What's A Girl To Do?

by Robert Passikoff, Mar 26, 2009, 5:00 AM

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You turn 50, and you lose ground to your rivals. Suddenly the wealth of houses, dream cars and your ability to get as many Ken dolls as you want mean nothing: they're out there lusting after younger dolls.

The icon that put the "plastic" in plastic surgery, Barbie remains a well-known and polarizing cultural and social phenomenon. Introduced in the pre-dawn of the feminist movement, generations of women have grown up with her wardrobes, careers, friends, boyfriends, pets, playhouses, and flashy pink sports cars. But a lot has changed in 50 years, and Mattel, which introduced Barbie five decades and a billion units ago, is rolling out a commemorative doll and promoting "All Things Barbie" to perk up sagging sales.

Barbie's history, however, has reflected the evolving role of women. For example:

• When Barbie debuted, women made up 38% of the workforce. Now they make up 60%.

• Mattel introduced an Astronaut Barbie in 1965, but it wasn't until 1983 that Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman in space.

• In 1973, Nurse Barbie went to med school. The percentage of female doctors back then? 10%. Now it's 35%.

• In 1989 Barbie served in four military branches, wearing uniforms approved by the Pentagon. The number of female veterans today numbers 1.8 million at an average age of 47.

• In 1992, Teen Talk Barbie whined, "Math class is tough," prompting anger from parents and an apology from Mattel. Still, the number of math doctorates granted to women at that time was 23%. Today it's only slightly higher, at 29%.

• In 2004, Barbie and long-time boy-toy, Ken, broke up after 43 years and then reunited in 2006, which is a real storybook ending since today only 6% of divorced couples get back together.

However, unlike real women, Barbie hasn't changed physically and it's been noted that her measurements -- at 36-18-38 -- if rendered in the flesh, would make it impossible for her to stand.

She's lost market share over the past decade, with domestic sales falling as much as 12% in recent years. And no matter what memories she evokes for moms, her target audience has grown younger, more sophisticated, and increasingly disinterested in the fantasy Barbie has to offer. What's worse, interactive dolls, toys, and video games have moved into the dream-house neighborhood.

All the categories we study change over time, and this is no exception. What was once considered edgy now seems relatively tame, especially when compared to real-life Barbies like Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. More recently, she's been replaced by Bratz dolls with pouty lips and by Hannah Montana fashion-dolls.

Still and all, it's a real cultural and marketing event. Barbie, the iconic fashion doll with the top-heavy figure and high-heel arches is 50. And some fairytales do continue for girls even when women are long past the point of believing in them.

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0 comments on "What's A Girl To Do? ".

1. Haralee Weintraub from Haralee.com
   

   commented on: March 26, 2009 at 7:46 p.m.

   Barbie's creator was a genius. Barbie has honed the art of reinvention well. Her daughter, the real Barbie, lives on and can appreciate the success of her namesake doll.

2. Jennifer Nelson from Haworth Marketing & Media
   

   commented on: April 2, 2009 at 1:39 p.m.

   Interestingly, this article was written by Robert, presumably a man.

3. Nina Lentini from MediaPost Communications
   

   commented on: April 2, 2009 at 5:38 p.m.

   Jennifer, Bob is quite a guy!

4. Marti Barletta from The TrendSight Group
   

   commented on: June 22, 2009 at 9:18 p.m.

   Women don't make up 60% - the majority - of the workforce. It's more like 46%.

   The exact number depends on how you define "women" (15+, 18-54 - both dumb definitions; or 18-65, which makes more sense, yet soon won't capture those non-retiring boomer women - who, incidentally, are the only segment of the population enjoying any - any! - income growth lately);and how you define "work" (full-time only, full-time + part-time; private sector, or including govt & military, etc.)

   In any case, just a reality check: There are slightly more women in the US population than men (51% vs 49%). But as in times past, men are still more likely to be employed. (e.g., among parents, per US Census 2006, there are 5.5 million stay at home moms; 140,000 stay at home dads.)

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