It is sixty-five years since Ruth Handler invented the Barbie Doll and in doing so changed the perception of how play dolls should look. She created a doll that resembled an adult female whereas previously only baby dolls were available for girls to play with. Handler was inspired by her daughter, Barbara, after whom Barbie is named, who would play dress up with her own dolls. The introduction of Barbie would shift a cultural paradigm in which girls were conditioned to be mothers by simulating baby/mother scenarios. Barbie, and eventually her alter egos and the grown up ‘Barbie world’ would allow girls to imagine what they could be when they became adults.
This influence of the Barbie doll on the culture of society since 1959 has been admirably studied in a new exhibition at the Design Museum, London, albeit from a design perspective. The exhibition follows the first appearance of the Barbie doll at the 1959 Toy Fair in New York City, wearing the now iconic black and white striped bathing suit, to the plethora of dolls which came after her, and the so-called artificial ‘Barbie World’.
The exhibition begins with the first ‘Number 1 Barbie’ of 1959, an extremely rare model on loan from the manufacturers, Mattel Inc. which Ruth Handler had co-founded with her husband in 1945. Barbie was joined by her Ken, two years later in 1961 - Barbie’s love interest, one might say, named after Ruth Handler’s son, Kenneth. The focus of the exhibition is on the evolution of the Barbie doll at different periods of time as well the accessories that accompanied her, including miniature ‘dream’ houses, cars and of course her many outfits of clothing.
It was the genius of Mattel’s marketing which has kept Barbie alive over the decades. She metamorphosed throughout time and was a mirror reflecting the changes in society not only in terms of fashion and design but also in the way society’s attitudes altered, thereby keeping her relevant and relatable.
To this end Mattel introduced the first black Barbie doll, named Christie, in 1968. Before then black girls grew up playing with white Barbie dolls and although representation might not alter racial attitudes, it was shown that most girls choose dolls to play with which look like them. The black Barbie changed further with the times when in 1980 a black Barbie doll was produced with an afro hairstyle, fuller lips and a wider nose.
More recently, in 2009, to make the doll more inclusive, the fashionista range of Barbie dolls was first launched which each had different body tones. In 2022 dolls with a hearing aid, one in a wheelchair and even a doll with a prosthetic leg were on sale and in July this year the first blind Barbie appeared. The latter is intended to make blind and low visioned people more represented in society and the level of detail which Mattel has gone to get this right is quite extraordinary. They worked with blind organisations to make the doll accurate and so she holds a white and red cane, has a gaze looking up and outwards and has tactile clothing which makes the doll easy to dress.
With these innovations it is not surprising that by keeping up with contemporary culture Mattel has sold over one billion dolls since 1959 by creating hundreds of different Barbies which appeal to a broad spectrum of members of society.
The exhibition at The Design Museum, London was three years in the planning and presents to the visitor complex history of the Barbie doll and in many ways dispels negative assumptions about Barbie which might prevail. The Barbie doll and her world was not derived in isolation from society. She has always reflected trends and tastes of the day and is still a good reference point and inspiration for those working in fashion and design.
‘Barbie®: The Exhibition’ is at the DESIGN MUSEUM London until 23 February 2025
Credit: A group of barbie dolls from Wikimedia Commons
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