In the past couple of years, there has been a growing pressure to create products that are more accepting of different types of people. Mattel responded to these demands and came out with a new line of Barbies called the 2016 Barbie Fashionistas. With four body types and seven skin tones featured in this collection, Mattel has definitely responded to the biggest calls for change in their product. These dolls also feature 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles to show variety in other ways as well. Girls, young and old, across America are rejoicing. My friend Brenna said, “As a 20-year-old, I still got really excited about there being a tall Barbie, because I could relate to her.” Positive reactions like this extend across all social media platforms.
So why is this a big deal? Children use dolls to construct their views on the world and on themselves. This past Christmas, Barbie made a commercial titled “Imagine the Possibilities” that showed how young girls use their dolls to represent themselves in their dream careers. At the end of the commercial, we are told “When a girl plays with Barbie she imagines everything she can become.” If we allow these girls the opportunity to use dolls that look like them and look like the many types of people they will meet in their lives, we allow them to grow up more accepting of others and themselves.
Criticism has been presented with these new dolls as people question why we are taking toys so seriously. Looking back on our childhood, most of us don’t remember criticizing Barbie’s unrealistic proportions or her lack of diversity. But the dolls do set a precedent. A friend of mine named Jessica said it "messed with her" to grow up not seeing girls of her color in movies or in dolls. When all Barbies looked the same, many children learned that they were different from what is “normal” and “popular,” but with the new line, children will learn that everybody is different from one another and they all have endless possibilities.
So where do we go from here? Now that Mattel has made the step to create these Barbies, we need to be taking advantage of that. The next time you are gift giving to a child that wants a doll, don’t only look at the original Barbie. Opt for dolls in a variety of shapes and colors. I’m not saying this will be the end of racism and body-shaming, but it is important to do the little things that may add up to be big things. Maybe that child that sees all the diversity of his or her dolls will grow up to be a leading activist that brings more equality to America.
The next step for Mattel should be to extend their new body types and colors to their Ken dolls. We focus most of our attention on the poor self-esteem of girls, but that doesn’t mean boys are immune to it. There are tons of young boys out there who want dolls as well and they deserve to see themselves represented. Another big step should involve dolls with disabilities. A lot of people think ideas like these are getting to be radical, but if we make diversity and inclusion regular for young children, they will grow up more likely to be kind and just people.
I’ve browsed the new line myself and it’s so cool to see dolls I can relate to. The ‘Fashionistas 37 Everyday Chic Doll & Fashions – Curvy’ definitely represents me more than any doll I’ve seen before. The ‘Fashionistas Doll 30 White & Pink Pizzazz – Tall’ looks like my beautiful friend Brenna. The ‘Fashionistas 42 Blue Violet Doll & Fashions – Petite’ is like my fun and fashionable friend Jessica. Young people around the world will be able to look at these dolls and make the same connections. They’ll see that a petite girl with brown skin and a tall girl with white skin can both have endless opportunities in their imaginative world as well as the real world. Kids are the future and we can provide them with the tools to make that future wonderful. They’ve started #TheDollEvolves, now let’s make sure society evolves as well. We’re a long way from a perfect society, but moves like this prove to me that we’re heading in the right direction.
