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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.

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]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Barbie was created in 1959 to inspire girls to pursue careers beyond traditional motherhood, initially offering dolls in diverse adult occupations.
  • Her career representations evolved over time, significantly featuring roles in aviation (from stewardess to pilot) and expanding into STEM fields to encourage girls in science and technology.
  • These career-focused Barbie dolls aim to serve as role models, providing aspirational figures and simplified career insights for young girls interested in various professions.
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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.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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