When the first Barbie came out in 1959, the doll was designed to resemble Hollywood stars during that time, such as Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. Blue eyes, a slender body and lots of makeup.
But Barbie was not just known for being a blonde bombshell. Instead, she was a doctor, engineer or astronaut -- just about anything a young girl desired to be. As one of the most affordable dolls in the 60s, Barbie emulated the confidence that women had gained working in factories and offices while men were at war. This was synonymous to the company’s slogan, ‘be who you wanna be’ and set a great example for young girls.
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As decades went by and trends changed, so did Barbie. With her long blond hair, blue eyes and extremely long legs she resembled the ideal beauty. But many soon realized that this was not how most of the people in the world looked. Parents started to actively avoid Barbies because they did not want to expose their kids to the notion that this was how they should hope to look.
Over the last few years, beauty ideals and opinions have changed significantly in America. Celebrities such as Rebel Wilson, Kim Kardashian and Beyonce are looked up to as role-models, and this has fueled a change in the way we view body types. With the Oscar nominations consisting only of white people, the lack of diversity in the media world is also in question.
Barbie was soon dethroned by the Bratz dolls and Elsa from "Frozen." Sales plummeted by 20% from 2012 to 2014. Mattel Inc. decided it was time to revamp the doll.
On Thursday, the company announced that Barbie will be brought back as a 21st century role-model: a doll that adheres to today’s beauty standards and reflects a more conscious image. The doll will have three new body types: petite, curvy and tall with 7 different skin tones, 22 eye colors and 24 hair-styles.
The variety allows girls to find a doll that they relate to the most. Many people consider this change a step in the right direction for the 57 year old toy-maker.
Campaigns promoting the idea that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes are extremely popular. Dove’s "Choose Beautiful" campaign encourages women to feel comfortable in their skin, and Victoria Secret’s Lane Bryant #ImNoAngel endorses body distinctiveness and the fact that it's beautiful to be unique.
Although many claim that the new line of dolls is just a way for Mattel. Inc to increase sales, I think that that the introduction of diverse dolls will be largely beneficial. Diversity, or rather, the lack of it is a topic that has been in question time and again. Introducing the perception of unique dolls into a young girl's play patterns will allow them to understand that beauty is not a set standard; that everyone is beautiful regardless of race, color or body type.
Barbie’s new dolls are truly analogous to the company’s slogan ‘be who you wanna be.' The company has proven that they can make a once much-loved doll great again!
Check out the 57 year old evolution of Barbie by Time Magazine here.
