On this 50th anniversary of the Barbie doll, Slate has a great piece on Ken, Barbie's loyal gentleman companion. The author points out that Ken has always been an afterthought, an accessory created to serve Barbie's-- and her chubby cheeked handlers'-- every whim. No great revelations here, but it's interesting how, for all the debate over Barbie's feminist credentials, hardly any ink has been spilled over Ken.

So what do you think Ken-- with his Aryan looks and chameleon fashion sense--says to young girls about the ideal man? Does he set their standards too high? Is this plastic adonis dooming women to disappointment once they inevitably learn that not all men are dying to be grooms or to wait on their partners hand and foot?

Without Ken to confuse expectations, would we have Sex and the City or He's Just Not That Into You?

Would that be a good thing?

In any case: happy 50th, Barbie. And Happy 48th, Ken-- not that anyone is counting.