Ruth Handler's The Barbie Doll

The Barbie Doll

Many young girls in the United States have played with a doll at least once in their life. Most of these were probably a Barbie doll. Ruth Handler created the barbie doll to inspire young girls. Barbie is a very important American Icon, and has no doubt, changed and inspired young girls lives.

The barbie doll was inspired by a comic strip`character named Lilli from Germany (History 1). Barbie was named after Ruth Handler's daughter Barbara, whos nickname was Barbie (Stone 98). Handler noticed that her daughter, when playing with dolls, would choose the older looking ones, such as teenagers or women, compared to the babies. Barbie was introduced into the world in 1959, in New York City. The creator of the doll, believed it was important for young girls

Ruth married her highschool sweetheart when she was 21, his name was Elliot (97). After they were married, Ruth Handler went on a vacation to Los Angeles, and while she was there, she applied for a job at Pa0-ramont Studios, and she got it right away (97). Her and her husband moved to L.A and began their own business, called Mattel, where they first made picture frames, and doll furniture (98). Ruth and Elliot Handler had two children, Barbara and Ken.

Barbie has changed alot since she was first designed. She went from having brown hair, and brown eyes to having blonde hair and blue eyes. In the 1950’s, barbie wore a ponytail with bangs, red lips, high-arched brows, and a coy (Mattel 3). In the 1960’s barbie and a bubble-cut, sleek hair, and multi-colored clothes. She resembled Jackie Kennedy, who was the first lady at the time (3). Barbie also got bendable legs during the 60’s. The 1970’s was a changing point for barbie, she got a wide, white smile and she started facing forwards. She upgraded bright eyes, pink lip gloss, eyeshadow, and fuller hair.

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