Ruth Handler debuted the first Barbie in 1959 at the New York City Toy Fair because she thought girls needed inspirational figures in their lives who weren’t mothers. However, due to the doll’s unrealistic and over-exaggerated features, it caused a societal turning point in women’s beauty standards and enforced harmful stereotypes amongst young girls.
Thesis:
The Toy That Changed the World
Curtesy of Walmart
"My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices."
~ Ruth Handler: Creator of Barbie and Mattel
Curtesy of Barbie's Rebel Sis (left).
Curtesy of George Mason (right).