The Barbie family has grown this week with the arrival of a new element. Mattel unveiled the first Down syndrome Barbie doll on Tuesday, April 25, saying it was created “to enable even more kids to see themselves in Barbie, as well as make her reflect the world around them.”
The objective is to allow children to see themselves in the doll, but also “to play with dolls that do not look like themselves,” adds the person in charge, since “playing with dolls outside of the child’s life experience can teach them to understand and build greater empathy, leading to a more tolerant world.”
To ensure that this Barbie truly represents a person with Down syndrome, everything from the doll’s silhouette, to the clothing and accessories and even the packaging has been thought of. To do this, the brand partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), an American organization that supports not only people with Down syndrome, but also those who live with them, such as family members, teachers or co-workers with resources. and promoting policies of change. “It’s a big step toward inclusion and a moment we’re celebrating,” said association president and CEO Kandi Pickard.
As a result, the new doll has a number of changes to its shape from more common Barbies. For example, the body is shorter, the torso is longer, the face is rounder, the ears are smaller, the bridge of the nose is slightly flattened, and the eyes are slanted and almond-shaped, Mattel explains in your website. Care for detail reached the palms of the doll’s hands, which have a single line, with the aim of representing a characteristic associated with people with Down syndrome. The doll also has ankle braces, as worn by some children with this disease.
In terms of clothing, an important theme was chosen in a character with an extensive wardrobe for all occasions, a dress with a butterfly print in yellow and blue tones, the symbolic colors of Down syndrome awareness campaigns. The necklace that the doll wears around her neck has a pendant that represents three copies of chromosome 21, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics of this disease. The symbol of the three arrows is used as a form of unity in the community and represents “the lucky few” who have someone with Down syndrome in their life, the brand continues.
This new Barbie is included in the Fashionistas 2023 line, a set created with inclusion in mind that features dolls with assorted silhouettes, one with braces on her teeth and also a Ken with a prosthetic leg. These copies will be available in limited editions this coming summer and fall. In the United States, Barbie with Down syndrome will hit the market at a price of $10.99 (about 10 euros).
Dolls from the Fashionistas 2023 line
Source: Observadora
