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Barbie is 50!

PHOTO: AP

EVER POPULAR Barbie

Barbie Millicent Roberts is 50. Barbie Millicent Roberts as in Barbie doll. Someone said, “Barbie is just a doll.” No! no! she is not just a doll, she is a movement.

Barbie turned 50 recently. In 1959 Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toys, designed the doll after seeing her daughter Barbara and her friends’ interest in dressing up dolls. Fifty years down the line, Barbie has been translated into various other nationalities (around 50 on last count).

Barbie is definitely for the older girls and that is how the maker intended it — the first one was a “Teenage Fashion Model”. With accessories (including a boyfriend – Ken) and hairdos, it was every pre-teen or teen’s dream come true. In fact, there are grown-up collectors of Barbie dolls too.

The first Barbie was unlike the ones that we are used to; each Barbie reflected the era that it was manufactured in. In the 1950s Barbie reflected the glamour of stars of the period such as Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor etc and there were two hair colours — blonde and brunette. Those were times when history was being made, so when in 1963 the first Russian woman astronaut went into space, Mattel came out with an astronaut Barbie. This was the time when there came a Barbie with ‘Titan’ (the Mills & Boon types would know that is what red heads were also known as) hair colour and chic like the icons of the time — Grace Kelly and Jackie Kennedy Onassis. There was even a ‘Twist n Turn’ Barbie, who could do the twist, because that is when the Beatles happened to the United States. Until now there has been almost every kind of Barbie, who has been most things (professionally – 108); dated Ken and after 43 years of being together she broke up with him on Valentine’s Day 2004 (again keeping with the times). If there ever was a fashion trend, Barbie has flaunted it and the same goes for fashion faux pas too. In 1980, came the African-American and Hispanic Barbie and in 1982, an Indian Barbie.

Down the 50 years Barbie’s facial features have undergone changes, in keeping with the ‘look’ of a particular period. If in the 1950s she had high arched eyebrows, pursed red lips and bangs, now she has a softer look, is leaner with a ‘more athletic physique’, an open smile and wide eyes. And not just that, if in the 1950s Barbie looked downwards (demurely) or sideways, sometime in the 1970s, she started looking ahead. Therefore, in that, she is a cultural icon of sorts, in fact some people have gone as far as to call Barbie the symbol of the American subconscious.

Coming to the present — this has been one happening decade for Barbie. She has been a Presidential candidate (Caucasian and African-American), zoo doctor, gymnastics coach, besides several other things.

The big draw, when it comes to owning a Barbie, is the accessorising part. Be it jewellery (earrings, bracelets, clips), doll’s house complete with accessories for a home, handbags, shoes, wigs…the list is endless and of course, these do strain the wallet more than a wee bit. Barbie has received much flak too. There are several accusations against Barbie, ranging from having drawn inspiration from a German sex doll to reinforcing a negative body image for young girls. If one were to look at it realistically, if Barbie were a real woman, her measurements would be 39-18-33. That, we’ll leave to the spoilsports! Meanwhile, let the party begin!

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