You need to enable JavaScript to run this website.
Art & Entertainment, Good Culture

Mattel Launches Barbie with Scoliosis Along with Other Dolls that Celebrate Diversity & Inclusion

ShaniDavis

Barbie has become a household name since its introduction in 1959.

Created by Ruth Handler, Barbie was a role model for adolescent girls all over the world. From her wide range of careers, like a doctor, astronaut, president, and computer programmer — Barbie had careers in male-dominated fields and really helped to promote gender equality. She encouraged girls to pursue their dreams, no matter how big they were. Barbie was also known for her impact on style and trends — focusing on fashion, dressing up, and being beautiful inside and out.

Over the years, as times change, so has the Barbie brand. Inclusion became a major focus, providing Barbies with different skin tones and hair textures. Although it helped to promote diversity and acceptance, there was still more room to grow. Mattel was criticized for promoting unrealistic body standards and body proportions. The doll’s body proportions on a human woman would be about 5’9” tall, weighing 110 lbs. measured with a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist, 33-inch hips, and a size 3 shoe. These proportions fit the criteria for a person with anorexia and have negatively affected the body image of girls as early as 6 years old. Studies show that girls who played with a Barbie reported lower body image and a greater desire to be thinner vs girls who played with curvier dolls. The unrealistic expectations have contributed to a culture that has promoted unhealthy body types in the media for generations. With the importance of body positivity in current media, there has been a consistent effort to showcase all body types in a positive light.

Barbie has responded to this effort by introducing dolls with a wider range of body types, skin colors, and levels of accessibility. The newest Barbie dolls are even designed with different facial features that are more comparable to the intricacies of diversity. The latest reveal of a Barbie with Scoliosis has helped to promote body positivity and acceptance in children profoundly. These dolls show that every body type is beautiful. Dolls provide children with an opportunity to engage in imaginative play, which helps to promote creativity and social skills. Dolls often serve as role models that help children shape their understanding of the world. There is no better way to do this than to have dolls that represent different cultures and abilities to teach the children about diversity and inclusion.

Barbie Interior Designer Doll, Prosthetic Leg. Barbie Fashionistas Doll With Wheelchair & Ramp. Barbie Fashionista Doll With Vitiligo. Barbie Loves the Ocean Doll Curvy. Chelsea Doll With Brace For Scoliosis Spine Curvature. Barbie Fashionistas Doll, Hearing Aid.