Barbie, the iconic fashion doll created by Mattel in 1959, has evolved beyond a plaything to a symbol of aspiration and inspiration for generations of young girls around the world. While Barbie is often thought of as a symbol of fashion and style with endless outfit changes and dream house accessories, there is far more to Barbie than meets the eye. Through her ever-changing world, Barbie has been depicted in several professions, from United States Presidential Candidate Barbie, and Astronaut Barbie, to Pilot Barbie, and Space Scientist Barbie. Barbie has a career portfolio depicting more than 200 professions, showcasing that women can take on any role and have a place in every field of industry. 

Showcasing leadership values 

These diverse representations through Barbie break down gender stereotypes and instill in young girls the belief that they can be achievers and leaders in any field they set their heart on. Barbie promotes a message of confidence, resilience, and perseverance, vital qualities for any leader that are especially important values to instill in young girls. The Barbie Inspiring Women Series which features dolls modelled on real-life inspirational figures, serves as a powerful tool to educate girls about female leaders and the significant contributions they have made to society. Barbie showcases the limitless potential of women and highlights to our daughters that they can be anything they want to be. 

Barbie in the medical field 

While many critics accuse Barbie of promoting unrealistic beauty standards and gender stereotypes, her role of inspiration in the medical field can’t be overlooked. Barbie has inspired countless girls worldwide to pursue careers in the health and medical field by exposing them to different career paths. Barbie’s medical career has included everything from Pediatrician Barbie and Surgeon Barbie to Dentist Barbie and Nurse Barbie. By introducing young girls to a world of possibilities within the medical field, Barbie is helping to break the stereotype of male-dominated professions in healthcare. 

Barbie in STEM 

In recent years there has been a movement to focus on encouraging more women to enter the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. One unexpected source of inspiration has come from Barbie. Robotics Engineer Barbie, Game Developer Barbie, and Computer Scientist Barbie are just a few of the STEM positions that Barbie has held in her extensive career. Through Barbie, these positions are showcased in a positive light, sparking more interest and curiosity amongst young girls who may never have previously considered these fields as career options. More women than ever are pursuing tech and engineering careers as the industry takes a shift towards becoming more inclusive and diverse. Barbie may be a doll with an enviable wardrobe, but she’s also creating positive waves in the workforce. 

Barbie in the Boardroom 

Barbie has had a significant impact on the business world since her creation in 1959. Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, envisioned Barbie as a reflection of a life of possibilities for young girls, creating a point of difference in the market that was monopolised by baby dolls at the time. Barbie took the career dreams of little girls beyond mother and homemaking and to serious careers through inspiration such as Business Executive Barbie, Entrepreneur Barbie, Restaurant Owner Barbie, and even Chief Sustainability Officer Barbie. 

Since then, many female leaders, including CEOs, have attributed their career success to playing with Barbie dolls as children. Barbie’s influence on young girls has helped them to challenge gender norms and inspired them to dream big and aim high. 

Barbie in Academia 

Barbie's influence on the academic community is often overlooked but she has inspired countless female academics and university professionals to push for more opportunities for women and greater equality in academia. Barbie’s positive and empowering message resonates with young girls around the world, inspiring them to believe in themselves and their dreams. 

Barbie has been an incredible and meaningful presence for women in leadership since her entrance onto the doll scene decades ago. She has broken down stereotypes of what a leader ‘should’ be, and provided girls and women with inspiration and someone to look up to in various fields of industry that they may have previously felt unable to break into. Barbie is a symbol of ambition and power – from Ruth Handler’s vision of creating a new kind of doll that encourages girls to consider options beyond motherhood and homemaking to the inspiring female leaders breaking through barriers when faced with today’s challenges. While society still has much further to go when it comes to achieving gender equality, Barbie is not only a symbol of hope, but proof that we can, and will, disrupt the status quo.