Barbie, in full Barbara Millicent Roberts, A plastic doll, 11 in. (29 cm) tall, with the figure of an adult woman that was introduced in 1959 by Mattel, Inc., a southern California toy company. Ruth Handler, who cofounded Mattel with her husband, Elliot, spearheaded the introduction of the doll, which was based on a risqué gag gift for German men. In 1961 Mattel brought out a doll representing Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken. Since the 1970s, Barbie has been criticized for materialism (amassing cars, houses, and clothes) and unrealistic body proportions. Mattel responded by changing the body mold for Barbie on several occasions, and in 2016 the company released three additional sizes of Barbie. Despite complaints, many women who played with the doll credit Barbie with providing an alternative to restrictive gender roles, particularly those of 1950s America. Today the doll is a global brand. Greta Gerwig directed the movie Barbie (2023), starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, which became a blockbuster.
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