Why barbie is popular
From wikiWHYfiles
[edit] Introductory Note
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The Barbie doll is one of the world’s best selling dolls, and is one of Mattel’s best known products. Since 1959, the Barbie has been an enormous source of revenue for the company. Backlashes against the fashion-conscious doll have been consistent in the wake of the Women’s Rights Movement, and Barbie dolls have received continual criticism for their portrayal of women.
Annoyed by the fact that most dolls were representations of babies, Ruth Handler, the wife of Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler, suggested an adult doll. Basing her concept on a similar German doll named Bild Lilli, Ruth Handler eventually convinced reluctant Mattel directors that a market existed for a fashion-based doll. In 1959, the Barbie doll was introduced at the American National Toy Fair.
The original doll came as a long-haired blond or brunette in a zebra-print swimsuit. Additional outfits were available for purchase, and meant to conform to current American fashion trends. In the first year of availability, over 350,000 Barbies were sold. Realizing the potential of the market, Mattel quickly began releasing companion dolls for Barbie, the first being her boyfriend, Ken. Other popular early friends included Barbie’s younger sister Skipper, and her best friend, Midge.
The controversy over Barbie dolls began almost immediately, as the dolls were considered sexually provocative and an unrealistic portrayal of female beauty. Statistics studies suggest that were a Barbie doll on a normal human scale, she would be five feet nine inches tall (1.78 meters), have bust-waist-hip proportions of 36-18-33 inches (91-46-84 cm) and have so little body fat she would be unable to menstruate normally. Additionally, some early Babies came with scales set to 110 pounds (49.8 kg), more than 30 lbs (13.6 kg) underweight for a woman of her height. In 1997, the Barbie doll was redesigned to have somewhat more realistic proportions, but critics still believe the doll can enforce harmful ideas about body image on impressionable young girls.
[edit] Reason
The popular doll, Barbie, has evoked a steady stream of critical attention since her debut in 1959. Though Barbie serves primarily and properly as a toy for children, much of this attention has been generated by the secondary role she plays in popular culture—artifact of female representation. Barbie is no ordinary toy. She mimics the female form. She stands for woman within the games of make-believe in which children involve her.|
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- Barbie is made from polyvinylchloride.
- If Barbie was human sized, she would stand 5 foot 6 inches tall, weigh 110 pounds, and have a 39 inch bust, 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips.
- She is named after Ruth and Elliot Handler's daughter. Ken is named after their son.
- "Plastic money", the credit card, came into use in 1958 with the invention of the American Express Card, the same year that plastic was used to mass produce Barbie.
- Mattel used a widespread new medium for selling Barbie: television. Through TV, Barbie could be marketed directly to children.
- Barbie is eleven and one half inches tall.
- In 1992 the average American girl owned 7 Barbies.
[edit] References
1. About Barbie
