A Brief History of Barbie

In this bonus episode we’re telling you our sometimes troubling childhood relationship with dolls and giving you a brief history of the doll of all dolls— Barbie. from her German Lilli doll roots to her status as a global icon, Barbie has come a long way since she was created by Ruth Handler in 1959 and she has had a lasting and divisive impact on popular culture. From being named after the creator’s own daughter, Barbara, to getting her own boyfriend named after the creator’s son, Kenneth, in 1961. Suing Cindy, Suing Bratz. Malibu Stacy, Robert the Doll, what happened to Midge’s baby? Where’s Alan? Is there an Adam or was he just a torso in a toy box?With Barbiecore on the rise and the release of the trailer for the soon to be Greta Gerwig summer blockbuster, Barbie's legacy remains strong. After all, she's more than just a doll – she's an idea, a symbol, an astronaut, an Olympian, she’s been president— she forever retains a perfect arch with her perfect plastic feet, she’s a blank slate, an icon— she’s everything.Shop broadsnextstore.com to support our show Sources:The Secret Life of Barbie, ABC News, 1999Tiny Shoulders, documentary, Hulu, 2019The Take, The Rise of Barbiecore, How Feminism Became Hot Pink and The Barbie Movie YouTube, 2022Robin Gerber, Barbie and Ruth: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Doll and the Woman Who Created Her The Island of the Dolls, NPR, 2017Robert the Haunted Doll, South Florida PBS, 2014My Modern Met, Barbie: The History and Legacy of the World’s Most Famous DollBy Madeleine Muzdakis on February 14, 2022This day in history: Barbie doll makes her debut in 1959, CBS NewsThe Barbie Doll's Not-for-Kids Origins, Time Magazine, Jennifer Latson, 2015Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/broads-next-door--5803223/support.