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Love or hate her, Barbie changed everything.
Long boring rant ahead with way too much info and history.
Think of a time before Barbie when girls had very little to choose from in toys aimed at them. When boys were playing out their dreams and fantasys with all kinds of trucks, planes, toy guns, cowboys, army men, etc. girls had baby dolls, dishes and toy ironing boards. When boys were having exciting adventures playing with little plastic cowboys and army men, girls were wiping Betsy Wetsy's bum.
Ruth Handler was inspired to create an adult doll for girls after watching her daughter and her friends play with paper dolls. Ruth wanted girls to be able to play adventures and act out their hopes and dreams like boys had been able to do with their toys. The men at Mattel were against the idea and insisted girls only wanted baby dolls. Ruth knew better. Because Ruth actually asked girls what they wanted instead of telling them. On vacation in Germany the final piece fell into place when Ruth saw the Lilli doll and finally had something to show to the designers at Mattel that a adult doll could be done. Lilli was heavily modified and Barbie was born.
The men at Mattel as well as the toy buyers at the 1959 Toy Fair didn't think too highly of Barbie being a success. They all again said girls only wanted baby dolls. They were wrong. When Barbie hit the shelves she was an instant hit with girls. Finally they could have play adventures and act out their hopes and dreams instead of just pretend ironing and changing diapers. Because someone finally listened to them. That person was Ruth.
Also, the idea of offering a basic doll with additional fashions was such a huge success other companies decided to market boy dolls with the same business model. Hasbro made GI JOE and boys could dress him in all kinds of military "fashions." Each sold separately. Ideal made Captain Action and boys could collect super hero "fashions." Exact same idea but different names. Dolls became action figures and fashions became uniforms and accessories.
A great many of toys for both boys and girls owe their creation to Barbie. Mattel has made their share of mistakes over the years and Barbie has not always kept up with the times, but As kids and toy collector's we owe a lot to Ruth and to Barbie.
Long boring rant ahead with way too much info and history.
Think of a time before Barbie when girls had very little to choose from in toys aimed at them. When boys were playing out their dreams and fantasys with all kinds of trucks, planes, toy guns, cowboys, army men, etc. girls had baby dolls, dishes and toy ironing boards. When boys were having exciting adventures playing with little plastic cowboys and army men, girls were wiping Betsy Wetsy's bum.
Ruth Handler was inspired to create an adult doll for girls after watching her daughter and her friends play with paper dolls. Ruth wanted girls to be able to play adventures and act out their hopes and dreams like boys had been able to do with their toys. The men at Mattel were against the idea and insisted girls only wanted baby dolls. Ruth knew better. Because Ruth actually asked girls what they wanted instead of telling them. On vacation in Germany the final piece fell into place when Ruth saw the Lilli doll and finally had something to show to the designers at Mattel that a adult doll could be done. Lilli was heavily modified and Barbie was born.
The men at Mattel as well as the toy buyers at the 1959 Toy Fair didn't think too highly of Barbie being a success. They all again said girls only wanted baby dolls. They were wrong. When Barbie hit the shelves she was an instant hit with girls. Finally they could have play adventures and act out their hopes and dreams instead of just pretend ironing and changing diapers. Because someone finally listened to them. That person was Ruth.
Also, the idea of offering a basic doll with additional fashions was such a huge success other companies decided to market boy dolls with the same business model. Hasbro made GI JOE and boys could dress him in all kinds of military "fashions." Each sold separately. Ideal made Captain Action and boys could collect super hero "fashions." Exact same idea but different names. Dolls became action figures and fashions became uniforms and accessories.
A great many of toys for both boys and girls owe their creation to Barbie. Mattel has made their share of mistakes over the years and Barbie has not always kept up with the times, but As kids and toy collector's we owe a lot to Ruth and to Barbie.
Peace.. Through Superior Firepower. 
-Tallahassee 
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