
- Video Game Developer
- President
Young girls can observe Barbie and dream of their own possibilities. If Barbie can be a doctor, they could be a doctor. Barbie has always offered girls choices and endless storytelling possibilities. You
have possibilities, and Barbie demonstrates this.
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| Barbie career dolls (photo/Richprime). |
"My whole philosophy of Barbie was that, through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices." - Ruth Handler
I have fond memories of playing with Barbie dolls with my older sister. We would play Miss America pageant with the dolls--dress them up in ballgowns and swimsuits and participate in the different competitions. At one point, we owned a Barbie pink limo, so our dolls could ride around our house in style. Playing with Barbie dolls occupied the majority of my childhood, and I wouldn't change it for the world.
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I would play with my older sister's Barbies when she was at school. I made sure to put them back where she left them before
she came home! |
Enjoy this special photo presentation of our Barbie dolls. Yes, we saved our Barbies after all these years. I can't bear to sell them. They mean too much to my sister and I. They'll always be a part of us.
Because they were
ours. Together.
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| Our career Barbies. |
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| Our Barbies dressed in ballgowns. |
Barbie is a pop culture phenomenon. Yes, Barbie may be less popular in 2019 than she was in 1959, but if little girls (or boys) are given a Barbie doll, chances are they will love her. They will love dressing her up, making her look her best, and playing with her. They will love pretending they are a doctor along with her. They will observe her and dream of their own possibilities. They'll be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world.
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| Barbie dolls (photo/Flickr) |
Since 1959, Barbie has been a cultural icon. She's made young girls smile for decades. She's the original and best fashion doll in the world.
After all, she's Barbie. Barbie. She will always be a part of our world, no matter how old we are. Barbie will always be in our hearts.
-KJL-
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| Little version of myself, professionally photographed with one of my favorite Barbie dolls. |
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