[1]Barbie made her first appearance on this day in 1959. Ruth Handler created her not as a career woman, but as a receptacle for little girls’ fantasies of marriage and glamorous outfits. Two architects consulted with Mattel on the design of this new doll, which comes loaded with a hardhat, pink blueprint bag, and a skyline imprinted on her dress. Read Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride [1], my tribute to Barbie on her 50th birthday.