Purpose statement: The purpose of this speech is to inform the audience about Barbie.
INTRODUCTION: I. Did you know in every second of everyday, two Barbie dolls are sold somewhere in the world? A. Barbie was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler. B. She was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City. II. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for fifty years. A. She has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parody of the doll and lifestyle. B. In recent years, Barbie has faced increasing competition from the Bratz range of dolls.
BODY: I. History A. Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara at play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors. 1. During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across German toy doll called Bild Lilli. The adult-figured doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. 2. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip. Lilli was a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to babies, it became popular with adults who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately. B. Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy