The American Heritage Dictionary defines a fad as "A custom, style, etc. that many people are interested in for a short period of time" (Webster 486). However, even though a fad generally lasts for a short while, few fads have lingered and become infamous characteristics of America itself. The Cabbage Patch doll differed from any other baby doll up until the 80's simply because you didn't just buy one, you adopted one. Each doll came with a birth certificate and adoption papers; and like children, no two Cabbage Patch dolls were alike, as the result of computer generated molds for each doll (Cabbage Patch Dolls 1). With this new take on dolls, little girls had a new sense of responsibility attached to their toy because it was officially theirs. Even though the Cabbage Patch doll craze only stuck around until the late 1980's (1), they were one of the millions of fads that America has seen.
             On the flip side of the coin, owning a Barbie didn't just give the owner a sense of increased responsibility; it opened up a new world to the eyes of little girls. A world where a woman could do anything, be anything or live her life in anyway she wanted to. This was something that was unheard of, especially in the early years of Barbie, when women were seen as low figures in society. Barbie was one of the fads that survived the test of time and has been immortalized as an aspect of American pop culture by appearing on Hallmark greeting cards (E-Cards and Cards 1), in McDonald's Happy Meals (CoolToys.com 2), and on Hallmark Christmas tree ornaments (Augustniyak 108). Barbie has reflected a women's changing place in society, familiar and cultural values at specific
             times, and trends in fashion. She has become more then just a doll; Barbie is a sometimes-controversial icon,that has also been a role model for generations of young girls.
             Nineteen fifty-nine brought about the introduction of "glitterin...