Summary

Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, explores the dream world of Barbie and her creator, Ruth Handler, in a captivating blend of fiction and fact. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel Toys, defied societal expectations and created Barbie as a doll that inspired girls to dream beyond traditional gender roles. Despite skepticism, Handler fought to preserve Barbie’s unique features and created a doll that empowered young girls to pursue their dreams and challenge societal norms.

The eagerly awaited film Barbie, directed by the talented Greta Gerwig, takes viewers on an amazing trip that examines the dream world of Barbie and her inventor, Ruth Handler. In front of the background of Barbieland, Ryan Gosling portrays Ken, Barbie’s ardent husband, and Margot Robbie shines as the well-known doll. In this video, which deftly blends aspects of fiction and fact to create an interesting tale, we learn more about Barbie’s ongoing attraction and the eccentric lady who created her.

The focus of the movie is Ruth Handler, a trailblazing thinker played by famous actress Rhea Pearlman. Ruth, who co-founded Mattel Toys, is acknowledged honestly and with respect for her significant role in the development of Barbie. An in-depth exploration of Ruth’s biography and how her experiences as a working mother inspired the revolutionary idea of Barbie, a doll that encouraged girls to dream without regard to social expectations, is provided in the movie. Ruth courageously upheld Barbie’s distinctive qualities in the face of resistance from male executives, acting as a role model for future generations of women’s independence and self-expression.

Ruth Handler: The Visionary Behind Barbie

Born Ruth Mosko in Denver, Colorado, in 1916, to Polish-Jewish immigrants, Handler’s journey to becoming Barbie’s creator was anything but conventional. At age 19, she moved to Los Angeles, defying the gender norms of the 1930s, and convinced her high school sweetheart, art student Elliot Handler, to join her in Hollywood.

They married in 1938 and ventured into the furniture business, where Elliot handled design and fabrication while Ruth excelled in sales. In the midst of their successful furniture venture, Handler had a eureka moment that would change the course of toy history. Observing her daughter and friends playing with paper dolls, she realized the potential for a three-dimensional version. These paper dolls represented teenage and adult figures, and Handler saw an opportunity to create something that could inspire young girls to dream beyond traditional gender roles.

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The fateful trip to Europe further ignited her vision when she discovered the German Bild Lilli doll. Similar to Barbie, Lilli was an adult-looking doll with various outfits, but she lacked the option to purchase the clothes separately. Handler saw the perfect amalgamation of ideas and decided to create a fashion doll that embodied limitless possibilities for young girls.

Despite facing initial skepticism from her male colleagues at Mattel Toys, Handler was determined to bring Barbie to life. Her insistence on preserving Barbie’s unique features, including the controversial bust/waist/hip ratio, required a tenacious fight. She believed that Barbie could serve as a blank canvas, allowing girls to project their dreams of growing up and exploring all potential careers, regardless of societal norms.

After making her debut at the American Toy Fair in 1959, Barbie immediately rose to fame, selling 351,000 dolls in her first year alone. Barbie’s capacity to serve as a catalyst for empowering young girls was confirmed, supporting Handler’s unrelenting optimism.

With the introduction of Skipper, Skipper’s younger sister, and Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend, the world of the doll was expanded. Barbie adopted a variety of professions, from astronaut to fashion designer, challenging gender conventions and encouraging generations of girls to pursue their dreams.

Ruth Handler’s Turbulent Journey: From Triumph to Resilience
Warner Bros.

Despite her phenomenal success with Barbie, Handler’s life encountered turbulent times in the 1970s. Mattel faced financial scandals, leading to the Handlers’ resignation. Handler herself was indicted for fraud and false reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Though she pleaded no contest to the charges, she maintained her innocence publicly. Amidst these challenges, Handler faced a personal battle with breast cancer, undergoing a mastectomy. Dissatisfied with the available prosthetic options, she took matters into her own hands and founded Ruthton Corp. Creating the “Nearly Me” breast prosthesis; Handler offered breast cancer survivors a means to reclaim their femininity and feel empowered.

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The life of Ruth Handler served as an example of tenacity, imagination, and dedication to having a good influence. She was adamant that despite Barbie’s idealized appearance, she did not have a detrimental impact on girls’ self-esteem. Barbie instead became a symbol of empowerment and boundless possibility.

An enduring legacy was left by Handler after her death in 2002. Her efforts to encourage young girls inspired her to develop Barbie, and those efforts continue to be felt all across the world. Ruth Handler made a name for herself beyond Barbie by being the first to introduce the concept of advertising specifically to kids and turning Mattel into a toy juggernaut.

Barbie continues to be a cultural phenomenon today, with a billion-dollar corporation that is a monument to Handler’s entrepreneurial energy. The Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling-starring Barbie movie honors Handler’s genius as a creator and her part in establishing the world of the legendary doll.

Barbie has had an incalculable influence on play and young girls’ self-confidence. Ruth Handler had the daring and tenacity that led to the legendary doll’s long-lasting popularity. For many generations of kids throughout the world, Barbie remains a representation of hopes, aspirations, and endless possibilities.