Barbie in the 50s
Natasha Kadkhodaian & Morgan Hartman
Who Barbie Really Is
This picture shows Ruth Handler with one of the first Barbie dolls she ever produced back in the 50s. http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02288.html
“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.” -Ruth Handler
Barbie's Image and Message Motivations
Barbie was originally modeled to replicate 1950s stars like Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor. This was apparent through her high arched brows, red lips, a sassy ponytail with curly bangs and a coy, and a sideways glance. Even her figure was high fashion and model-esque, with pale, ivory skin, long slim legs and a narrow waist and hips. Barbie wasn't created to replicate model or famous people, but to also inspire and motivate young girls. Ruth Handler greater a career line of Barbies to help show girls they can be beautiful and successful; that girls can do or be anyone they want to be. For example, the first female astronaut, Russian Valentina Tereshkova surfaced in 1963 and Barbie soon followed. Celebrating the excitement of the space program while showing girls that any career is within reach.
1950s Debut Barbie Doll
1965 & 2013 Astronaut Barbie
http://www.glogster.com/tishae/way-back-in-the-1950s/g-6maja30gjmh8i2c61h07da0
1961 Nurse Barbie
http://plasticmaker101.blogspot.com/2014/05/barbie-changing-careers.html
Barbie Becomes Popular
This is a screenshot from the first commercial that aired on television advertising the Barbie toy.
The Impact on The Decade
http://spy.nzherald.co.nz/on-trend/the-changing-face-of-barbie/
Connections to Today and Solutions for the Future
The New and Improved Barbie Dolls
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/new-barbie-body-image-1.3425986
New Body Figures!
Move Over Original Barbie, There Is A New Star
References
Mattel Global Brand Communications (2009). Barbie in 1959-60s. Retrieved March 14,2016, from http://www.barbiemedia.com/about-barbie/history/1960s.html
Pendergast, Sara (2006). Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms: Pop Culture of 20th-Century America. Retrieved March 14, 2016, from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL&userGroupName=park99813&tabID=T003&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3425100392&&docId=GALE|CX3425100392&docType=GALE
Wepman, Dennis (2008) Ruth Handler. Retrieved March 14, 2016 from http://www.anb.org/articles/10/10-02288.html