Many kids have played with, and dreamed of being that beautiful Barbie doll from childhood, and remember that slim, gorgeous beauty that was so popular, nearly all-little girls have some version of her.
A version, meaning one of the vast selections of different collection dolls available today – such as the Happy New Year Doll, The Blondes Blond Gold Barbie, The Hunger Games Barbie and many more.
When the Barbie doll was created by Mattel in 1959, nobody had a clue it would become such a huge success. Selling at a rate of two dolls per minute, Barbie has become one of the top selling toys every year since its creation.
“In 1959, its first year, 351,000 Barbie dolls were sold at $3 each — a new sales record.”
The idea behind Ruth Handler’s creation, the wife of Mattel owner Elliot Handler, was a teenage looking doll that little girls could dream their futures through. The doll was designed around a teenage fashion model concept.
The first Barbie though, had only one version – until 1961 the founder of Mattel decided Barbie needed a mate – and out came Ken.
The creation of the slim, gorgeous Barbie was the impetus of the 1950’s era. Obesity was a foreign word, and housewives everywhere skipped meals and ate like birds to maintain that ‘female’ figure to please their men.
What Mattel has just done to the 54 year history of Barbie, the beauty queen, blonde model who dresses in gowns and fancy clothes – has shattered an over half-century image of Barbie.
Mattel has created “Plus Size” Barbie. Could it have been done to ease the minds of obese people all over the U.S.?
There is a debate going on as to whether or not they should make a "plus size" Barbie. Really? Thank you Mattel for promoting obesity.
— Halley Theorin (@CherryTheorinx9) December 28, 2013
Others were critical of the idea in general, such as one woman who noted, “We shouldn’t encourage people to be unhealthy… Maybe we should make a heroin addict Barbie too?”
http://t.co/9OksZBJn31 RT @AsiaChloeBrown: Plus-size Barbie looks realistic, which is why I think it's a good idea.
— A$AC Bae-der. (@filthycharm) December 23, 2013
Mattel has been known to be quite controversial in the past, for example, in 1967 Mattel released the first African-American Barbie, a bold move during a tumultuous time in America. Additional Barbie dolls from other ethnic groups were released over the following years. In 1997, Mattel widened the doll’s waist to fit more realistic, contemporary fashions.
The company can’t be criticized for not ‘staying with the times’ and creating controversy, however this creation is a bit broad.
Image via Twitter