Barbie

The Evolution of Barbie

Her full name was “Barbie Millicent Roberts,” the daughter of Robert and Margaret Roberts, and she was a teenage fashion model. The first Barbie dolls were 11 Vi inches tall and were available with either blond or brunette hair. The doll was dressed in a black-and-white bathing suit, white sunglasses, black high heels, and gold hoop earrings. She also was packaged with a catalogue showing other models that could be purchased. When she first came on the scene, Barbie was not immediately embraced by the American public; many had never seen a doll with adult features that was designed for young girls. However, in 1959, Mattel sold over 351,000 Barbie dolls.

Since her inception in 1959, Barbie has been transformed and reworked many times to reflect the changes that have occurred in society. Beyond changes in her appearance, Barbie has held over 60 careers, including fashion model, doctor, pilot, athlete, veterinarian, teacher, and fast-food worker. Additionally, Barbie began to reflect other cultures and countries outside of the United States, beginning in 1964 with the introduction of Barbie's and her boyfriend “Ken's” travel costumes. Clothing in this line reflected the dress in Japan, Mexico, Switzerland, and Holland. Beginning in 1980, Mattel marketed a collectors set, Dolls of the World Collection, which contained over 40 different dolls representing countries around the world. Barbie has also been adapted to be more marketable in certain countries. In Japan, for instance, Barbie's expression was toned down, her eyes were brown, her skin pale, and her chest smaller than her American counterpart. Her feet were molded to fit flat shoes, and her accessories were more domestic—pots, pans, baby bottles, shopping bags, and simple dresses like those worn by Japanese housewives. Likewise, Barbie dolls sold in Middle Eastern countries have also been toned down to reflect the modest dress of Middle Eastern women.

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