If there's one toy all girls have played with, it's Barbie. No matter who you were or what age you can remember, Barbie has always been a key part of your childhood.
While Barbie is the original, we've seen many other versions from other companies but everyone always comes back to Barbie. That's why I was so excited to be able to share a guest post from Renee Rosen. Rosen is the author of the upcoming release: Let's Call Her Barbie.
Being published by Berkley on January 21st, the title paints a picture of what Rosen explores in her book. The book is about Barbie and the history of the iconic doll we al know and love. Of course, this release is bound to be exciting for those who remember just how much they loved Barbie after the release of the movie.
Given that we got a brief look at Ruth Handler, no doubt Rosen is going to get even more in-depth into Barbie's journey. That's why I'm so excited to be able to share her guest post as Rosen talks about her relationship with Barbie so let's get into it.
Renee Rosen talks her relationship with Barbie in her essay.
I'd like to thank both the publisher and Renee Rosen for sharing. This essay will resonate with those who grew up with Barbie and still think about their time, playing with her as a kid. With that being said, let's get into Renee's essay.
"Were it not for Barbie, I might never have become a writer. Growing up in Ohio in the 60s and 70s, Barbie and her friends were my constant companions. Weekends and after school were reserved for Barbie playing. I never went to anyone’s house without my Barbie case in hand, totting my three Barbies, Midge, two Kens, one Skipper and my brother’s G.I. Joe (to even out the ratio of female to male dolls). For hours we sat, sprawled out on the floor of Steffi’s basement or upstairs in Liz’s bedroom with our dolls and our imaginations.
Playing Barbies never got old. Every day, there was a new adventure and as my friends will attest, my storylines for Barbie were quite elaborate. For example, it was implausible for Barbie and Ken to jet off to Paris for a romantic weekend because they were having financial problems (due to Ken’s gambling) and they were in the middle of a fight (again, due to Ken’s gambling). All that would surely have to be resolved before they could indulge in such a rendezvous. This sort of attention to detail and doll motivation must have driven my friends crazy. Why couldn’t I just put on the pretty outfits and stage make-out sessions? Why, because the story and the characters mattered to me back then, as they do now. Every action had to be logically thought out, and even back then, I was aware of the need for a narrative arc for each doll. Skipper, for example, had to experience something that would make her a different doll by the time I packed her up and went home.
When there was no one to play with, I still had my Barbies to keep me company. I remember being on our back porch one summer afternoon. I was probably ten and fully engrossed in that day’s Barbie adventure. I was quite animated, talking to myself and having a wonderful time, until I looked up and saw our neighbor watching me. I felt so foolish and the expression on his face would haunt me for years to come. It’s only now that I realize my neighbor wasn’t judging me. Far from it, I think he was charmed by witnessing a little girl’s innocence as she unlocked her imagination. Barbie did that for me and continues to do that for children today. Who knows, maybe a future novelist is playing with their Barbies at this very moment. "
As you can see, Renee Rosen has a history with Barbie so she's the perfect person to get in-depth into the history of Barbie and how the doll became an icon. No matter if you're someone who hasn't thought about Barbie in years or have a little one, this essay will have something you can relate to.
Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen is releasing January 21st, 2025.