Slate Money Money Talks: Barbie’s Dirty Laundry
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Jan 6, 2026 Tarpley Hitt, a journalist and author of *Barbieland: The Unauthorized History*, dives into the untold stories behind the iconic doll. She sheds light on Ruth Handler's controversial history, including her questionable inspiration for Barbie, her resistance to maternity leave policies, and Mattel's espionage tactics against rivals. Tarpley also unpacks the deeper implications of lawsuits like the Bratz case, revealing the human cost of corporate battles, while discussing Barbie's transformation and enduring commercial strategy.
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Dolls Reveal Cultural Contradictions
- Tarpley Hitt became fascinated by dolls' cultural power and contradictions, which drew her to Barbie as a case study.
- She saw Barbie as the ultimate polarizing doll that captures both worship and disgust across audiences.
Barbie's Origin Story Was Borrowed
- Ruth Handler's origin story for Barbie framed her as independently inspired by play with paper dolls.
- Tarpley found that Ruth actually copied a hugely popular German character, Bild Lilli, rather than inventing the adult doll from scratch.
Bild Lilli Was A Proven Template
- Bild Lilli was a massive multimedia phenomenon in postwar Germany, complete with merchandise and a movie star tie-in.
- Ruth Handler saw Bild Lilli's commercial success and used it as a proof of concept for an American adult doll.
