Barbie celebrates cultural legacy through new book and museum exhibit

The cultural impact and history of Barbie are being highlighted through a new illustrated book by Megan Hess and a museum exhibition at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC).

Megan Hess’s book, ‘The World of Barbie’, provides a visual compendium of the doll’s evolution since her creation by Ruth Handler in 1959. The book explores iconic elements of the brand, including various Dream Houses, vehicles like the 1962 Austin-Healey 3000, and the diverse range of careers Barbie has held, such as scientist, astronaut, and doctor.

Simultaneously, the ‘Barbie™: A Cultural Icon’ exhibit at the VMHC examines more than six decades of the doll’s fashion and history. The exhibition explores the doll's complex societal role, looking at how Barbie has reflected, accepted, or challenged traditional gender roles and societal expectations through her changing appearance and professional personas.