Barbie has always been controversial this has only been recently diminished because she is seen as being better than the upstart Bratz Dollz.
Barbie was the first non-baby doll and therefore allowed girls to dream of having a career or being a successful model or pop star. Whatever the job or profession they could still be glamorous.
Of course this only reflected what was happening in society generally.
A few of those little girls who got their first Barbie in the 1950′s are now Barbie Collectors having next lost their passion.