Millicent is her middle name?

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I was a Barbie girl.
I have absolutely no qualms in admitting that.

Now I know that over the years Barbie has taken a beating. Feminists, critics, and child psychiatrists alike, often denounce her as Public Enemy #1. They worry that her body type gives girls unrealistic expectations, that she teaches girls to rely on  looks and  fashion sense rather than  brains, or that  she objectifies women.

Well I say hooey on that.

Aside from the fact that she is cursed to spend her life in high heel shoes, I think Barbie is just wonderful.

Now I came of age with what I call the real Barbie. Malibu Barbie circ 1971. She was a simple doll, she came with a  bathing suit, a towel, and sunglasses perched upon her head. She was perfectly tan (long before we knew about suntans and skin cancer) blonde, and she didn’t do anything. She didn’t talk, walk, wet herself, read, or any other fancy toy action. She just was. Perfect simplicity.

That’s why Barbie was so great for a girl like me. I had imagination. I liked to talk to myself. I liked to dream. So, I got to control Barbie’s universe. I told  Barbie what to do-such as :

Dump Ken                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Opt for the Barbie Dream Camper not the pink convertible (though I eventually had both)

Take the job as a reporter and forget the fashion show.

My Barbie had a  very interesting life  limited only by my imagination. Or, Pam’s. As children my best friend Pam and I spent HOURS playing Barbies. We both accumulated a number of them, along with their various co-horts, Ken, Skipper(one of Barbie’s four sisters), and all the “fake Barbies” given to us by friends and family. Barbie got her hair cut (alas it didn’t grow back), got married and divorced countless times (I think we were influenced by the soap opera viewing of Pam’s mom ), had feuds with her rivals, and traveled everywhere.

We played with Barbie for years, years I’m telling you and guess what-neither of us was scarred for life. We didn’t grow up wanting to be fashionistas with 24 inch waists or have some misguided vision of life as girls. In fact I think we both turned out pretty well-both understanding that there is room in every life for high heel shoes a la Barbie as well as  nice comfortable loafers. We both have careers, had happy marriages, and then (like Barbie after 43 years with Ken) divorced. We’ve raised children, been good girlfriend to the other girls in our lives, and have never felt the need to barf after dinner. 

So take that all you Barbie fearmongers.

I had hoped for Barbie daughters, but it didn’t turn out that way. They liked  Barbie well enough, but she never became the favorite of childhood. The Barbie years were shortlived, with the doll mostly confined to spending life naked in the bathtub. I gave them my Barbies to play with-(yes that classic 1971 Malibu Barbie ended up flotsam) and all her clothes and such. I bought them Barbies, (though here’s my mommy confession: I threw away all shoes and accesories upon purchase. Once you’ve vaccumed up a Barbie shoe you know it has to be done) and I still can’t walk down the toy aisle without looking longingly at Holiday Barbie, Easter Barbie, you-name-it-we-make-it Barbie.

And now it is Barbie’s 50th birthday. FIFTY! The big 5-0.  

Barbie doesn’t seem to be having nearly the issues with turning 50 that some of my girlfriends are having.

So I’d like to say Happy Birthday Barbie! While the rest of the world may debate your worth-I say Bravo! Here’s to 50 more years. Because I can’t imagine having grown up without Barbie, or Pam (who is far from 50 herself). 

Fun facts I didn’t know from Barbie’s press office:

• Barbie’s real name is Barbie Millicent Roberts
• Barbie is from Willows, Wisconsin.  She attended Willows High School
• Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, brought her vision of a three-dimensional doll to life with the introduction of Barbie in 1959
• Barbie first appeared in the now-famous black-and-white striped swimsuit and signature ponytail
• Barbie has four sisters: Skipper (1964), Stacie (1992), Kelly (1995) and Krissy (1995)  
• Barbie’s first pet was a horse named Dancer
• The first Barbie doll sold for $3.00 (1959)
• Barbie’s signature color is Barbie pink:  PMS 219
• Barbie’s first boyfriend, Ken, debuted two years after Barbie in 1961
• Ken was named after the son of Mattel founders Ruth and Elliot Handler
• Ken and Barbie broke up on Valentine’s Day in 2004 after being together more than 43 years  
• The best-selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Totally Hair Barbie, with hair from the top of her head to her toes
• Barbie has been outfitted by more than 70 famous couturiers
• Barbie has had more than 108 inspirational careers

http://www.barbiemedia.com/?cat=5

http://www.newsweek.com/id/185788

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