What are facts about Ruth Handler?

Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman best known as the co-founder of Mattel, Inc. and the creator of the Barbie doll, which was introduced in 1959 and became a cultural icon. Handler was inspired to create Barbie after observing her daughter play with paper dolls, wanting to provide a three-dimensional adult figure for girls to imagine their futures. In addition to Barbie, she also developed other popular toys and played a significant role in shaping the toy industry.