Don’t let her looks fool you: Barbie is 65 years old.
Over the years, she worked as an astronaut, a chicken farmer and a ballet dancer. She wore high fashion and streetwear; became a Hollywood movie star; and maintained her status as an inspiration and ideal for little girls.
There’s just one question: how Do Does she do it?
In a sense, attitude is everything, but there’s more. “Barbie strives to live authentically and chase her dreams no matter what, whether that’s on screen, through diverse products or through inspiring stories,” said Krista Berger, Barbie senior vice president and global head of Mattel Dolls. Most importantly, Barbie encourages fans to embrace their individuality and dream big, showing them they can be anything while staying true to themselves.”
To celebrate her 65th birthday, Mattel is pulling out all the stops, including creating one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls for nine professional female athletes, releasing new commemorative products and paying tribute to outstanding women. “We kicked off Barbie’s 65th anniversary celebration in March with the launch of our global lineup of International Women’s Day 2024 role models, including Shania Twain and Viola Davis ) and other inspirational storytellers,” Berger said.
A doll for every girl
Although Barbie has inspired girls of all kinds for 65 years, that inspiration has not always been equal. Recent documentaries highlight this difference black barbie dollwhich premiered on Netflix in June of this year, chronicles the first black Barbie doll to hit the market. As we all know, Barbie is based on the daughter of Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, so for most of her existence she was white, with blonde hair and blue eyes. Although the first brown-skinned doll in the world of Barbie was released in 1967, it wasn’t until 1980, with the help of pioneering Mattel designer Kitty Black Perkins, that the real Black Barbie has just been released.
The power of seeing a black Barbie and having diverse representation on the doll shelves is no small thing — take Brown v. Board of Education for example. During the American desegregation experiment, a number of black and white dolls were chosen to demonstrate the negative effects of segregation. Most children prefer white dolls to black dolls.
As a result, the impact of Barbie, one of the most iconic and recognizable dolls of all time, finally appearing in black cannot be overstated. “I have a feeling it’s going to be very popular,” Perkins told Barbie Autograph. “I didn’t know it would be as groundbreaking as it is, but if you look at the history of Barbie, Barbie was number one because she was the first of her kind. When we made the black Barbie, She also became the first of her kind.
fashion icon
Barbie’s impact on culture and her inspirational qualities are inseparable from her fashion. Karan Feder is a researcher, historian and author of Barbie on the catwalk: The style icon’s fashion history. She also curated a traveling exhibition titled “Barbie: Cultural Icon,” which will be held this October at the Museum of Art and Design in Manhattan.
For Feder, Barbie’s hold on culture has come full circle a decade ago. His fashion muse. This was the first time that Barbie inspired a professional fashion designer rather than a professional fashion designer, and until then, Barbie’s clothes had not been inspired,” she said.
Feder added that Barbie’s influence on fashion has entered a new era of inspiration, not only as an ideal figure for children but also as a cultural touchstone.
Inspiring girls to be everything
Most importantly, the many careers are probably the most integral part of Barbie’s inspiring nature. “The other thing you can’t deny anymore is that Barbie, even as a teenager, was always working. And she always had a job at a time when women always had to work,” Feder said. “I think that’s a desirable quality as well…at least Barbie introduced them to that concept.”
Berger reiterated this point, explaining that Barbie has not only always been employed, but often in jobs where women have historically been underrepresented. “For example, when the first Doctor Barbie doll was released in 1973, women made up only 5 percent of all doctors in the United States,” she said. Even if Barbie’s first career didn’t scream “empowerment,” it marked the beginning of her career legacy. “Barbie has been working from day one. She was born to be a fashion model, so she has always been a working girl,” Feder added.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported that in February 2020, 59% of women participated in the labor force, an increase of only 21% since 1960 (the year after Barbie was launched) and a figure that is still 10% lower than the male participation rate about. While the elusiveness (and therefore allure) of work to little girls may have declined since 1959, differences in labor force participation rates and equal representation at the highest levels mean Barbie’s career craze has shown no sign of letting up. reason. This year, Mattel revealed that the Barbie 2024 Career Awards honor women in the film industry, where women hold just 21% of positions such as directors, writers and producers on the 250 top-grossing films. This is a fitting honor following last year’s Barbie: The MovieA record-breaking box office hit, it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture.
At 65 years old, Barbie still offers little girls the opportunity to imagine their dream career (or dream life without a job) while allowing them to recognize themselves through their bodies and the qualities that Barbie embodies. In other words, Barbie’s real job, which is to inspire, shape and reflect culture, continues.
A version of this feature was originally published in The Toy Book’s Fall 2024 Los Angeles Toy Preview issue. Click here to read the full article! Want to receive a printed copy of The Toy Book? Click here to view subscription options!
