A common stereotype for Barbie dolls is that “it’s a girl’s doll.” Growing up in a household where I was expected to play with dolls and love pink, I definitely fell into this stereotype. I loved all my dolls, not just my Barbie dolls. Even though it’s been about 13 years since I last played with my dolls, I will always have a soft spot for them.

A negative connotation of Barbie dolls is that the company reinforces a poor body image. Mattel, however, has released a new advertisement that hopes to squash this negative stereotype. The latest Barbie commercial seeks to empower women to show them that they are not just pretty things, but they are also people who can make a positive impact in whatever field of work that they choose.

In the commercial, girls are seen as future businesswomen, college professors, and soccer coaches (just to name a few). By finally releasing a commercial that tells girls they can be whatever they want to be, this commercial appeals to a wide variety of people, not just little girls. Through the production and release of this commercial, Mattel is changing the ways the toy market is promoting products to potential customers. Instead of resting on traditional gender roles, Mattel is working on inspiring, and through this commercial, I believe that people will start liking Barbie again.

You can check out the commercial by searching "Imagine the Possibilities - Barbie" on YouTube.