After decades of working in “women’s careers,” Barbie broke through her own plastic ceiling in 1984. She took on roles previously only open to men and dressed for the part.
In the 1980s, women began breaching barriers to positions of leadership and authority held almost exclusively by men. The decade saw women run on a presidential ticket, sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, and launch into space.
The trend continued on the ground. Women who sought education in the 1970s were prepared to work side-by-side with men as equals. They entered boardrooms, courthouses, and corner-offices, forging the path for others to follow. Yet challenges still lay ahead. One of the many was figuring out how to dress professionally as a woman in a man’s world.
New roles required new costume. Female professionals showed up in “powersuits” that paired commanding broad shoulders from men’s suits with straight, serious skirts. Together, they signalled that women belonged in positions of power.