[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In an effort to help more children find a toy that represents them, Barbie is releasing its first doll with Down syndrome.
Mattel executives stated that they wanted to release the doll so that “all children can see themselves in Barbie.” To bring the product to market, they collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the United States.
Charity organisations applauded the move, with Carol Boys, chief executive of the UK Down’s Syndrome Association, saying, “Children in our community will be able to play with a doll that represents them.”
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Ellie Goldstein, a British model with Down syndrome who appeared in a campaign with the new Barbie, said she was “so happy” to see the new doll. “Diversity is important to me because people need to see more people like me out there in the world, not hidden away,” she added.
Mattel stated that it consulted the NDSS and medical professionals to inform the design process, and that it introduced a new face and body sculpt to be more representative of women with Down syndrome, including a shorter frame and a longer torso.
The doll’s pink pendant necklace with three upward chevrons, as guided by the NDSS, represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics associated with the condition.
The chevrons, or arrows, represent “the Lucky Few” who have a loved one with Down syndrome.
It will be available for pre-order from the toy store Smyths on Tuesday. The doll is from the Barbie Fashionistas collection, which debuted in 2022. It also includes a Barbie wearing a prosthetic leg, a Barbie in a wheelchair, and male dolls who are thinner and less muscular.
This is Mattel’s “most diverse and inclusive doll line, offering a variety of skin tones, eye colours, hair colours and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions to inspire even more stories.”
Mattel has launched more inclusive Barbie lines in recent years, including one inspired by real-life women who have challenged societal norms. It released a doll wearing a hijab in 2017, modelled after fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who became the first American to compete and win an Olympic medal while wearing the garment.
“It was an honour working with Barbie on the Barbie doll with Down’s syndrome,” said Kandi Pickard, the NDSS president and chief executive. “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.”
The doll’s puff-sleeved dress pattern features butterflies and yellow and blue colours, which are symbols associated with Down’s syndrome awareness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
