Each of us has been touched by Barbie in some way during our lives. Barbie may have been a beloved figure, a contentious one, or even a forgotten childhood memory, but her influence has come back into focus recently.
Barbie, the brainchild of Ruth Handler, was unveiled to the world by Mattel, Inc., the toy company she co-founded with her husband Elliot, at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Remarkably, Barbie made her debut as a 19-year-old.
The concept of Barbie emerged when Ruth noticed her daughter Barbara assigning adult roles to her paper dolls. Up to that point, most dolls on the market were modelled after infants. Ruth shared her novel idea of an adult figure doll with her husband and other executives at Mattel, but they didn’t initially share her enthusiasm.
A trip to Europe brought Ruth face-to-face with the Bild Lilli doll, a German doll with an adult form that embodied the concept she had envisioned. Ruth bought several of these dolls and brought them back to the U.S. Mattel then refined the design and named the doll Barbie, after Ruth and Elliot’s daughter, Barbara.
Sporting a black-and-white striped swimsuit and a ponytail, the inaugural Barbie doll could be blonde or brunette. The public embraced Barbie immediately, and she has since become one of the highest-selling toys globally, with sales reaching into the billions across more than 150 countries. Over the decades, Barbie has adapted to societal changes and public attitudes, featuring diverse body shapes, skin tones, and professions, just as Ruth had hoped. She wanted to create a doll that would inspire girls to dream big and see themselves in any role they desired.
Barbie has left a unique imprint on each person’s life. She has encouraged children to stretch their imaginations and develop their storytelling skills, creative thinking, and vocabulary. Children often invent elaborate situations and narratives for their dolls, which is beneficial for their cognitive growth.
Barbie has donned many hats, from astronaut to doctor to computer engineer, broadening children’s horizons, and encouraging them, particularly girls, to see beyond traditional gender-defined careers.
Over the years, Mattel has committed to diversifying the Barbie line to include dolls of different ethnicities, body shapes, and abilities. This reflects a more diverse world, allowing children to see themselves in their toys and appreciate the importance of diversity.
Playing with Barbie dolls often encourages social interactions and collaboration among children. They can enhance their negotiation skills, learn empathy, and gain an understanding of social norms and cues through their playtime. This also fine-tunes their motor skills as they dress and undress the dolls, brush their hair, or switch their shoes. Some Barbie dolls even come with educational materials like books or apps, offering additional learning opportunities. For instance, a Barbie vet might come with information about animal care.
Barbie dolls are durable and can entertain children for years, also serving as collector’s items for both kids and adults. However, it’s essential to remember that Barbies should complement a variety of other toys for a well-rounded play experience.
Barbie dolls, despite their positive aspects, have faced their share of criticisms. For instance, traditional Barbie dolls have been accused of promoting an unrealistic body image. If scaled to human size, the original Barbie’s dimensions would be physically unachievable, possibly fostering body dissatisfaction or harmful attitudes towards food and exercise in children.
The vast array of Barbie accessories may also foster materialistic attitudes as numerous Barbie sets come with an assortment of clothes, accessories, vehicles, and even houses. This may suggest that happiness or social status is tied to owning a multitude of material goods.
Despite the variety of careers Barbie has held, many dolls and playsets still revolve around traditionally feminine roles or beauty-related activities, potentially reinforcing certain gender stereotypes. Additionally, the historical lack of diversity in Barbie dolls, in terms of race, body type, and physical abilities, has raised concerns. Critics argue that the range does not sufficiently reflect human diversity, which could influence children’s understanding of beauty standards and lead to unrealistic expectations.
Unrealistic expectations can show up in various ways in children, based on their individual personalities and circumstances. If you notice any signs of unrealistic expectations in your child, it’s important to start a discussion about it, validate their feelings, and help them understand that everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses. Making mistakes is part of growing up, and it’s perfectly okay. If you have any concerns about their mental health, it might be worthwhile to seek advice from a professional counselor who aligns with your values. They can provide support and direct you to additional resources if necessary.
Remember, everyone is unique and special in their own way, a message we should consistently communicate to our children.
