15 July 2023 , 15:00
1085
0
Barbie The Movie is about to hit screens in both the US and the UK in coming days and weeks, with the entire world going wild over Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
But before the live-action movie by Greta Gerwig was even a thing, the Barbie doll was a prominent part of popular culture thanks to the iconic doll being released on March 9, 1959 after its creation by American businesswoman Ruth Handler.
But although Barbie franchise and the overall brand is known for being pink, pretty and on the whole, quite positive, there have been many controversies over the years with the dolls used by children all over the world.
Pin-up backstory
A little-known fact about Barbie dolls is that they started out with a very sinister meaning. Although these days Barbies are manufactured, marketed and sold as toys for children, they were actually modeled on a an adult gag gift doll from Germany named Bild Lilli.
But even further back in time and long before Bild Lilli was created in doll form, she was in a 1940s German cartoon by Reinhard Beuthien. The comic strip character was named Bild Lilli and was a a post-war pin-up who seduced men. She was a popular fixture among readers, which is why the doll was made in the 50s.
Margot Robbie insisted on being totally nude in film for authentic scenes
The first Barbie doll made by Mattel in 1959 was based on a German cartoon (Alamy Stock Photo)Ruth Handler is the woman who created the Barbie doll, and it is reported that after going to Germany in the 50s, she purchased some of the Bild Lilli dolls. "Lilli dolls could be bought in tobacco shops, bars and adult-themed toy stores," Robin Gerber, the author of Barbie and Ruth previously told Time.
She added: “Men got Lilli dolls as gag gifts at bachelor parties, put them on their car dashboard, dangled them from the rear-view mirror, or gave them to girlfriends as a suggestive keepsake."
Don't eat diet doll
In 1965 the Slumber Party Barbie doll came with some bathroom scales that were set to 110lbs. Not only did the doll come with scales and a 'goal weight', but it came with a diet book too.
The Slumber Party doll had a diet aesthetic
The Bild Lilli doll was the inspiration behind Barbie (SSPL via Getty Images)The little yellow and red doll-size booklet said "How to lose weight" on the front, with "Don't eat" written on the back. As well as the scales and book, the Slumber Party doll also came with a silk pyjama outfit and some hair accessories.
But these days, Barbie dolls are much more inclusive, with curvier figures, stretch marks and disabilities.
Nine-months pregnant Midge
Barbie fans will likely know about Midge, also known as Margaret Hadley Sherwood - a fictional doll character in the Barbie line of toys by Mattel that was first released in 1963. Marketed as Barbie's best friend, Midge came back in 2003 as part of the Happy Family collection.
In the early noughties a pregnant doll was on sale (Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock)The Happy Family version of Midge was nine months pregnant and came complete with a removable belly and a tiny plastic baby doll in her stomach. Although it was met with some positivity, CBS reported that Walmart pulled the toy off shelves and discontinued pregnant Midge in 2005.
Controversial puberty doll
This is not as gruesome as you might have originally thought, but it's equally as weird and rather disturbing in some ways.
Back in 1975 Mattel brought out Growing Up Skipper, a puberty doll, which saw her grow when you pulled out her arms. But that's not all, her chest also grew too. Yes, really!
Growing Up Skipper was released in 1975
The Barbie's breasts even grew - yes, reallyThe packaging said: "The doll who grows from a cute young girl to a tall and curvy teenager... with a set of pretty clothes for each time of her life!"
First look at Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn as she takes over from Margot Robbie
Negative Barbie
In 1992 some parents were probably quite disappointed in Mattel when they brought out a Barbie that wasn't keen on maths.
The Teen Talk Barbie had a string of phrases that it was programmed to say, with her asking "Do you have a crush on anyone?" and saying "I'll always be here to help you". But one of the other phrases wasn't so positive.
The Teen Talk Barbie was met with criticism (Youtube)"Maths class is tough!" the Barbie doll also exclaimed in a pre programmed way, which led the American Association of University Women asking the toy company to change it.
According to the New York Times, the president of the toy company at the time, Jill Barad, apologised when she said: "In hindsight, the phrase ‘math class is tough,’ while correct for many students both male and female, should not have been included."