Material World
Material World
Bloomberg
Barbie’s Torrid Rise, Awkward Fall and -- Maybe! -- Surprise Comeback
24 minutes Posted Jun 27, 2017 at 9:00 am.
0:00
24:38
Download MP3
Show notes

She's been called a role model -- but also creepy and superficial. So who is the real Barbie? Matt Townsend looked into an 58-year-old toy that's become much, much more than a mere plaything. He and Lindsey trace the life and times of this 11-and-a-half inch doll -- from her Eisenhower-era debut  her stumbles (who knew she struggled to compete with Britney Spears?) and what Mattel is doing now to revive her.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.