January 1, 1959

New York, New York

Barbie, Toys, Feminism, Femininity, Second Wave Feminism

The eyes of little girls widened everywhere, as they witnessed the TV debut of a beloved toy.  Finally, there was a doll that resembled a “grown up girl” and not a baby.  Already an icon of beauty by the time of her TV commercial, Mattel's marketing emphasized the dolls mature face and figure that had made her famous:  “Barbie is small and so petite, her clothes and figure look so neat.[1]”...