Power of 50: Fifty and Still a Doll

Photo courtesy of Mattel

Barbara Millicent Roberts hit the scene in March 1959 in the pre-dawn of the feminist movement, her lifestyle choices rivaled only by those of her wardrobe. Today we welcome Mattel’s ultimate “it” girl to the AARP demographic—let’s see how she fits in.

• 1959: Barbie debuts as a teenage fashion model, work she continues today through her Barbie Top Model line. Did you know? Percentage of women in the workforce then: 38. Today: 60.

• 1961: Ken Carson meets Barbie on a TV commercial set; the two begin dating. Did you know? Number of unmarried heterosexuals in long-term relationships then: 439,000. Today: 6.5 million.

• 1965: Astronaut Barbie debuts a year after NASA scuttles training for women. Did you know? In 1983 Sally Ride became the first U.S. woman in space.

• 1973: Nurse Barbie goes to medical school, graduates as Surgeon Barbie. Did you know? Percentage of doctors who were female in the 1970s: 10. Today: 33.

• 1975: Gold Medal Barbie sweeps the Olympic Games in skating, skiing and gymnastics. Did you know? Number of female athletes to compete in the 2009 Summer National Senior Games: 6,000.

• 1980: Barbie goes multiracial with the debut of Black Barbie, Hispanic Barbie and the International Collection. Did you know? Number of Americans who identify themselves as mixed race: 5 million, up 25% since 2000.

• 1989: Barbie joins the Army. By 1992 she serves in four military branches, sporting Pentagon-approved uniforms. Did you know? Number of female veterans today: 1.8 million. Average age: 47.

• 1992: Teen Talk Barbie whines, “Math class is tough,” prompting an apology from Mattel. Did you know? Percentage of math doctorates granted to women then: 23. Today: 29.

• 1992: Barbie first runs for president. Did you know? Sixteen years later, Hillary Clinton garners 18 million votes in the Democratic presidential primaries.

• 1997: Barbie discovers that Share-a-Smile Becky’s hot pink wheelchair doesn’t fit in the Dream House elevator. Did you know? Percentage of Americans over 45 who anticipate making changes in their homes for easier living: 51.

• 2004: Barbie and Ken break up after 43 years together, then reunite in 2006. Did you know? Percentage of divorced couples over 40 who get back together: 6.

• 2009: At 50, Barbie is the world’s highest-earning doll, with $1.2 billion in annual revenue. Did you know? Women’s median annual income for full-time work in 1959: $3,200 ($23,360 in today’s dollars). Today: $35,102 for all women; $20,810 for women ages 55 to 64.