By: Katerina Parent
I Introduction
Over the past few decades, the Barbie doll has become a timeless toy and role model to children everywhere. The plastic fashion figure was an overnight sensation and the must- have toy because of her flawless features and excellent wardrobe. At first, creator Ruth Handler's dreams of fame and fortune were coming true because of Barbie, but the public began to question if it was "healthy" for their children to play with Barbie because she was so perfect. Would it make girls insecure and develop a low self-esteem because they could never be as anatomically absolute as their beautiful best friend? But because of Barbie's great success, friend Harold Matson, Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot Handler, launched their own company named Mattel, Inc. which began producing Barbie's world including houses, cars, and clothes and it continues today to make billions of dollars a year.
II Discovery
The Barbie doll was created by Ruth Handler, a loyal wife, mother, and businesswoman. She got the idea of creating a fashion doll when she saw her daughter Barbara playing with a two-dimensional paper figure. After a trip to Europe where she noticed a Bild Lilli Doll, a German version of what she wanted her Barbie to look like, she bought a few of them to show her business partners so they could quickly get to work. With the help of Jack Ryan (engineer), Charlotte Johnson (clothing designer), and Harold Matson, Barbie made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York City in March of 1959. The first Barbie dolls wore black and white striped one-piece swimsuits and could be available as a blonde or brunette. About 350,000 of these dolls were sold that year. This first Barbie sparked controversy because she was given breasts, a small waist, and long legs. These combined features were not found to be normal among young girls and could therefore cause them to experience a self-esteem issue because they did not look like Barbie. Ruth argued that she felt Barbie's "adult appearance" was necessary and that that was what made her unlike any other doll. Wikipedia (2010). Barbie
III Biography of Investigator
Ruth Handler was born on November 4, 1916, in Denver, Colorado to a family of Polish immigrants. Her father was a blacksmith, and her mother suffered from many health problems and unable to hold a steady job. She had nine other siblings and interestingly enough did not play with any kind of doll as a young girl. When she was 16, she met Isadore Elliot Handler in Denver and fell in love. He attended the Art Center School of Design in California and she moved there to be with him until he graduated and they could get married. After school, Elliot worked as a designer for household items while she was a secretary for Paramount Studios. Elliot's designing skills were exposed when he collaborated with his friend Zachary to make a $2 million business. Later, Elliot worked with Harold Matson on a picture frame project and called their company Mattel, which ended up being a giant success in the toy industry with toys like Jack-in-the-boxes and ukuleles. Ruth came up with her first brilliant idea in 1955, advertising their toys on TV. It hadn't been done before because TV was still so new to the world. Toys were generally advertised in catalogues, so the Handler's took advantage of their idea that no one had had before. After Ruth had released Barbie in 1959, she realized Barbie would need a boyfriend, and created Ken (named after her son) who debuted in 1961. After Ken, Ruth created an entire family for Barbie including Skipper (1964) her little sister, Todd (1966) her brother and Tutti (1966) her other sister. Ruth was a genius businesswoman but was forced to leave Mattel Inc. after being diagnosed with breast cancer. This led to her next creation she called, "Nearly Me" which were breast implants for women who were also affected by breast cancer. Ruth had accomplished so much in her life and had great success with Barbie. She died at the age of 85 on April 27, 2002 due to complications during surgery in attempts to treat her colon cancer. Wikipedia (2010). Ruth Handler, Answers (2010) Ruth Handler
IV Impact on the World
Barbie has had a tremendous effect on the world and children worldwide. Barbie's have been manufactured in over 150 countries and gotten the support of famous designers such as Vera Wang, Calvin Kline, Christian Louboutin, and Bob Mackie who attended her 50th birthday party celebration and fashion show in New York City. Barbie has been a sentimental object for girls everywhere and was a great part of many people's childhood. She has upset many with her perfect body and flawless face, but has changed over the years by developing a more realistic figure and complexion and taken on many different roles such as a doctor, a pilot, a lifeguard, a mother, and much more. With all of the packages that include houses, cars, planes, clothes, wigs, pools, and runways, and the animated movies she has starred in, she has taken over the toy industry and made Mattel Inc. billions of dollars and become an international superstar and icon. Wikipedia (2010). Barbie.
V Journal Article Review and Conclusion
The journal article that I found by Albert M. Magro from Fairmont State College, is titled, "Why Barbie is Perceived as Beautiful." This article focuses on the more controversial aspects of Barbie which include her figure and overall appearance. Magro says that, "It is noted that the anatomical proportions of the Barbie doll are exaggerated and emphasize derived characteristics. It was proposed that in the perception of human form, derived traits are perceived as attractive while primitive traits are perceived as unattractive." He talks about how human characteristics have evolved over the years, which make our perceptions about what we like and don't like (in this case what we find beautiful and not beautiful) are constantly changing. The Barbie has exaggerated many derived traits and put them together, giving her an overall "attractive" appearance. This includes long legs and thighs, an "increase in height and more muscled and pronounced calves and buttocks," a "longer neck and less sloping shoulders," a "smaller and narrower upper and lower jaw", a "defined chin," and a "less rounded abdomen and a slimmer waistline." To compose this report, Magro also included a survey which included 495 people who evaluated over 50 figures. They were told choose which sample they preferred based on the attractive feature. Magro made it clear that this survey had nothing to do with race, age, sex, or culture, but strictly attractiveness. For example, one picture showed person A who had long legs and a long torso to person B who had short legs and a long torso. The surveyed individuals thought the longer legs were more attractive. They survey continued with long necks vs. short necks, plantar vs. dorsal foot flexion, square vs. sloping shoulders, large vs. small eyes, etc. The survey found that the Barbie included all of the desired features and therefore that is what makes the Barbie "attractive." Magro, A. (1997) Why Barbie is Perceived as Beautiful.
References:
Magro, A. (1997) Why Barbie is Perceived as Beautiful. Retrieved on Dec. 12, 2010 http://www.hku.hk/sociodep/bbf/BBF%20Readings%20W6/W6Why_Barbie_is_perceived_as_beautiful.pdf
Answers (2010) Ruth Handler. Retrieved on Dec. 12, 2010 from http://www.answers.com/topic/ruth-handler
Great Idea Finder (2007) Ruth Handler. Retrieved on Dec. 12, 2010 from http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/handler.htm
Wikipedia (2010). Barbie. Retrieved on Dec. 12, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie
Wikipedia (2010). Ruth Handler. Retrieved on Dec. 12, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Handler
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