| It all started when Ruth Handler noticed her daughter | | | | circumscribe girls' play by emphasizing prescribed roles |
| Barbara playing with paper dolls and imagining them in | | | | and patterns of interaction, the Barbie's immature |
| grown up roles. At the time, the dolls in the market | | | | admirers are lead to consider Barbie the epitome of |
| were all baby dolls and the need for a doll role-model | | | | female beauty and the ideal icon.During the last |
| that would inspire little girls to think how they wanted | | | | forty-seven years, Barbie has had a number of |
| to be when they grew up emerged. Ruth Handler | | | | careers, thousand of outfits, a host of friends, |
| took her idea to the executives at the Mattel | | | | vehicles, one "loyal" boyfriend, a pool, a number of |
| Company who at the beginning refused to produce | | | | houses and a variety of hairstyles. Despite the |
| this female adult doll thinking that it would be a very | | | | prevailing opinions that abound about the influence of |
| expensive product with little market appeal. After a | | | | Barbie dolls on girls' development, the fact remains |
| trip to Europe and a model doll ready to its | | | | that Barbie changed the way little girls looked at dolls |
| wardrobe, Mattel Company decided to debut Barbie | | | | forever. Surveys have suggested that Barbie dolls |
| in 1959.Since then, the Barbie Doll's popularity has | | | | are among girls' first or second "most favorite toys" |
| increased and today, with over one billion of her | | | | between ages eight and twelve.Today, Barbie Millicent |
| lookalikes sold, the product line is one of the most | | | | Roberts, famously known as Barbie, has come a long |
| successful in the history of the toy industry and, | | | | way from that fashion doll who debuted in 1959. She |
| arguably, the icon of female beauty and the | | | | has sisters, a boyfriend, has had more than 80 |
| American dream. According to Mattel, every two | | | | careers and represents nearly 100 different |
| Barbies are sold every second worldwide.But although | | | | nationalities. However, collectors prize the original |
| Barbie has been said to touch every girl's life, there | | | | Barbie and her 50s wardrobe above all else. Barbie |
| continues to be disagreement over the messages | | | | and her clothing are one of the most popular |
| the Barbie doll sends and the toy's place in the lives | | | | collectibles in the world today, and a mint-condition |
| of young girls. The extensive literature about Barbie | | | | original Barbie can sell as high as $10,000. Isn't time |
| dolls tends to be opinionated and based on essays | | | | you checked the attic or the basement for your old |
| and popular media articles. Critics of the doll claim that | | | | Barbie treasures? They could be more valuable than |
| Barbie represents the paradigm of adult female | | | | you think, and even if they are not, they will bring |
| beauty to which young girls learn to aspire. Argued | | | | back lots of memories! |
| that Barbie reflects a highly sexualized image and | | | | |