Barbie

First sold on March 9, 1959, BarbieŽ is the world's best selling doll.

Ruth Handler had noted that her daughter Barbara preferred playing with paper dolls that looked like adults rather than like children. When in Europe, she noticed a German doll named Lilli and bought it for Barbara.

Lilli was a gold-digging character from a "racy" comic strip drawn by Reinhard Bentheim for Das Bild, and the Lilli doll began to be sold in Germany in 1955. It was marketed to adults, not children: M. G. Lord, in her Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll, characterized the original doll as a "gag gift for men, a pornographic character."

Ruth Handler says that when she bought Lilli for her daughter, she was ignorant of its adult nature. Ruth Handler and Elliott Handler, the co-founders of Mattel, bought the rights to market Lilli: with a hair color change from blonde to brunette, and a name change to Barbie (after Ruth's daughter Barbara) she was sold in the United States starting in 1959 at New York's annual Toy Fair.

The first Barbie doll has a black-and-white striped swimsuit and signature ponytail. In the suceeding years, Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson designs BarbieŽ doll’s fashions in the beginning off of the Paris fashions.

Ruth Handler had stated that she thought it "was important to a girl's esteem that she play with a doll with breasts," and Barbie was certainly qualified to be that doll. If the doll originally marketed were human-sized, her measurements would have been 39"-18"-33". These measurements were based on male fantasy rather than actual human metrics, and the unrealistic size of Barbie has been controversial, with many suggesting that playing with Barbie decreases rather than enhances a girl's self-esteem. In response to criticism, Mattel adjusted the chest measurement down, and the waist measurement up, though the proportions are still uncharacteristic of most women.

Redesigned by Jack Ryan and manufactured by Mattel, this one doll is a $1.9 billion dollar a year industry, with two Barbies being bought every second.

Her fictional biography has developed as her sales continued. She has been given the fuller name Barbara Millicent Roberts, and a family and friends have been manufactured for her, starting with her permanent beau Ken. Additions to the family tree included Skipper (debut 1964), Tutti, Stacie (1992), and Kelly (1995). BarbieŽ has dated Ken since 1961, and has long broken ties with her best friend Midge. BarbieŽ is still said to attend Willows High School in Willows, Wisconsin.

BarbieŽ has been used in an effort to promote gender equality, showing that women can work at anything. Career woman Barbie has taken up many occupations over the years, they include:

• Amateur athlete at the Olympics (including swimming, figure skating)

• Fairy tale characters/princesses (including Rapunzel, Nutcracker)

BarbieŽ has thirty-eight recorded pets, including cats and dogs, horses, a panda, a lion cub, and a zebra. BarbieŽ has used her driver's license to the fullest, with pink convertables, trailers and more. She also has a pilot's license, and operates commercial airliners, while not serving as a stewardess.

The best selling BarbieŽ was one released in the early-1990s, Totally Hair Barbie, with stylable hair for head to toes.

Table of contents

1 Barbie's Physical Evolution 2 Controversies 3 Related Merchandise 4 Terminology 5 Timeline

Barbie's Physical Evolution

Over the years, BarbieŽ has evolved. Originally available as either a blonde or brunette, Barbie has changed the color of her hair many times since her introduction in 1959. Today there are ethnically diverse versions of Barbie that feature different skin tones, facial characteristics, as well as different hair colors and make-up.

One of the most publicized changes happened around the turn of the century, as Barbie's ultra-thin waist widened to more natural proportions. This change, rallied for years by some parents' and anorexia groups, is to encourage young girls not to be as hyper-actively concerned with their weight, and thus to eat more healthily and avoid eating disorders.

Controversies

BarbieŽ is often looked upon as more than just a doll. There are several issues that are thrown around about what BarbieŽ truly stands for. On one hand it can be claimed that the doll promotes personal and professional success, achieving many different personal and professional goals. She is everything and that can teach young kids that you can be whatever you want in life. It also has the ability to teach role-playing skills and promote imagination and creativity in a child. You can look at BarbieŽ as a great promoter of success.

On the other hand thorough out the years, there has been some controversy surrounding the physically unachievable perfection of the doll. BarbieŽ can be looked seen as promoting a very unrealistic lifestyle that no one lives, having the perfect man, driving a perfect car and living in a dream house. These types of things promote materialism and can lead a child on to expect things in life that they might not be able to have.

Another criticism made by some of the toy is that she promotes an unattainable and unrealistic body image. Since everyone is made differently, her body mold should come in different shapes and sizes. In real life she would be towering over most men and have an impossible breast size. Some say that BarbieŽ is more realistic because of the different colors of skin and hair that she now comes in.

Because BarbieŽ is a cultural icon in the United States, and the dolls are inexpensive and easily obtained, artists have referred to BarbieŽ and her accompanying products, either as homage or as parody. The Mattel Corporation disapproves of many of these uses for the dolls, and has used trademark and copyright claims to attempt to suppress them.

"Barbie" is often used as a derogatory slang word to mean that a person, particularly a girl or woman, is stupid, as in "Barbie brain" or "Barbie head".

Related Merchandise

The mid-1990s saw a line of early novels, featuring her adventurous exploits. By the late-1990s, Mattel had moved to featuring her in interactive 3D video games for both gaming consoles and personal computers. In recent years, she has taken the computer animated movie industry by storm, guest appearing in Toy Story 2, and later her own direct-to-video movies, Barbie's Nutcracker and Rapunzel Barbie, both of which were accompnied by small product lines, including a doll of Barbie in the costumes portrayed in the shorts. Though not feature length, they are fairly abundant in plot, for the younger audience, of course.

Terminology

Collector Edition - Dolls produced in limited quantities. Designed for collectors and display. Usually they come in showcase packaging [a stand and a Certificate of Authenticity].

Customized - Dolls created exclusively for a specific store. Usually they come in showcase packaging [a stand and a Certificate of Authenticity].

Limited Edition - Dolls produced in limited quantities worldwide. Limited to specific retailers. Featuring special fabrics and details. Designed for collectors and display. They come in showcase packaging [a stand and a Certificate of Authenticity included].

Modern BarbieŽ - Dolls produced after 1972.

OSS - Dolls with original swimsuit.

Ponytail - This denotes the age and type of Barbe a particular doll is. There are five types:

#1 - 1959; original; white irises; blue liner; feet holes; body aging whitens material.

#2 - 1959; white irises; blue liner; body aging whitens material.

#3 - 1960; blue irises; softer curved eyebrows.

#4 - 1960; body vinyl retain color.

#5 - 1961; hair texture new; lighter in weight; hollow body.

Timeless Treasures™ - Celebrity or character dolls.

Twist 'N TurnŽ Waist - A moveable waist of mid-1960s and later Barbie doll [or a variation].

Vintage Barbie - All dolls produced before 1972.

Timeline

1958 : Ruth Handler developes the idea of BarbieŽ.

1959 : BarbieŽ debuts. The vintage era of Barbie begins.

1960 : BarbieŽ dolls number 3 and 4 are released.

1961 : Number 5 is released featuring different hair colors. Enchanted Evening debuts. BarbieŽ boyfriend Ken debuts.

1963 : Fashion Queen BarbieŽ debuts with three interchangeable wigs. BarbieŽ soon-to-be best friend, Midge, is introduced.

1964 : BarbieŽ is marketed in a pink swimsuit. BarbieŽ doll eyes open and close. Skipper, Barbie's little sister, is introduced.

1965 : BarbieŽ "American Girl" is introduced. Fashions inspired by the First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy are marketed. More lifelike with legs that bend. Miss Astronaut is introduced.

1966 : Color Magic BarbieŽ debuts. Lunch on the Terrace, Pretty as a Picture, and Shimmering Magic are marketed. Barbie’s cousin Francie introduced. Barbie’s little sister and brother, twins Tutti and Todd, debuts.

1967 : Twist ‘N Turn BarbieŽ is introduced. Fashion Shiner and Braniff Boarding Outfit are marketed.

1968 : BarbieŽ speaks for the first time (English and Spanish). Six different phrases are said, including "I have a date tonight", "I love being a fashion model", and "Let's have a costume party."

1969 : Ken is reintroduced with muscles and a new head, knees that bend, and the ability to speak.

1970 : Living BarbieŽ is introduced. She has elbows, knees, and ankles that bend. Her head, waist, arms, hands, and legs swivel.

1971 : Malibu BarbieŽ debuts. Growin’ Pretty Hair BarbieŽ debuts. BarbieŽ doll's demure side-glancing eyes now look straight ahead.

1972 : This is the year that the modern era of Barbie begins. Walk-Lively BarbieŽ and Talking Busy BarbieŽ are introduced. Talking Busy BarbieŽ can communicate. Talking Busy BarbieŽ has rotating wrists and hands can hold accessories.

1973 : Quick Curl BarbieŽ is introduced. Ken doll's hair comes with straight or curly hair and a removable beard, sideburns and two moustaches.

1974 : BarbieŽ turns sixteen. A section of Times Square in New York City is renamed BarbieŽ Boulevard for a week.

1975 : BarbieŽ Olympic skier, gymnast and skater are marketed poseable with a "gold" medal. BarbieŽ Get-Ups 'N Go new careers as a doctor, surgical nurse, ballerina and a flight attendant. BarbieŽ Dream Boat is introduced.

1976 : Ballerina BarbieŽ debuts. BarbieŽ of the Century for the bicentennial celebration is dressed in a red, white, and blue dress. Her red skirt is decorated with the American flag. A line of revolutionary soldiers in uniform are also supplied.

1977 : SuperStar BarbieŽ is introduced. Eighteen inches tall Super Size BarbieŽ debuts.

1978 : SuperStar BarbieŽ gets the SuperStar Stage Show. Fashion Photo BarbieŽ has photo shoots posing on a modeling stand.

1979 : Pretty Changes BarbieŽ debuts.

1980 : Black BarbieŽ, Hispanic BarbieŽ, and the International Collection are marketed. The International Collection initially including Italian BarbieŽ, Parisian BarbieŽ, and Royal U.K. BarbieŽ. The first BarbieŽ doll convention is held.

1981 : Western BarbieŽ doll goes country with Westward Ho and Classic Cowgirl. Dallas, her palomino horse, debuts.

1982 : Pink & Pretty BarbieŽ debuts. Black Magic Curl BarbieŽ debuts. Eskimo BarbieŽ and India BarbieŽ are added to the International Collection.

1983 : Twirly Curls BarbieŽ is marketed. Dream Date BarbieŽ dates Ken. Angel Face Barbie has her own makeup line. Swedish BarbieŽ and Spanish BarbieŽ are added to the International Collection.

1984 : BarbieŽ doll's 25th Anniversary. BarbieŽ & Ken Day is declared by New York Mayor Ed Koch. Tiffany's creates a sterling silver BarbieŽ doll. The International Collection becomes the Dolls of the World Collection. Swiss BarbieŽ and Irish BarbieŽ are introduced.

1985 : Day-to-Night BarbieŽ debuts. Andy Warhol releases his BarbieŽ painting. Barbie doll exhibition finishes it's travels from France and nine U.S. cities.

1986 : BarbieŽ joins a band, The Rockers. Dream Glow Fashions that glow in the dark is marketed. Blue Rhapsody BarbieŽ is introduced. It is the first Limited Edition collector BarbieŽ doll. It is the first porcelain doll. Astronaut BarbieŽ travels to space. Peruvian BarbieŽ and Greek BarbieŽ debut.

1987 : Barbie's wild Concert Tour fashions take a cue from pop star Madonna. The World Collection adds Icelandic BarbieŽ and German BarbieŽ.

1988 : The Happy Holidays Series debuts. Benefit Performance 1967 BarbieŽ is added to the Limited Edition porcelain dolls. Mardis Gras BarbieŽ debuts. Canadian BarbieŽ and Korean BarbieŽ are introduced.

1989 : BarbieŽ doll's 30th Anniversary. 1200 Pink Jubilee BarbieŽ are given to invitation-only attendees. Army BarbieŽ is marketed.

1990 : Sophisticated Lady BarbieŽ is added to the Limited Edition Porcelain Collection. Bob Mackie Gold BarbieŽ is introduced with over 5,000 golden sequins and beads. It is Dolls magazine's "1990 Award of Excellence" and Doll Reader magazine's "Doty Doll of the Year Award." Air Force BarbieŽ debuts. Nigerian BarbieŽ and Brazilian BarbieŽ join the Dolls of the World.

1991 : Starlight Splendor BarbieŽ and Platinum BarbieŽ are added to the long line. Navy BarbieŽ doll is introduced. Gay Parisienne BarbieŽ doll is marketed. Czechoslovakian BarbieŽ debuts.

1992 : Stacie is introduced. Marine Corps BarbieŽ debuts. BarbieŽ store opens at FAO Schwarz in New York. Crystal Rhapsody BarbieŽ debuts is the first mail-order Barbie doll. It is part of the Presidential Porcelain BarbieŽ Collection. Neptune Fantasy BarbieŽ and Empress Bride BarbieŽ are marketed. Benefit Ball BarbieŽ of the Classique Collection is introduced.

1993 : 1920s Flapper BarbieŽ and Gibson Girl BarbieŽ of the Great Eras Collection are introduced. The First Edition Native American BarbieŽ debuts is added to the World Collection. The Masquerade Ball BarbieŽ debuts.

1994 : BarbieŽ doll’s 35th Anniversary. Mattel reproduces the original number 1 BarbieŽ. Limited Edition Jubilee BarbieŽ is introduced and only 5,000 were made for domestic distribution. Kenyan BarbieŽ and Chinese BarbieŽ join Dolls of the World.Hollywood Legends Collection begins with as Scarlet O' Hara BarbieŽ. Queen of Hearts BarbieŽ is marketed.

1995 : Mattel’s 50th Anniversary. Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Barbie is released. Kelly is introduced. The second doll in the Hollywood Legends Collection with Dorothy BarbieŽ from The Wizard of Oz is introduced. Goddess of the Sun Barbie debuts. Rapunzel BarbieŽ debuts as part of the new Children’s Collector Series.

1996 : BarbieŽ web site is available. Moon Goddess BarbieŽ debuts. Barbie Millicent Roberts Collection debuts. Limited Edition Vintage Reproduction Poodle Parade BarbieŽ is introduced. Hollywood Legends Collection features BarbieŽ as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady.

1997 : Harley-Davidson BarbieŽ, a Toys 'R Us and Harley-Davidson dealership exclusive, debuts. Official BarbieŽ Collector’s Club debuts. Marilyn BarbieŽ is added to the Hollywood Legends Collection. Grand Premier BarbieŽ doll, the first doll for club members only is marketed. Limelight BarbieŽ is introduced. Billions of Dreams BarbieŽ debuts. Classic Ballet Series with Sugar Plum Fairy BarbieŽ.

1998 : Sunflower BarbieŽ, second in the Artist Series, is marketed. Happy Holidays BarbieŽ doll series ends. Timeless Sentiments Collection is introduced with the Angel of Joy BarbieŽ. Nolan Miller's Sheer Illusion BarbieŽ and Vera Wang's bridal gown BarbieŽ debut. Harley-Davidson BarbieŽ #2 is released.

1999 : Silken FlameŽ BarbieŽ doll selected as a 1960s lifestyle for the U.S. Postal Service's Celebrate the Century™ stamp series. Le Papillon™ BarbieŽ and Crystal Jubilee BarbieŽ debuts. BarbieŽ doll's 40th Anniversary. New face sculpting is used on Coca-ColaŽ BarbieŽ, NASCAR Official #94 BarbieŽ, and BarbieŽ in the BarbieŽ and Kenny Country Duet Set. Collector Edition 40th Anniversary BarbieŽ is released. Gala Edition 40th Anniversary BarbieŽ has a very Limited Edition of 20,000 dolls which are given to Toy Fair Gala attendees.

2000 : BarbieŽ for President debuts. Limited Edition dolls producution is reduced to quantities of 35,000 or less. BarbieŽ celebrates the year 2000! BarbieŽ 2000, Millennium Wedding™, and Sydney 2000™ Olympic Pin Collector become part of the Most Collectible Doll In The WorldŽ series. Hollywood Movie Star™ Collection with Barbie as as part of the Golden Age of Hollywood is marketed. BarbieŽ Fashion Model Collection debuts. Barbie Silkstone™ is introduced.

2001 : The Cher BarbieŽ doll debuts. Jeannie BarbieŽ From I Dream of Jeannie™ and The Munsters™ Barbie Lily and Ken Herman Munster are introduced.

2003: Saudi Arabia's "Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" (the muttawa or "religious police") declares that Barbie's provocative clothing is offensive to Islam. The doll is already banned in the kingdom as a "Jewish" toy, but are available as contraband. "Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and be careful."