Barbie's Reach to the Sky

The iconic fashion doll may have a new movie out, but she's long played a role inspiring women in aviation.

Friday, July 21, 2023 at 05:07 PM ET

Verified

If you know a woman with a career in aviation or the sciences, chances are good she has a collectible Barbie doll celebrating her career. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Barbie was created in 1959 to inspire girls to pursue diverse careers beyond traditional roles like motherhood.
The doll's career evolution included a strong focus on aviation, progressing from a stewardess to an airline pilot, aiming to encourage girls in these fields.
Barbie actively embraced STEM initiatives, introducing dolls like astrophysicists and astronauts to motivate girls' interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Modern Barbie dolls continue to expand on this mission by offering diverse representations in skin tones, body types, and professions.

See a mistake? Contact us.

If you know a woman with a career in aviation or the sciences, chances are good she has a collectible Barbie doll celebrating her career. Barbie was created to inspire girls to pursue occupations past motherhood.

That may be difficult to envision, given the release of the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, which has been described as a comedy served up on a platter of pink. The film opens nationwide Friday.