With its newly released live-action movie, Barbie has, again, become the talk of the town. Since her first appearance in 1959 to the present day, Barbie has not become a relic of the past but has instead continued to evolve. Barbie has gone from a doll with iconic golden hair and fashionable outfits to an advocate for diversity and representation, and she has remained popular with people of all ages.
But behind this iconic pink background, there is a lesser-known story.
The First "Meeting"
In 1956, Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, and her husband Elliot visited Germany and encountered a popular adult-themed doll named Bild Lilli, based on a provocative comic strip character. The Bild Lilli doll, with her mature appearance and fashion-forward wardrobe, caught Ruth's attention. At that time, children's toys mainly featured cute, small baby dolls or paper dolls with different professions and outfits. To change the toy landscape, Ruth Handler believed that the inflatable doll Bild Lilli had enormous potential to adapt and refine the concept for a more child-friendly and aspirational doll. Thus, she bought the remaining three Bild Lilli dolls at once.
Who Is Bild Lilli?
There is speculation that Bild Lilli was originally an inflatable doll, which emerged from the Borghild Project during World War II by Nazi Germany. According to Anthony Ferguson's book, "The Sex Doll: A History," Hitler, fearing that German soldiers might have casual relationships with French women, created a doll modelled after an ordinary German woman with fair skin, golden hair, blue eyes, a height of 1.76 meters, and a curvaceous figure. However, this project was discontinued a year later, and the doll factory was destroyed during the wartime bombings.
Later, in 1952, German cartoonist Reinhard Beuthien created an exaggerated figure, a blonde lady named "Bild-Lilli," and serialized it in the newspaper "Bild-Zeitung." Bild-Lilli's rebellious and materialistic personality, along with her bold actions and risqué jokes, attracted many readers, leading to the production of related dolls. Bild-Lilli was initially intended as a joke or sexual innuendo gift between men and women, primarily sold to adult men, but it is now highly sought after by doll collectors.
The Inspiration & Market Potential
Ruth Handler's inspiration for Barbie came from observing her daughter, Barbara, play with paper dolls. She noticed that Barbara often engaged in imaginative role-play with the dolls, assuming various grown-up roles, such as a career woman or a mother. At that time, most dolls were baby dolls or representations of infants, limiting the scope of play to nurturing and caregiving roles. Handler saw an opportunity to create a doll that would empower young girls to dream big, challenge gender stereotypes, and envision a world of endless possibilities.
Upon returning to the United States, Mattel's design team, led by engineer Jack Ryan and designer Charlotte Johnson, worked to create a prototype for the new doll. The team incorporated innovative features, such as a three-dimensional, adult-shaped body, movable limbs, and an extensive wardrobe of fashionable outfits. When it came to naming the doll, Ruth Handler chose to name it after her daughter, Barbara. Thus, Barbie was born.
Debut and Early Reception
Barbie made her debut on March 9, 1959, and received overwhelming praise. In that year alone, 350,000 Barbies were sold, and throughout the 1960s, over two million were sold.
Evolving with the Times
Over the past 60 years, Barbie has become a classic children's toy and a cultural icon. However, she faced criticism during the feminist movement in the 1970s for perpetuating beauty anxieties, gender, and racial controversies. In response, Barbie's parent company, Mattel, made efforts to change. Presently, Barbie offers nearly 22 different skin tones, 94 hair colours, 13 eye colours, and 5 body shapes, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
Conclusion
Barbie's remarkable journey from a simple doll to a global cultural icon has been truly extraordinary. Ruth Handler's vision of empowering girls and challenging gender norms has left a lasting legacy.
As Barbie evolves with the changing times, her message remains powerful - she symbolizes empowerment, aspiration, and the enduring strength of imagination. With her diverse careers and global influence, Barbie continues to captivate generations and hold a special place in the hearts of people worldwide.
