Biography of ruth handler house in san francisco

Her parents, Jacob and Ida Mosko, were Polish Jewish immigrants who operated a small drugstore and soda fountain.

Ruth Marianna Mosko was born

From a young age, Ruth worked in the family business, learning valuable lessons in customer service and hard work. She often made and sold crafts and sewed miniature outfits for her dolls. Showing an early aptitude for leadership and academics, Ruth graduated from high school at just 16 years old. In , Ruth married her high school sweetheart, Elliot Handler.

The couple moved to Los Angeles, where Elliot began making costume jewelry and decorative objects out of plastic. Ruth supported the family by working as a secretary at Paramount Pictures. However, the Handlers had bigger dreams. In , they officially launched their business, combining their names to create "Mattel. It was on a family trip to Europe in that Ruth had a fateful encounter with a German doll called Bild Lilli.

Unlike the baby and child dolls that dominated the American toy market, Bild Lilli had a mature, curvy figure. Though marketed as a gag gift for adults, Ruth saw the potential for a similar doll that could inspire young girls to imagine themselves in grown-up roles. Over the past six decades, Barbie has become a global icon, with sales of over one billion dolls in more than countries.

Since her creation, Barbie has had over careers, from nurse to astronaut, reflecting the changing aspirations of the girls who play with her. A study by Cardiff University found that girls who played with Barbie dolls had stronger career ambitions and a wider range of perceived future career options compared to those who played with other dolls.

In recent years, Mattel has made significant strides in making Barbie more inclusive and diverse. Despite facing skepticism about her idea for a grown-up doll, Ruth persevered, creating not just a toy but a cultural phenomenon.