What does Barbie mean to you?

LindseySchwartzkopf

English III

“It’s All In The Details”

A Brief Barbie history

Ruth and Elliott Handler co-founded Mattel Toys with their partner Harold Matson in 1945

The idea of creating a small adult doll was formed by Ruth after watching her daughter play with paper dolls but the idea was rejected by her partners

In 1956, while in Lucerne, Germany, she discovered a doll called Lilli, which resembled the type of doll she wanted to make

More of Barbie’s history

Barbie was released March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair in New York City

The first African-American Barbie doll was created in 1968

The first Hispanic Barbie doll was created in 1988

Barbie controversy

Since Barbie's creation many people have complained about how she epitomizes an impossible ideal for young girls

To many people, Barbie creates a sexist, stereotypical ideal for women to follow

Why is Barbie found offensive?

What people should really find offensive about Barbie is what people say she symbolizes

And the reasons behind those things they say

Barbie’s new images

What Barbie means

to me Barbie means many things to different people

Barbie dolls aren’t something I find offensive

To me they represent tolerance for diversity

My personal experience with Barbie My sister used to

have a black Barbie Doll

She had long raven hair that came down past her shoulders and wore a stunningly beautiful blue and silver ball gown

Nichole’s view of Barbie

For Nichole Burnett, the Barbie dolls were not just a toy

Barbie dolls were a way she could still be innocent at heart

You would never see anyone marketing “Abused Barbie”

This is what Barbie means to me

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