Barbie Bonanza
Hello everyone,
Last week Dovi’s Digest went pink and black in honour of Barbenheimer. I read so many great articles about the two movies but had limited space. So, I thought I’d share a few about Barbie in particular. Both lauded and hated, a feminist icon and a product of the patriarchy, she has gone through many iterations and has held more than 200 jobs, many of which were groundbreaking at the time. Here are the top three articles that I read about her (there’s one about Ken too).
Have a great week,
Dovi
Dolls, Breasts and Tax Evasion: The Remarkable Life of Barbie Inventor Ruth Handler
After giving birth to two children, a Los Angeles businesswoman got to work inventing the most famous plastic lady in toy history. We dig into the remarkable life of one of America’s unheralded pioneers, who not only gave us Barbie, but also revolutionised prosthetic breasts and narrowly avoided prison.
When Barbie Broke the Glass Ceiling
The iconic doll travelled to space, flew with the Thunderbirds, and joined the NBA, beating real-life women to an array of career milestones.
The Often Wacky, Sometimes Wicked, and Always Wondrous Eras of Barbie
The Mattel doll has been through a lot since her 1959 creation—a rise to fame, a public backlash, a breakup, a reconciliation, and much more. Now, though, we’ve entered her latest era—Blockbuster Barbie—which shows that somehow, both the doll and perceptions of her are still evolving.
Who is Ken, Really?
The history of the world’s most misunderstood doll.