10 Barbie Controversies That You Won't Be Able to Forget
Here's a glimpse into Barbie's past.
1.Oreo Barbie
In 1997, Mattel released the Oreo Fun Barbie in both caucasian and African American versions. This was majorly controversial since "Oreo" is a term used to insult African American people who others perceive as "acting white."
2. Kissing Barbie
This creepy kissing Barbie was released in 1979.
3.The Bird Barbie
Mattel paid tribute to Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 movie "The Birds" by recreating the scene in the movie where Tippi Hedren is attacked by a bunch of birds. Totally appropriate for children!
4. Midge & Baby
Midge is Barbie's friend who was introduced into the collection in 1963. In 2002, the "Happy Family" version of Midge was released, which featured a pregnant Midge designed to "satisfy the desire for nurturing play by girls ages 5 to 8."
5. Growing up Skipper
Skipper was a doll that would instantly turn from a young girl into a tall, slender teen when you turned her arm around.
6. Barbie Wash & Watch Dishwasher
Because girls should grow up wanting to be stuck in the kitchen.
7. Talkin' Barbie
Parents had a lot to say about Talkin' Barbie. The doll came with a few pre-recorded phrases along with the ability to record your own voice. One of the phrases she would say was supposed to be "off the hook," but too a lot of parents and kids it sounded like she was saying "what the fuck," which caused Mattel to launch an investigation.
8. Slumber Party Barbie
Slumber party Barbie was released in 1965 and came with a diet book and a scale so that she and her friends could developed a horrible body image really early on.
9. I Can Be A Computer Engineer Barbie
It seems like we're making progress here with "I Can Be A Computer Engineer" Barbie books. Unfortunately, the creators of the doll didn't actually make her into a computer engineer. She actually only works on the design and user experience of a game and two guys named Brian and Steven have to help her turn it into a real game. She also ends up with a computer virus but has to call on Brian and Steven to get rid of it.
10. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story
Filmmaker Todd Haynes used Barbies to tell the sad story of Karen Carpenter. He used dolls to chronicle her life as a singer but later whittled them down as he told the story of her anorexia and eventual death.