Women's «Choices»

II. Toys: Barbie or Alternative Dolls?

Fifty Years of Barbie

By Rajini Vaidyanathan

BBC News, Washington

For a Woman Hitting Fifty She's Been Through a Lot.

Many changes of career, including a run for US president, she's also been the subject of a number of lawsuits. Despite all that, she's not got a wrinkle on her forehead or a single grey hair.

The children's doll Barbie celebrates her half-century on 9 March, 2009. Parties will be taking place across the world to mark the occasion, and the world's first store dedicated to the doll has been opened in Shanghai.

A fixture in toy cupboards around the globe, Barbie has become more than just a doll for young girls growing up.

An enduring cultural icon, she has also weathered much criticism and controversy over the years.

Barbie Millicent Roberts was first introduced to the world in 1959 at the New York Toy Fair. She was named after her creator Ruth Handler's daughter Barbara.

Ruth Handler had seen her child play with baby and toddler dolls, but at the time saw a gap in the American market for a toy which represented a young woman.

The very first Barbie dolls wore a black and white swimsuit, high-heeled sandals, and had the trademark high eyebrows.

Women's «Choices»

Although the Barbie of today is more commonly known as a blonde, the first ones were also available as brunettes.

In their debut year, more than 300,000 were sold, at a price of $3 each.

Ruth Handler said of her creation: "Barbie has always represented that a woman has choices…

I believe the choices Barbie represents helped the doll catch on initially, not just with daughters, who would one day make up the first major wave of women in management and professionals, but also with mothers."

Barbie pursued more than 100 different careers, including astronaut, gymnast, flight attendant, Unicef ambassador, and Formula One driver.

As her popularity rose, so did her brand, becoming much more than just a doll.

Barbie soon acquired her own property portfolio, was given her own dream homes, a car, and even a love interest in the form of on-off boyfriend Ken.

Although Barbie has modelled many wedding dresses the "couple" never walked down the aisle together, and in 2004, in an "official" press conference news of their "split" was announced.

Generating billions of dollars for her makers Mattel, Barbie has also generated much controversy.

One of the biggest criticisms aimed at the doll is that it portrays an unattainable image for young girls.

Dr Arnold Blumberg said: "There have been a lot of occasions where people have said Barbie represents a very unrealistic and damaging idea of what a modern adult woman looks like…that it affects a girl's idea of her expectations in her life.

"Although, like anything else, they're a toy company, they're selling a fantasy figure, a doll for kids to play with," he said.

There have been other charges made against the doll, including that she is a bad role model.

A talking version of Barbie once said "math class is hard", but the slogan was later changed to "Math is hard, but not impossible!" following criticism from teaching groups.

Despite some of the negative headlines Barbie is still a hit with girls across America and the world.

Hunter Kelley, 16, said: "Some people think it's stereotypical, but I think it's alright. You wouldn't want a Barbie that didn't look perfect, that's what so great about her," she said.

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