Barbie Essay

Starting out as a new toy for children, Barbie has grown to become one of the most iconic figures in popular culture today. Upon initial release, Barbie had been absorbed by the teenage society rapidly, creating social change both in a positive and negative manner. Barbie was created to satisfy the needs of young girls who wanted to act out their aspirations for adult life with a doll – a function that could not be carried out by the ‘baby’ dolls existent at the time. A catalyst for social change with positive outcomes was needed that would result in young girls being encouraged to aspire to be something other a carer for children. This trend has extended to be a global phenomenon, as young girls ..The trend has become a reality in the Western world, as females are now encouraged to take the next step and become an active member of societal institutions such as workplaces.

Mattel, the company behind the Barbie enterprise, developed the doll in the 1950s. A woman named Ruth Handler was the mastermind behind it all (Stone pg 12). Ruth seemed to be the polar opposite of a Barbie doll. Ironically, she looked nothing like her, and was even seen as a tomboy throughout childhood. Ruth said, “I didn’t like dolls and never played with them” (Stone pg 11). At some point in almost every little girl’s life, she becomes engrossed in the pink world of Barbies, a place children enter at a very young age. “Barbie is a plastic doll, 11.9 inches tall, with the figure of an adult woman.” Since Barbie’s creation, the doll has been scrutinised by many for her unrealistic body proportions and superficiality—her endless supply of clothes, shoes, houses, and many other accessories. Today, Barbie is a “symbol of consumer capitalism and is a global br...

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...wife should have. Barbie has had on many different types of girls as there have been many multicultural dolls ranging from Indian, Asian, African and many more. Mattel by making these dolls for everyone around the world shows that all women of different colours and cultures are accepted into this age.

Understanding the need of a doll helps researchers comprehend the nature of Barbie becoming such a world-wide popular culture icon. Without the widespread access Barbie would not have influenced the teenage population as it had throughout the last fifty years. Barbie demands change for it to remain appealing. When a consumer has bought a Barbie product, the franchise has to offer something new to retain its market share. The franchise will constantly be a fascinating study of change as Barbie is always reflecting on the social interests and directions of today’s time.