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About the Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen Discussion category
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2
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17
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March 12, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Let’s Call Her Barbie? (no spoilers, please!)
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33
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146
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March 12, 2025
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Did you play with Barbies as a child, or did you shave off all her hair in a fit of protest? Were you allowed to have Barbies, or did your parents forbid you to play with "that" doll?
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25
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104
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March 12, 2025
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How did you feel when you learned that Barbie was inspired by Bild Lilli, a German prostitute gag doll? Did that surprise you?
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17
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53
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March 12, 2025
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Books by Renee Rosen
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17
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67
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March 12, 2025
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Despite Ruth's intention to create a doll that would empower young girls, from the very beginning Barbie has been both celebrated and vilified. Do you think of Barbie as a feminist icon or a dangerous role model for women?
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16
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52
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March 12, 2025
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Ruth and Jack were both instrumental in the creation of Barbie, and each took credit for the name and the doll itself. After Jack's tragic death, Ruth downplayed if not erased his contribution. Did you think Jack had a right to claim he created Barbie?
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13
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32
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March 12, 2025
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Were there scenes related to how women were viewed or treated during the era that surprised you? What aspects of a woman’s life have changed in the years since Barbie hit the shelves, and how, do you feel, Barbie has reflected these changes?
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13
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36
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March 12, 2025
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After Ruth has her mastectomy, she’s struck by how few breast cancer survivors will talk about their stories. Why do you think this was? Do you think it’s still the case today? What has changed since Ruth was diagnosed with cancer, and what hasn’t?
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12
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47
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March 12, 2025
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Ruth felt that she "carries [Mattel] on her shoulders.” Do you agree with her assessment? What would have happened with Barbie had Ruth spent more time with her family? Is it possible to run a successful business without Ruth’s level of commitment?
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12
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31
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March 12, 2025
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What do you think of Ruth’s and Elliot’s relationship? Are you surprised they stayed married through their ups and downs? What part does each play in Barbie’s success, and in their family’s dynamics?
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12
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36
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March 12, 2025
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Ruth’s and Jack’s relationship eventually becomes “openly hostile” after Jack appears on What’s My Line?. Who do you think is to blame for its deterioration? Could anything have been done, in your opinion, to salvage it?
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10
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29
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March 12, 2025
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Ruth was a nontraditional woman for her time. She tried to have it all—a husband, children and a career. What are your thoughts about her as a mother and her relationship with Barbara? How do you think her own childhood impacted her views on motherhood?
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10
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32
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March 12, 2025
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At eighteen, Barbara insists on marrying. Why do you believe Barbara feels she needs to take this step? Could Ruth and Elliot have done anything to prevent what they felt was a “horrible mistake”?
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10
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26
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March 12, 2025
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Which of the main characters did you develop the most sympathy for? Are there any minor characters who stood out?
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9
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36
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March 12, 2025
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Ruth developed breast cancer in 1970, which led to the creation of Nearly Me. What did you think about her coming full circle in terms of her relationship with creating breasts for a doll for little girls and then creating breasts for grown women?
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9
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27
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March 12, 2025
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Stevie plays a large role throughout the novel, yet she’s one of its fictional characters. Why do you suppose the author created her?
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8
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27
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March 12, 2025
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Jack Ryan was the unlikely Romeo of Mattel. What do you think it was about him that women found so irresistible? What did you think about his relationship with Stevie, or about Ruth's attempts to shortchange him on his royalties?
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7
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23
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March 12, 2025
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If you grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, which cultural references mentioned in the book were you familiar with? If you were born later, did you read about aspects of the era that surprised you?
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6
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21
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March 12, 2025
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Barbie's creators never lost sight of the fact that the doll had anatomically impossible body measurements, yet som thought they were supposed to look like her. What is it about Barbie that you think separates her from other dolls and has this effect?
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5
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25
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March 12, 2025
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Growing Up Skipper came under fire from the NOW as soon as she was released. Can you cite other Barbie controversies through the years? What do you think about the Barbie line today?
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5
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14
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March 12, 2025
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Barbie has had more than 200 careers over the decades. What were the most important milestones for Barbie, and how was she ahead of her time? If you played with Barbie dolls as a child, were there specific models or outfits that you remembered owning?
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5
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19
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March 12, 2025
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