Malibu Stacy

Malibu Stacy is a plastic doll that is manufactured within Springfield. She is designed to be a direct parody of successful doll Barbie, and because of this many references within episodes have been made to feminist critique of Barbie. Stacy is Lisa Simpson's favourite doll, despite some moral issues she has had with the attitudes it promotes.

History

Malibu Stacy was first created in 1959, when Stacy Lavelle designed a doll that you could also eat. The first release of the doll was unsuccessful due to the doll's main ingredient dried onion meal, but the design of the doll was lauded, and so a plastic version was released soon after. Once that happened, Malibu Stacy became incredibly successful.

Stacy Lavelle was forced out of the company in 1974, stating that her thinking wasn't "cost effective". Lavelle herself believes that the more significant reason for her dismissal is her funneling of money to the Viet Cong. Since then, she has had no real control over the company she created.

Phrase Controversy

When 'Talking Malibu Stacy' dolls were introduced, pulling a string on the doll's back provided typically vapid catchphrases that were demeaning to women (such as "Don't ask me, I'm just a girl!"). Lisa fronted an effort to produce a competing doll called "Lisa Lionheart", which would act as a more positive female role model. Its sales were disappointingly low because of the simultaneous release of "Malibu Stacy With New Hat".

The "Talking Malibu Stacy" controversy was a parody of the Teen Talk Barbie controversy.

Popularity

A parody of Barbie; Malibu Stacy is the most popular doll in Springfield. In several episodes, Waylon Smithers is said to own the largest collection of them in Springfield.

Lisa Lionheart

Main Article: Lisa Lionheart

In Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy, Lisa and Stacy Lovell team up to create a rival "Lisa Lionheart" doll to try to stop the production of Malibu Stacy. The doll, which says several intelligent sayings, is only bought by one girl at the end of the episode.