Barbie Doll

Barbie Doll

 

By Pat Egan Dexter

 

The passing of Ruth Handler, the creator of the Barbie doll, brought back memories to so many parents whose lives became intertwined with Barbie's when their daughters were little ---- and we grown-ups paid the bill.

 

I wrote about Barbie in the'60s, when my daughter was 7 years old and said she wanted a Barbie doll. As far as I was concerned, one doll looked just like another, and since a Barbie was only $3, it was a bargain.(In those days Barbie came with just a bathing suit.)

 

I bought the doll and didn't think anything more about it.

 

A week later my daughter came in and said, "Barbie needs a negligee."

 

I said, "So does your mother."

 

"But there is one in the catalogue for only $3."

 

"What catalogue?"

 

"The one that came with the doll."

 

I grabbed the catalogue and found out what the makers of the doll were up to. Barbie was only $3, but you had to buy 200 outfits for her wardrobe---everything from ski suits to tiny mink jackets. Your status in the neighborhood depended on how many articles of clothing your Barbie had.

 

I was hoping my daughter would settle for a negligee, but a few weeks later she came back and said, "Barbie wants to be an airline stewardess."

I put another $3.50 on the line.

 

Barbie didn't stay a stewardess for long. She wanted to be a nurse ($3), then a singer in a nightclub ($3), and then a professional dancer ($3). (Note: This was before Barbie acknowledged women's lib.)

 

One day my daughter walked in and said, "Barbie's lonely."

 

"Let her join a sorority," I replied.

 

She showed me the catalogue, and sure enough, there was a doll named Ken. She cried, "If Barbie doesn't find a man, she will become an old maid."

 

So I went out and bought Ken for $3.50. He needed a terrycloth robe, an electric shaver, tennis togs, several double-breasted suits and a tuxedo. You can figure out how much that cost.

 

Pretty soon I had put up $400 to protect my original $3.

 

Then my daughter announced that Ken and Barbie were going to get married.

 

"Here is a list of wedding clothes and Barbie's dream house."

 

"Seven-fifty for a house!" I shouted. "Why can't they live on your shelf like your other dolls?"

 

I thought after the marriage that they would live happily ever after, but children pick up on everything,and one day my daughter said, "Barbie wants a divorce."

 

"Why?" I asked.

 

"Ken is going out with Midge, Barbie's best friend ---- and Midge ($3) doesn't have a thing to wear."

 

芭比娃娃

 

帕特·艾根·戴克斯特

 

芭比娃娃的创作人鲁斯·汉德勒的去世勾起了很多父母的回忆。当他们的女儿还很小的时候，他们的生活就跟芭比娃娃纠缠在了一起。

 

我在60年代写过芭比娃娃，那时我女儿7岁，她说，她想要个芭比娃娃。对我而言，玩具都是一样的，而且，因为芭比娃娃只有3美元，所以还是很便宜的。（当时看到的芭比娃娃只穿着浴衣。）

 

我买下了这个玩具娃娃，再没有多想什么。

 

一星期后，女儿走进屋说道：“芭比需要一件便服。”

 

我说：“你妈妈也需要便服。”

 

“可是，目录册上有一件便服只要3美元。”

 

“什么目录册？”

 

“就是那本买娃娃时附带的目录册。”

 

我抓过目录册一看，明白了玩具制造商到底想干什么。芭比娃娃只有3美元，但你不得不为了配齐它的行头而再买200套衣服——从滑雪装到小小的貂皮夹克。你在邻居家的地位就决定于你的芭比娃娃拥有多少服装。

 

我正希望女儿会因芭比娃娃得到了一件便服而满足，可是，一星期后她回来说道：“芭比想当空姐。”

 

我立即又为此花掉了3.5美元。

 

芭比的空姐没当多久，她又想当护士（3美元），然后又想当夜总会的歌星（3美元），再后来又想当职业舞蹈演员（3美元）。（注意：这是在芭比了解妇女解放运动之前。）

 

一天，女儿走进房间说道：“芭比很孤独。”

 

“让她参加女同学联谊会吧。”我回答道。

 

女儿给我看那本目录册，很肯定地，上面有一个叫肯的玩具娃娃。女儿抽泣着说：“如果芭比没有一个男朋友的话，她将会变成一个老处女。””

 

于是，我又出去花3.5美元买回了肯。他需要一件厚绒布的长袍，一个电动剃须刀，网球服，几件双排扣的外套和一件燕尾服。你会计算出这又要花费多少钱。

 

然后，女儿宣布肯和芭比要结婚了。

 

“这里是一份婚礼服装和芭比梦中新房的清单。”

 

“一间新房要75美元！”我叫出了声。“为什么它们不能和你的其它玩具娃娃一样住在架子上？”

 

我以为结了婚肯和芭比会从此生活得很幸福，可是孩子们了解一切。

 

一天，女儿说：“芭比要离婚了。”

 

“为什么？”我问。

 

“肯和米奇外出约会。米奇（3美元）是芭比最好的朋友——而且，她身上什么也没穿。”