Dolls are one of the most favorite toys for girls of all ages. They come in different shapes and forms, often very different from one country to another. However, one of them is known and sold all over the world: Barbie dolls. Owning one of these “American” dolls has been the dream of many girls for over fifty years. A toy in childhood can become a hobby or even an obsession in adulthood. For all Barbie lovers aged 1 to 100, a permanent exhibition of more than 1,200 Barbie dolls and more than 3,000 accessories is prepared at the Dolls Land gallery in Prague. Barbie dolls are interesting phenomena and can be seen in many different connotations. That's why I decided to visit this exhibition and analyze several aspects related to this extraordinary toy.1950s – Barbie is bornThe first Barbie doll was introduced in 1959 by its inventor Ruth Handler. Barbie was different from other dolls at that time. She was neither a baby nor a little girl. She was an adult woman. She wore a black and white swimsuit and was blonde or brunette. The doll became popular very quickly. About 350,000 dolls were sold in the first year. It is no coincidence that this type of doll was created and enjoyed such success in the late 1950s and 1960s. If we look at American society at that time, we can see some interesting parallels. The social role of women changed after World War II. They were no longer needed in the industry and they had to give up their jobs so that the men returning from the war would have a place to work. The ideal woman at that time was the “feminine woman”. This meant that women should not fight for their political rights, that they should not try to get a good education and become successful. Their life mission should be to take care of their husband... middle of paper ...... hey, provide for them. Some companies often target parents and their children. It is adults who make toys and the products reflect the ideals of their inventor and designer. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Barbie dolls, but I don't think it's a bad toy for small children. It depends on how it’s presented to them. They need to know the difference between fiction (toy) and real life. If parents approach all toys and other products, there are almost none that would be truly bad for children. Barbie doll can teach children that there are different types of people from different countries and that in reality they are not that different. I think the Barbie doll will remain popular for a long time. This will change slightly based on society's ideals, as before. There will always be people who hate the toy and others who love it..