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Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

1959 Barbie Doll

Since this month is all about Women’s history, how could I not mention Barbie, who turns 52 today, making her first appearance on  March 9th, 1959. Okay, yes, I know she is not real, she is just a doll, but we cannot deny the fact that Barbie has played a part in our own lives, and continues to do so for our own daughters. So, how  did Barbie exactly impact America?

Barbie first made her debut in 1802 but it was not until 1959 did she make her appearnce at the American Toy Fair in New York City. Eleven inches tall, with a waterfall of blond hair, Barbie was the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States with adult features. The woman behind Barbie was Ruth Handler, who co-founded Mattel, Inc. with her husband in 1945. After seeing her young daughter ignore her baby dolls to play make-believe with paper dolls of adult women, Handler realized there was an important niche in the market for a toy that allowed little girls to imagine the future.

2011 Barbie Doll

Barbie’s appearance was modeled on a doll named Lilli, based on a German comic strip character. Originally marketed as a racy gag gift to adult men in tobacco shops, the Lilli doll later became extremely popular with children. Mattel bought the rights to Lilli and made its own version, which Handler named after her daughter, Barbara. With its sponsorship of the “Mickey Mouse Club” TV program in 1955, Mattel became the first toy company to broadcast commercials to children. They used this medium to promote their new toy, and by 1961, the enormous consumer demand for the doll led Mattel to release a boyfriend for Barbie. Handler named him Ken, after her son. Barbie’s best friend, Midge, came out in 1963; her little sister, Skipper, debuted the following year.

Over the years, Barbie generated huge sales–and a lot of controversy. On the positive side, many women saw Barbie as providing an alternative to traditional 1950s gender roles. She has had a series of different jobs, from airline stewardess, doctor, pilot and astronaut to Olympic athlete and even U.S. presidential candidate. It told little girls that they could do what ever they wanted to do. Others thought Barbie’s never-ending supply of designer outfits, cars and “Dream Houses” encouraged kids to be materialistic. It was Barbie’s appearance however that caused the most controversy. Her tiny waist and enormous breasts–it was estimated that if she were a real woman, her measurements would be 36-18-38–led many to claim that Barbie provided little girls with an unrealistic and harmful example and fostered negative body image, which for some become an obsession. 

Previous record breaker to look like Barbie, Cindy Jackson

There are some women out there that has taken extreme measures and spent thousands just to look like Barbie. Sarah Burge has now broken the world record for undergoing over 100 cosmetic surgeries in order to become “The Real Life Barbie”. She  beat  the previous record of Cindy Jackson, who also wants to be a real life Barbie. Then we have Steve Erhardt, celebrity hairstylist, make-up artist, now plastic surgery addict. Is he the thriving wanna be Ken?  Now, I’m not a doctor but I do know about mental disorders, and these individuals are suffering from Dymorphic Disorder, their perception of their own physical appearance is simply distorted. They don’t need plastic surgery, they need therapy! Yet, the  Barbie copying business has become a multi-million dollar business.

Steve Erhardt-Wanna be Ken?

Despite the criticism, sales of Barbie-related merchandise continued to soar, topping 1 billion dollars annually. Since 1959, more than 800 million dolls in the Barbie family have been sold around the world and Barbie is now a bona fide global icon.

Happy Birthday, Barbie! You go, Girl!