Their bodies, of course, have been etiolated, distorted versions of the female form since Barbie was first created by Ruth Handler in 1959, but at least when my own daughters played with them 25-plus years ago, Barbie looked fairly wholesome with her princess outfits, air-hostess uniform, tennis gear, and those impossible-to-put-on trousers and little tops.

Move over Malibu Barbie and Ken, there is a new couple in town. Barbie makers Mattel are set to launch their first collectors' range, the 'Prince ...

Barbie doesn't seem to be going anywhere. So when a company is selling thousands of dolls a week, do we continue to embrace it while trying to change its culture, or completely ignore it? I can't decide.