In 1959, Barbie dolls were introduced without any fanfare as a sophisticated and shapely teenage model. Ken dolls were not yet available at that time because dating relationships were still farfetched ideas to instill in little girls’ minds. The Ken and Barbie idea as dating doll couples were introduced only in 1961. 

Another doll called Tammy tried to compete with Barbie but was dressed more sensibly like the All-American Girl-Next-Door features. However, Barbie dolls already had a great number of followers. In fact, more than three billion dollars worth of Barbie dolls have been sold since it was introduced at a toy fair in 1959 and is still popular and selling worldwide up to this date. 

However, Ken and Barbie together was not as widely received, hence Ken, although popular still remained as a simple accessory for Barbie. Ken and Barbie together was only good for Barbie’s occasional dating and young girls seemed to have very little interest in dressing up male dolls despite his equally glamorous outfits. 

Young boys were definitely out of the picture as supporters of the Ken and Barbie concept; they would prefer the action figures who seemed to have better things to do than go out on a date with Barbie. Young boys at that time could easily be branded as a “sissy” if he ever entertained the notion of owning a Ken doll just to get close to a young girl. Hence, the idea of a young boy playing with a young girl to create a Ken and Barbie tandem was too far-fetched.      

Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie dolls got the idea of a teenage doll from her daughter Barbara, who would rather cut out paper dolls of grown up figures when playing with her dollhouses. She later on, came up with the Ken doll which she also named after her son Kenneth just as Barbie was named after her daughter Barbara. In real life therefore Ken and Barbie was a brother and sister pair.    

Perhaps, if Ken and Barbie were re-introduced, young boys who now have more freedom to declare their real gender preference can enjoy playing with his set of Ken and Barbie dolls. At an early age, he can entertain the thoughts of becoming a famous haute couture designer. He can explore his artistic skills and hone them by making use of a pair of Ken and Barbie dolls as his ramp models

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