Hey there! I’m John Green, and welcome to my salon. Today, we’re diving into some fun and surprising facts about Barbie. You might think Barbie is from Malibu, but that’s not quite true. According to Mattel, she’s actually from a fictional town called Willows, Wisconsin. Let’s explore more about this iconic doll!
Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, who got the idea from a German doll named Bild Lilli. This doll was originally a gag gift for adults, but Ruth saw its potential for children. Mattel, the company behind Barbie, was founded in 1945, but Barbie didn’t make her debut until 1959. That year, 350,000 Barbies were sold! Ken, Barbie’s famous boyfriend, came along two years later in 1961.
Barbie quickly became a household name, and many famous actresses got their start in Barbie commercials, including Mila Kunis and Christina Applegate. Barbie and Ken were named after Ruth Handler’s own children, Barbara and Kenneth. Barbie’s popularity soared in 1992 with the release of the Totally Hair Barbie, which sold over 10 million dolls!
Barbie has tried out more than 150 careers, from astronaut to surgeon to firefighter. She’s even been in the military, with outfits approved by the Pentagon. Barbie has also embraced the digital age with her own YouTube channel and Instagram account. She’s even had her own reality show, “Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse,” where she shares her love for fashion.
Barbie isn’t just popular in the United States; she’s a global sensation with dolls representing around 50 different nationalities. In 2015, Mattel discontinued the SeaWorld Barbie due to concerns about animal rights, and Barbie has always been fur-free, promoting an animal-friendly image.
Barbie has had her share of controversies. In 2014, a book titled “I Can Be a Computer Engineer” faced backlash for suggesting Barbie needed help from male friends to code. Additionally, a study found that girls who played with Barbies believed boys had more career options. Despite these issues, Barbie continues to inspire with her diverse career choices.
Barbie’s Dreamhouse is legendary, and in 2013, it was announced that she would be “selling” her Malibu home, valued at $25 million. This fictional sale was a fun way to showcase Barbie’s glamorous lifestyle. Barbie’s first home was a simple one-room apartment in 1962, but she upgraded to a townhouse in 1974.
Barbie is incredibly popular, with more Barbies sold each year than babies born in the United States. A Barbie is sold every three seconds! With so many dolls, it’s no surprise that Mattel is one of the largest clothing manufacturers in the world, designing countless outfits for Barbie and her friends.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Barbie’s world. Whether you think Barbie and Ken are the most famous couple or not, one thing is certain: Barbie has left a lasting impact on the world. And remember, don’t forget to be awesome!
Research and create a timeline of Barbie’s history, starting from her creation in 1959 to the present day. Include key events such as the introduction of Ken, Barbie’s various careers, and any controversies. Use colorful illustrations or digital tools to make your timeline visually appealing.
Choose one of Barbie’s 150+ careers and research what it involves. Create a presentation or poster that explains the career, its responsibilities, and why it might be an exciting job. Share your findings with the class to inspire others about different career paths.
Use your creativity to design a new outfit for Barbie. Consider current fashion trends or create something entirely unique. Draw your design and write a short description explaining your inspiration and the materials you would use.
Research how Barbie is represented in different cultures around the world. Create a collage or digital presentation showcasing Barbies from various nationalities and discuss how they reflect the cultures they represent. Share your project with the class.
Participate in a class debate about Barbie’s impact on society. Divide into two groups: one arguing that Barbie has had a positive influence by promoting diverse careers and another arguing that she has contributed to unrealistic beauty standards. Use facts from the article and additional research to support your arguments.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Hi, I’m John Green. Welcome to my salon. This is a Mental Floss video, and you know it’s a misconception that Barbie is from Malibu. According to an early episode of Crash Course World History, she’s actually a resident of the Indus Valley Civilization from thousands of years ago. But according to Mattel, she’s from Willows, Wisconsin, which is a made-up town. That’s the first of many facts about Barbie I’m going to share with you today.
Ruth Handler, who created the Barbie doll, was inspired by a German doll from the 50s and 60s called Bild Lilli. The dolls were sold in places like tobacco shops and adult stores because they were essentially gag gifts for events like bachelor parties. Mattel eventually acquired the rights to Bild Lilli, and now we have Barbie.
Barbie was co-designed by an engineer and professional missile designer named Jack Ryan, who was also married to Zsa Zsa Gabor. He was her sixth husband. Mattel Inc. was founded in 1945, but Barbie didn’t debut until 1959, with 350,000 of them sold that year. Ken was introduced two years later in 1961. Even before Barbie came to be, Mattel was the first toy company with commercials directed toward children.
Slightly off-topic, but last night I told my five-year-old son I was thinking of ordering Pizza Hut delivery for dinner, and he said, “You know, Daddy, any medium pizza at Pizza Hut is $5.99,” and I was like, “What?” He said, “Also, you can get a free brownie.”
Speaking of ads, many actresses had their first jobs in Barbie commercials, including Mila Kunis, Christina Applegate, and Maureen McCormick, who was Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch. Barbie and Ken were named after real people: Ruth’s children, Barbara and Kenneth Handler. So arguably, the most famous couple of all time are named for real-life siblings.
While Barbie might seem more modern, the first Barbie who talked was released in 1968, and Barbie didn’t reach her peak until 1992. The best-selling Barbie so far is the Totally Hair Barbie, which had hair down to the ground; over 10 million were sold in 1992. In 2004, it was announced that Barbie and Ken had broken up. Barbie then started dating an Australian surfer named Blaine, but in 2011, she got back together with Ken, but only after he was redesigned with more muscles.
Something tells me she’d like this Australian; he’s got plenty of muscle. Blaine isn’t Barbie’s only forgotten companion; she’s had a bunch of discarded family members, like her siblings Tootie and Todd, and cousins Francie and Jazzy.
How popular is Barbie? Well, two and a half times more Barbies are sold every year than babies are born in the United States. In fact, a Barbie is sold every three seconds. Now that you know how many Barbies are sold, you can only imagine the amount of Barbie clothes that are made annually. Mattel is actually one of the biggest apparel manufacturers in the world, and they employ people whose only job is to design Barbies and their looks. According to one designer, once a design has been submitted, it might only take a year until that Barbie can be found on the shelves.
As you’re probably aware, Barbie has been controversial at times. For instance, in 2014, the plotline of the Barbie book “I Can Be a Computer Engineer” went viral. In the book, Barbie designs a computer game but requires the assistance of her male friends to actually do the coding. People accused the book of being sexist, and it was discontinued.
Another controversy in 2014 involved a study from Oregon State University, which claimed that girls who play with Barbies believed that boys have more career options than girls. In the experiment, girls between the ages of four and seven played with either Barbies or Mrs. Potato Head. Afterwards, they were given a list of 10 careers and asked if they could have that job in the future. They were also asked if boys could have that job. Girls who played with Barbies picked fewer careers for themselves than the girls who played with Mrs. Potato Head.
Although to be fair, that might just be because Mrs. Potato Head is a great toy. Long-time Barbie supporter and Mental Floss head writer Meredith would like me to say that she thinks Mrs. Potato Head is literally two-faced. Meredith also wants me to mention that Barbie has had about 150 careers at this point, including astronaut, surgeon, firefighter, and many more. There have also been multiple military Barbies; she’s been in the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, and the Marine Corps. Mattel actually has the Pentagon-approved Barbie’s military outfits.
Another career she’s tried out is vlogging; she’s released a few vlogs on her very own YouTube channel. She’s also an avid Instagrammer, so I guess Barbie and I have more in common than I thought. But Barbie and I also have our differences; for instance, she has her own reality show, and I promise you that I never will. It’s called “Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse.”
She’ll be surprised to learn that this show centers around Barbie going through her closet and talking about fashion. Speaking of the Dreamhouse, it was announced in 2013 that Barbie would be selling her Dreamhouse in Malibu. According to Mattel, the home was worth around $25 million—a bargain at Toys R Us for $170. It was also announced that the cast of Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing” would be helping her sell the 8,500 square foot home, which I just want to emphasize is fictional.
Anyway, that was quite the upgrade from Barbie’s first home, which was released in 1962. It was a small one-room apartment. She moved to a townhouse in 1974. An estimated 99% of girls in the United States between the ages of 3 and 10 own at least one Barbie, and the average that girls aged 3 to 6 own is 12.
Barbie isn’t just popular in the U.S.; there are Barbies of around 50 nationalities that have been released, and she’s also popular with PETA, believe it or not. In 2015, Mattel announced that they would discontinue SeaWorld Barbie because of the company’s questionable practices. A spokesperson from PETA commented that Barbie has a rich history as an animal rights activist; she’s actually been fur-free for her entire history. We are delighted to see that she can retain her animal-friendly image.
Finally, I returned to my salon to tell you more about Barbie’s animal-friendly image. There have been two Barbies with the ability to clean up after dogs: the Barbie and Tanner playset, which came with the dog Tanner, his poop, and a pooper scooper, and the Barbie potty training pup set, in which the puppies actually peed on little newspapers.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss video, which is made with the help of all of these nice people. Please let us know in the comments if Barbie and Ken are really the most famous couple of all time or if Kimye has now taken that crown. And as we say in my hometown, don’t forget to be awesome!
—
Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Barbie – A popular fashion doll brand created by the American toy company Mattel, first introduced in 1959. – Barbie has become a cultural icon and is often used to discuss the changing roles of women in society.
Doll – A small model of a human figure, often used as a child’s toy. – In history, dolls have been used to reflect cultural values and social norms of different societies.
Mattel – An American multinational toy manufacturing company known for creating popular toys like Barbie and Hot Wheels. – Mattel has played a significant role in the toy industry since its founding in 1945.
Popularity – The state of being liked, admired, or supported by many people. – The popularity of Barbie dolls has led to numerous spin-offs and adaptations over the decades.
Careers – Occupations or professions, especially ones requiring special training or education. – Barbie dolls have been designed to represent over 200 careers, inspiring children to imagine various professional paths.
Impact – The effect or influence of one person, thing, or action on another. – The impact of Barbie on popular culture is evident in the way it has shaped perceptions of beauty and fashion.
Controversies – Disputes or debates, often public, arising from differing opinions or beliefs. – Barbie has been at the center of many controversies regarding body image and gender roles.
Origins – The point or place where something begins or is created. – The origins of Barbie can be traced back to a German doll called Bild Lilli, which inspired Ruth Handler to create Barbie.
Global – Relating to the whole world; worldwide. – Barbie’s global reach has made it a recognizable brand in nearly every country around the world.
Fashion – A popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior. – Barbie has always been at the forefront of fashion, with outfits that reflect the latest trends and styles.
