The inspiration for Barbie came from a German doll called Bild Lilli. Bild Lilli (swipe left) was a popular comic strip character created by Reinhard Beuthien, and the comic strip appeared in the German tabloid newspaper “Bild” from 1952 to 1961.
Lilli was a high-end call girl who used her charm and wit to seduce wealthy men. She was also known to rally against male authority. In one particular comic, a policeman warns Lilli about public indecency for wearing her bikini on the sidewalk to which she replies, “Oh, and in your opinion, what part should I take off?”
Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, discovered Bild Lilli during a trip to Europe in 1956. She purchased a few Lilli dolls as souvenirs and noticed that her daughter Barbara enjoyed playing with them. Ruth Handler saw potential in the adult-like, fashion-forward doll and got the idea to create a similar doll line that would appeal to young girls.
Thus, the concept for Barbie was born.
Her son, whose name was Kenneth, would later go on to inspire the Ken doll.
Mattel officially introduced Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959.
Barbie was marketed as a teenage fashion model, different from the traditional baby dolls prevalent at the time. In 1964, Mattel bought the rights to Bild Lilli and the production of the German doll was put to an end.
The Barbie doll quickly gained popularity and went on to become an iconic and enduring toy, inspiring generations of children around the world. Currently, Barbie has had more than 200 careers, including many in STEM.
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America who plays Gloria in the Barbie movie
“It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful, and so smart, and it kills me that you don’t think you’re good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.
“You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can’t ask for money because that’s crass. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men’s bad behaviour, which is insane, but if you point that out, you’re accused of complaining. You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood.”
America Ferrera
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