On this date in 1959, the inaugural Barbie doll was showcased at the American Toy Fair held in New York City.
Standing at eleven inches tall and sporting a cascade of blond hair, Barbie became the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States to feature adult characteristics. Ruth Handler, the mastermind behind Barbie, co-founded Mattel, Inc. with her husband in 1945. After observing her young daughter neglecting her baby dolls in favor of playing with paper dolls depicting adult women, Handler recognized a significant opportunity in the market for a toy that would empower little girls to envision their futures.
Barbie’s design was inspired by a doll named Lilli, which was derived from a character in a German comic strip. Initially sold as a cheeky gag gift for adult men in tobacco shops, the Lilli doll eventually gained immense popularity among children. Mattel acquired the rights to Lilli and developed its own version, which Handler named after her daughter, Barbara.
In 1955, through its sponsorship of the “Mickey Mouse Club” TV show, Mattel became the pioneering toy company to air commercials directed at children. This marketing strategy was employed to promote their new doll, and by 1961, the staggering consumer demand for Barbie prompted Mattel to introduce a male counterpart, who was named Ken after Handler’s son. Midge, Barbie’s closest friend, was introduced in 1963, followed by her younger sister, Skipper, in the subsequent year.
Throughout the years, Barbie not only generated substantial sales but also sparked significant controversy. On the upside, many women perceived Barbie as an alternative to the conventional gender roles of the 1950s. She has held a variety of professions, including that of an airline stewardess, doctor, pilot, astronaut, Olympic athlete, and even U.S. presidential candidate.
Conversely, some critics argued that Barbie’s endless array of designer clothes, cars, and “Dream Houses” promoted materialism among children. Nevertheless, the most contentious aspect was Barbie’s physical appearance. With her diminutive waist and oversized breasts—estimated to have measurements of 36-18-38 if she were a real woman—many asserted that Barbie offered young girls an unrealistic and detrimental role model, contributing to negative body image.
In spite of the backlash, Barbie-related merchandise sales continued to soar, reaching over 1 billion dollars annually by 1993. Since her debut in 1959, more than 800 million dolls from the Barbie line have been sold globally, solidifying Barbie’s status as an authentic global icon.
