Mattel is releasing a line of Barbie dolls that will inspire little ladies for generations to come.
On International Women's Day, Barbie announced its 'Inspirational Women' series of dolls. Its initial release includes dolls modeled to look like Amelia Earhart, Frieda Kahlo, and Kathrine Johnson. These are three amazing women from three very different backgrounds. Mattel even went through the effort of keeping Kahlo's signature unibrow, giving Ameilia her feathered hair, Katherine her signature glasses.
In all, Mattel is going to release 17 new dolls in this series including athletes, conservationists, and filmmakers. It's an incredible initiative with the idea that girls need #morerolemodels.
I am celebrating this as a win for all future little girls who will grow up seeing incredible women as household names.
However, hold on with me folks, because we're going on a ride.
I think it's a disservice to children to market these #morerolemodel dolls to just girls.
Little boys need strong female heroes in their lives too.
Additionally, there is a body issue with these dolls. This has been a conversation surrounding Barbie for a long time.
Barbie has such a powerful platform and they have come so far in terms of inclusion. There are at least two full-figured barbies in the lineup, it seems from photos. (One can be seen on the left of the photo below, depicting world-renowned French chef Hélène Darroze, who is a full-figured woman.) But not all full-figured bodies are perfect hourglasses. Where are my pear and apple-shaped women? What about the women who carry more weight in their face?
And where are the muscles on the Barbie modeled to look like Nicola Adams Obe, boxing champion? Her body is strong and that is part of what makes her a strong beautiful woman. (But Mattel got her awesome hairstyle RIGHT on.)
Where are Patty Jenkins' smile lines or eye crinkles? Does a doll with wrinkles make it less worthy of being a role model or less worthy of being played with?
It is amazing and so important that Mattel uses its platform to be inclusive and maybe it's selfish to ask, but I want more. I want more for our future generation and I want more for women.
Happy International Women's Day!
Destiny Johnson is a digital reporter at First Coast News who cares about the representation of women because she is a woman, believes in strong women and thinks we should raise strong women. Follow her on Twitter @hello_destiny
