What is the Barbie doll?
Barbie is one of the best -selling dolls in the world and is one of Mattel's most famous products. Since 1959, Barbie has been a huge source of income for the company. As a result of the women's rights, there was a consistent will against the doll with fashion, and Barbie dolls were given constant criticism for their depiction of women.
The fact that most dolls were the representation of children, Ruth Handler, wife of co -founder Mattel Elliot Handler, suggested an adult doll. Ruth Handler founded her concept on a similar German doll named Bild Lilli and eventually convinced the reluctant director Mattel that the market was the market. In 1959, the Barbie doll was presented at the US National Toy Fair.
The original doll came as a long -haired blonde or brunette in a zebra swimsuit. Other clothing was available and were supposed to adapt to contemporary American fashion trends. More than 350,000 Barbies were sold in the first year of availability. When you Mattel uHe conscious of the market potential, quickly began to release accompanying dolls for Barbie, the first is her friend Ken. Other popular early friends included Barbie's younger sister captain and her best friend, Midge.
The controversy over the dolls of Barbie began almost immediately, because the dolls were considered sexually provocative and unrealistic depiction of female beauty. Statistical studies indicate that the Barbie doll was on a normal human scale, it should be five feet high nine inches (1.78 meters), it has for the first time-6-33 inches (91-46-84 cm) and should have little body fat that could not normally menstruate. In addition, some early children came with weights set to £ 110 (49.8 kg), more than £ 30 (13.6 kg) underweight for the woman of her height. In 1997, the Barbie doll was redesigned to somewhat more realistic dimensions, but critics still believe that the doll can promote damageLittle ideas about the image of the body to an impressive young girl.
Another controversial problem in the world of Barbie Doll World concerns the introduction of ethnic versions of the doll. Critics complain that black, Hispanic and Asian Barbie show no real ethnic properties of their races, but instead they simply have a different skin color. Saudi Arabia banned Barbie dolls in 2003, suggesting that the doll was a bad influence and did not fit the ideals of women in Islamic religion. The alternative lines of dolls were released by other toys that try to create more dolls similar to lives.
collecting Barbie has become the main hobby around the world. The first and rare editions of Barbie dolls bring high prices at auctions. One of the most expensive purchases of Barbie dolls took place at the London auction in 2006, when the doll called "Barbie in Midnight Red" was sold for $ 17,000 (USD.)
despite raging controversies over the influence of Barbie remains a cultural icon and incredibly successShip toy. Since the sixties, she has provided a catalog of styles and trends in American fashion and ideals. Despite what some critics want, the Barbie doll is an important part of the American and will probably continue their famous lifestyle.