The toy aisle just got more inclusive! That’s because Mattel, Inc. added a brand new Barbie with Down syndrome to its diverse, ever-growing collection. The toymaker announced that it created the new doll with the disability in hopes that even more children could connect with the Barbie brand. The Barbie doll with Down syndrome, Mattel says, is meant to inspire all children — with and without disabilities — to tell more stories through play.
“As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play,” said Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel. “Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves. Doll play outside of a child’s own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy, leading to a more accepting world. We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.”
To ensure that the Barbie doll accurately represents a person who has Down syndrome, Mattel collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). As a human rights nonprofit, the NDSS empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their loved ones by providing resources, driving policy change and engaging with local communities. During the design process, NDSS provided essential guidance to establish the doll’s sculpt, clothing, accessories and packaging.
“It was an honor working with Barbie on the Barbie doll with Down syndrome,” said Kandi Pickard, NDSS President and CEO. “This means so much for our community who, for the first time, can play with a Barbie doll that looks like them. This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating.”
According to Mattel, decisions during the creation phase were purposeful and well-intentioned. For example:
In regard to the sculpt: This doll introduces a new face and body sculpt to be more illustrative of women with Down syndrome, including a shorter frame and a longer torso. The face sculpt features a rounder shape, smaller ears and a flat nasal bridge, while the eyes are slightly slanted in an almond shape. The doll’s palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome.
In regard to the fashion & accessories: The doll’s puff-sleeved dress pattern features butterflies and yellow and blue colors, which are symbols and hues associated with Down syndrome awareness and support. The doll’s pink pendant necklace with three upward chevrons represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. The three chevrons, or arrows, are a symbol that unites the Down syndrome community and are meant to represent “the lucky few” who have someone with Down syndrome in their life.
In regard to orthotics: The Barbie doll with Down syndrome also wears pink ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) to match her outfit and her sneakers tout an adaptive zipper detail. Some children with Down syndrome use orthotics to support their feet and ankles. NDSS supplied a box of orthotics to serve as real-life inspiration for the toy version.
Why this Barbie Doll with Down Syndrome Matters
Children’s early experiences help shape their thoughts and perceptions – and Mattel believes that the Barbie doll collection can play an important role in this process. The company explains that when a child plays with a Barbie, they play out their dreams and, perhaps, imagine they can be anything. Doll play has an incredible purpose during key developmental stages as it may help set children on a course for success by allowing them to develop empathy – fueling social skills needed to excel as they imagine their futures with an equal playing field, according to analysis by Cardiff University. Thus, the Barbie doll with Down syndrome allows more children to see themselves in Barbie as well as the world around them, which can help foster a sense of inclusivity.
Barbie is the most inclusive doll line on the market, says Mattel. The collection includes over 175 looks offering a variety of eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities and fashions to tell more stories. Barbie has introduced a doll with vitiligo, hearing aids, a wheelchair-user and other differences. Now, Barbie is continuing to represent global belonging and inclusivity with the full 2023 Fashionistas lineup, which also includes new dolls in a variety of body types including a Barbie doll wearing braces and a Ken doll with a prosthetic leg.
The Barbie doll with Down syndrome will retail, in stores this Summer and Fall 2023, for $10.99. And it’s impact, especially for children with disabilities, could be priceless!
For more content like this, please read:
New Animated Series Inspired by Disability Advocate Sofia Sanchez is in the Works
KIDZ BOP Debuts ASL Music Videos Starring Deaf Performance Artist
Disney’s “It’s a Small World” Gets Big Boost of Disability Representation
On April 25, 2023, Mattel unveiled the latest addition to their Barbie
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler, manufactured by American toy and entertainment company Mattel and introduced on March 9, 1959. The toy was based on the German Bild Lilli doll which Handler had purchased while in Europe.
The new face sculpt features a rounder shape, smaller ears, and a flat nasal bridge, while the eyes are slightly slanted in an almond shape.The doll's palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome.
Hello Barbie had major security bugs. Using the doll's ability to connect to WiFi, hackers could gain access to the doll's stored audio files and even take over her microphone, potentially allowing a bad actor to speak directly to a child through Barbie.
For years, Barbie has been associated with promoting thinness as the societal norm for women, which has led to concerns about its impact on the self-esteem of girls and women.
Body dysmorphic disorder, sometimes known as “Barbie doll syndrome” or “Barbie syndrome,” is characterized by an obsession with attaining an unrealistic ideal of beauty, such as that of a Barbie doll. Because of this, many young women experience emotional and psychological distress.
Others slammed Mattel for introducing a Barbie doll that looks nothing like a person with Down syndrome. Several users pointed out that it looked like a regular version of Barbie and that the company should have used actual models to duplicate the dolls. Users also asked the company to try designing the doll again.
Barbie has an existential crisis after experiencing the emotional complexity of the Real World, leading her to realize she no longer fits in her Barbie utopia. Barbie changes her name to Barbara Handler, honoring the creator of Barbie and embracing flaws and imperfections as desirable in the Real World.
Midge's run as the youthful, freckled sidekick has been sporadic and at times turbulent, with only a handful of releases in the '60s, before she resurfaced in the '80s and '90s. Then, a pregnant version of the doll was unceremoniously pulled from store shelves in 2002 amid fears she was promoting teen motherhood.
Barbie introduces three new body types: curvy, tall and petite. New Ken body types and a range of diverse features including a man bun, cornrows, and freckles. Dolls reflecting permanent physical disabilities, including a doll with a wheelchair and prosthetic leg, are added.
The Barbie Fashionistas line includes Barbie dolls with more variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions. In 2020, the brand introduced Barbie with vitiligo into the Fashionistas line, and it was one of the top five Fashionistas best sellers in the U.S. that year.
While the original Barbie doll, meant as a high fashion toy, didn't have pink marketing, in the 70s, Mattel made a push to market the doll to young girls, instead of adolescent girls, and used pink as the main color for the doll's brand identity.
Notably, when asked why they would not want to play with her, at least 25 percent of the girls said it was because curvy Barbie was fat, chubby, or "big." The tendency to idealize thin bodies and show negative attitudes toward fatter bodies has implications for how children treat each other.
Vietnam: Before the film premiered, officials in Vietnam announced they were banning Barbie over a scene that included a map that appeared to show China's contested territorial claims in the South China Sea—Warner Bros. disputed the claim, describing the drawing as “child-like.”
When we look at those specific slices, we do see some evidence that having some exposure to Barbie or other thin-type dolls similar to Barbie does impact young girls' experiences of body image. For example, we see lower body esteem and greater thin-ideal internalization.
Kayla McKeon poses in the studio with the new Barbie doll with Down syndrome. “When I was a little girl, I had dolls who didn't look like me,” she says.
In order to properly represent disabled people, Mattel worked with them to create Barbie's wheelchair — which any of the Barbies in the "Made to Move" collection will fit in — and the Barbie with a prosthetic limb.
Midge's run as the youthful, freckled sidekick has been sporadic and at times turbulent, with only a handful of releases in the '60s, before she resurfaced in the '80s and '90s. Then, a pregnant version of the doll was unceremoniously pulled from store shelves in 2002 amid fears she was promoting teen motherhood.
Address: 2865 Kasha Unions, West Corrinne, AK 05708-1071
Phone: +3512198379449
Job: Design Planner
Hobby: Graffiti, Foreign language learning, Gambling, Metalworking, Rowing, Sculling, Sewing
Introduction: My name is Dong Thiel, I am a brainy, happy, tasty, lively, splendid, talented, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
