Barbie dolls have been loved for generations, inspiring millions of young girls around the world to dream big and pursue their passions. Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, shared that one of the major purposes of Barbie dolls is to show little girls that they could be anything they wanted to be, that a woman has choices, hence the slogan ''You Can Be Anything". 

 

The very first Barbie doll featured a black-and-white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and since then, countless Barbie dolls and accessories have been created that continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of young consumers worldwide. With her diverse careers and accomplishments, Barbie has become more than just a toy — she is a symbol of empowerment for girls of all ages, inspiring them to break through gender barriers and achieve their goals. These accomplishments also prove that Barbie dolls affect society in many ways, such as promoting greater gender equality and representation and encouraging girls to aspire to be their best selves.

 

In this blog post, we will explore its history, why Barbie dolls are more than just a toy, and how Barbie has become a symbol of empowerment for girls. As you read through this blog post, you will also be able to stumble upon a few interesting pieces of Barbie trivia that you will absolutely love!

 

The Story of Barbie

Barbie’s Birthday

Barbie doll was first introduced in the market on March 9, 1959 — which is celebrated as Barbie’s birthday, at the American International Toy Fair in New York. This iconic Barbie doll was created by Ruth Handler and produced by Mattel, Inc. Ruth Handler shared that the inspiration came from the observation of her daughter Barbara projecting her dreams onto paper dolls and imagining them as adults. In fact, the name "Barbie" was derived from Ruth's daughter's name, Barbara.

 

The very first Barbie doll was already mentioned above and over the years, more Barbie dolls have been made and numerous changes have been made to her appearances, such as her hair color, hair textures, eye color, and skin tone. Friends, family members, and even Barbie pets were also made! This includes the famous Ken Doll, which was introduced in 1961 as Barbie's boyfriend. Other notable Barbie characters include Skipper (Barbie's sister), Todd and Tutti (Barbie's twin brother and sister), Midge (Barbie's first friend introduced in 1963), and Chelsea / Kelly Roberts, Barbie’s youngest sister.

 

Barbie’s Career Evolution

Over the years, Barbie has had over 200 careers! Yes! According to  Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President of Barbie, "For 60 years, Barbie has championed girls, inspired generations to believe through make-believe, and showed them that they have choices. With more than 200 careers, six runs for president, and a trip to the moon before Neil Armstrong, Barbie continues to evolve to be a modern, relevant role model for all ages’’. 

 

Criticisms of Barbie

Because of Barbie’s popularity and positive impact on some people, it may seem impossible for it to receive criticism, but in fact, Barbie dolls have also faced criticism over the years. One of the most significant is that Barbie dolls have unrealistic beauty standards. Barbie dolls’ unrealistic proportions and perfect features have been seen as a negative influence on young girls, contributing to negative body image and self-esteem issues.

 

In addition, Barbie dolls has been criticized for promoting gender stereotyping. Critics argue that Barbie reinforces traditional gender roles, portraying girls as interested only in fashion and beauty, while boys are portrayed as interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

 

Addressing criticisms

But those criticisms did not stop Barbie from inspiring the youth. In recent years, Barbie has addressed some of these criticisms and evolved to reflect greater diversity. Barbie dolls already include different body types, skin tones, and hair textures. It has also collaborated with female-led organizations, such as Girls Who Code, to promote girls' interest in STEM fields. 

In addition, Barbie has created educational resources and messaging to empower girls to be confident, strong, and independent. For example, the "You Can Be Anything" campaign encourages girls to pursue their dreams and shows them that anything is possible.

Nowadays, Barbie dolls continue to have a significant impact on society, influencing the way children view themselves and the world around them. It also continues to be popular in many other places of the world, and the Philippines is no exception. In fact, there are so many Barbie dolls for sale in the Philippines, which are very popular especially during the holiday season.  

Overall, the popularity of Barbie dolls in the Philippines highlights the enduring impact of this iconic toy on society and its ongoing relevance in shaping the way children view themselves and the world.

Why Barbie is more than just a doll?

Barbara Millicent Roberts, popularly known as Barbie, is an iconic toy that has captured the hearts of children for generations, representing hope, empowerment, and possibility for millions of children and adults worldwide. She serves as a reminder that no matter how rough the road can be, as long as you have the courage to believe in yourself, anything is possible. Here are some of the reasons why Barbie is more than just a doll:

 

Role model for girls 

For decades, Barbie has been a role model for young generations worldwide, inspiring them to be more confident, independent, and successful. Through her unwavering message of encouragement and inspiration, Barbie has instilled in young girls the confidence to dream big and the determination to pursue their passions. 

One of the biggest ways Barbie has exhibited being a role model is through her various movies, such as Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper, Barbie & Chelsea the Lost Birthday, Barbie Princess Adventure, and many more! These movies have shown Barbie's positive attitude to never give up even when things get rough. She has also shown her empathy and compassion by being a character who is always willing to help in any way she can, has shown her intelligence and creativity to find solutions to any challenges that may arise, inspires others to follow her lead, and encourages young generations to be confident in their own abilities just like she does.

Demonstrating these valuable qualities, such as kindness, empathy, leadership, creativity, confidence, and more encourages young viewers to aspire to be like Barbie and strive to be the best version of themselves.

 

Encourages creativity and imagination

Barbie dolls foster creativity and imagination in girls, inviting them to explore limitless possibilities and unleash their inner creativity. There are so many Barbie playsets in Manila that offer endless opportunities for kids to create their own stories and unlock their creative potential. 

One of the most popular playsets is the Barbie Dreamhouse. It has various rooms and features where children can also decorate the house, and create their own scenarios with the Barbie dolls they have, stimulating their imagination and encouraging them to think creatively. Moreover, it also practices their social skills as they play with their friends or family members. 

Barbie Color Reveal set also offers another way to promote imaginative exploration in children. Each Barbie Color Reveal set has a surprise element where children don’t know which of the Barbie dolls they are going to get. This surprise element sparks curiosity and encourages children to imagine the different possibilities. 

Each set of Barbie Color Reveal dolls also comes with themed accessories, various outfits, and hair, which encourages children to express their creativity by mixing and matching these fashion accessories to create their Barbie dolls’ unique looks. They can also create their own storylines and scenarios, which encourages them to explore their imagination in a fun and engaging way.

Provides career options 

Barbie offers a world of possibilities by showcasing a variety of Barbie career dolls such as a nurse, a scientist, a gymnast, a teacher, and many more. Barbie acknowledges careers that are traditionally male-dominated or underrepresented by women in order to demonstrate to girls that they can pursue any profession they desire. In fact, as of the 2000s, when women held only 24% of STEM careers, Barbie took on various STEM-related professions such as computer engineering, video game development, Mars exploration, and robotics engineering, among others.

 

Evolving to reflect diversity

Over the years, Barbie dolls have evolved to showcase more diversity, featuring a range of body types, skin tones, and hair textures. This change has helped in promoting greater representation and inclusivity as these Barbie dolls allow girls of all backgrounds to see themselves reflected in their beloved dolls.

One of Barbie’s greatest doll lines that really promotes diversity is Barbie Fashionistas. It showcases a diverse range of Barbie dolls that represent body types, skin colors, hair textures, and styles. Barbie Fashionistas have been loved by many people because they represent a broad spectrum of beauty standards that promote the idea that all girls should feel confident and proud of who they are. 

Lots of collaborations to promote diversity, inclusion, equality, and more

Barbie has collaborated with a lot of organizations that help promote its positive impact on the world. According to Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel, Barbie's brand mission has always been to inspire the potential of the next generation of leaders, as she remains the number one toy brand worldwide with a 62-year history. Here are some of its collaborations: 

• Barbie x Vera Wang - Mattel collaborated with the legendary American fashion designer Vera Wang as part of the Barbie Tribute Collection, which was launched to pay tribute to and recognize the remarkable contributions of female visionaries to culture. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the Barbie Signature Vera Wang doll. Vera Wang Barbie doll is one of the most beautiful collection in your Barbie dolls collection. It wears a monochromatic ensemble inspired by a look in her 2017 ready-to-wear collection.

• Barbie x Fender - Mattel has collaborated with the well-established guitar manufacturer, Fender, to develop a fresh Barbie collection of music lessons on the Fender Play guitar lesson app. Fender's Chief Marketing Officer, Evan Jones, expressed the company's belief that it's important for young female musicians to be able to relate to their role models. 

 

According to Jones, Fender already works with and supports many talented women in the music industry, but it's crucial for young girls to see themselves reflected in the music heroes they look up to. Fender hopes to inspire young women to pursue any career in the music industry, from being a guitarist to being a songwriter or producer.

 

• Barbie x National Geographic - National Geographic and Mattel also teamed up to create a brand-new line of Barbie products and co-branded content centered on exploration, science, storytelling, and conservation. The National Geographic dolls were included in Barbie's Inspiring Women series, which showcases careers that are often overlooked and inspire creativity, self-expression, and exploration. 

 

These are just some of the various brands and organizations in the past few years that Barbie has partnered with, each collaboration serving a unique purpose. From empowering girls to inspiring creativity, these collaborations highlight Barbie's dedication to spreading positive messages and encouraging young girls to pursue their dreams and passions. 

In conclusion, Barbie is more than just a doll; she is a symbol of empowerment for girls, inspiring the younger generations to dream big, be themselves, pursue their goals, and know that they can be anything they want to be, no matter what the world may tell them. 

From having partnerships with different organizations with a unique purpose to inspiring girls to imagine themselves in different professions and promoting gender equality, Barbie has shown that anything is possible. Moreover, with its various playsets and Barbie dolls, it provides a platform for imaginative exploration and creative expression. 

Barbie continuously proves that it’s not just about playing with dolls; it’s about unleashing their creativity, building their confidence, and empowering them to be whoever they want to be. Barbie has continued to inspire and empower countless girls worldwide, and her influence will continue to inspire future generations of women to be confident, independent, and successful. 

As Barbie celebrates her birthday this March, let us all greet her a Happy Birthday! You may also tag us in your greetings: @kidscompanyph! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #HappyBirthdayBarbie!

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