Barbie is turning 50

In 1959, a doll of anatomically impossible proportions named Barbie was introduced to the public. Although Barbie has been called an anti-feminist icon, blamed for causing eating disorders and was even called "filth" by a Christian group, there is no question that Barbie has become a cultural icon. (I suppose one hasn't arrived until one has been called "filth" by a fundamentalist Christian group, so go Barbie!)

Barbie is also about to turn 50, which means that even our mothers and some of our grandmothers used to perform amputations on her and giggle while placing her in dirty poses with Ken (or with other Barbies).

To celebrate this upcoming milestone, I have compiled some side by side comparisons of Barbie and other cultural icons who have recently turned 50. Enjoy.

Barbie vs. Michael Jackson

Barbie	Michael Jackson
Went to the moon	Invented a dance move called the moonwalk
Has had more than 43 pets including 21 dogs, 12 horses, 3 ponies, 6 cats, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, a lion cub, a giraffe and a zebra	Ran a zoo at the Neverland Ranch
Made of plastic	Reconstructed with silicone
A plaything of little girls	I'm not going to go there

Barbie vs. Madonna

Barbie	Madonna
Had a best friend named "Midge"	Occasionally goes by "Madge"
First had a bellybutton in 2000	Bellybutton named the "most incredible" music celebrity body part by Spin Magazine in 2005
Lacks genitalia	Had a hit called "Like a Virgin"

Barbie vs. Ellen DeGeneres

Barbie	Ellen DeGeneres
Came in an edition designed by Oscar de la Renta	Hosted the Oscars in 2007
Initially sold for $3 in 1959	Had a net worth of $65 million in 2007
Rides a Porsche	Oh, get your mind out of the gutter

What adventures will Barbie embark on in the next 50 years? Although Ken and Barbie have gotten back together after a brief time apart, Ken virtually admitted he was a friend of Dorothy.. Perhaps Barbie can run off with Midge to raise their 21 dogs, 12 horses, three ponies, six cats, parrot, chimpanzee, panda, lion cub, giraffe and zebra together.