Barbie the Astronaut: The Space Age Changes to Femininity

Article

“Barbie the Astronaut: The Space Age Changes to Femininity” by Zoe Dancer
Published in Quest Volume: 32 #2 (2025)

Abstract

This article reviews the context of changes to gender ideals that occurred within the United States of America and the Soviet Union during the time of the Cold War and the 1960s Space Race. It explores the cultural changes occurring within both nations as can be identified through the lens of feminine and masculine ideals of the time, and the political messaging built around these ideals.

Citation

Dancer, Zoe. “Barbie the Astronaut: The Space Age Changes to Femininity.” Quest: The History of Spaceflight Quarterly 32, no. 2 (2025): 34-40.